William Bryan: “today I am pleased to join as an original cosponsor of Senator John McCain's ``Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act'' to…”

“today I am pleased to join as an original cosponsor of Senator John McCain's ``Older Americans' Freedom to Work Act'' to repeal the Social Security earnings limitation test. I understand the frustration of seniors who want to work without being penalized by a reduction in their Social Security earnings limitation test, and since coming to the Senate in 1988, I have supported efforts to repeal this test. During the last Congress, Senator McCain tried to add this same bill as an amendment to the Unemployment Compensation Act. Unfortunately, only 45 Senators joined me in voting in favor of the amendment. As seniors live healthier and longer lives, we have a tremendous human resource that wants to continue to play a positive role in our workforce. These seniors represent incredible knowledge and work experience, skills our Nation very much needs to remain competitive both at home and abroad. But for those seniors, ages 65 through 69, who want to contribute by continuing to work, their decision to remain in the workplace means they face reduced Social Security benefits because of the Social Security earnings limitation test. We should not place such financial penalties in their way. The Social Security earnings limitation test must go.”