When I first ran for Congress I pledged to protect and preserve Social Security. With the "baby boom" generation nearing retirement age, I believe that now is the time to act so that we can ensure that not only this generation receives the benefits they worked so hard to receive, but also our children and grandchildren can enjoy the support of this system that has functioned so well since its creation in the 1930s.

The Social Security Trust Fund currently collects more money than is needed to distribute in benefits; however, in the year 2017, the trust funds will begin taking in less revenue each year than is needed to pay out. Moreover, Congress currently spends portions of the trust fund on general government programs. Consequently, by the year 2041, the trust funds will be depleted and payroll taxes will only be able to pay 75% of the benefits owed.

In March 2007, Rep. John Salazar and I introduced legislation, the Social Security Protection and Truth in Budgeting Act, to protect Social Security funds from being used to establish or fund individual private accounts, and remove Social Security funds from the “unified federal budget.” My legislation would force Congress to present federal budget information in a way that shows clearly the state of federal surpluses or deficits, absent the Social Security Trust Funds. We must ensure that Social Security funds are spent only for their intended purpose and not to hide the federal deficit.

In addition to guaranteeing that the Social Security surplus be used for Social Security, I think that any discussion of reforming Social Security must also include a discussion of reforming Medicare. After all, what good is retirement income security if one doesn’t have health care security also? Both of these programs are commitments that have been made to senior citizens and we must not ignore those commitments.

That’s why I recently became a cosponsor of the Securing America’s Future Economy (SAFE) Commission Act, which would create a 16-member, bipartisan commission tasked with holding town hall meetings around the country and subsequently drafting a plan to balance long-term spending and revenue scenarios for the nation.

There’s no doubt there will be tough choices to make, but we must deal with our fiscal realities in a frank and honest manner so that we can get back on the road to fiscal responsibility. The SAFE Commission Act takes the partisanship out of long-term tax and spending questions and puts them in the hands of a capable bipartisan commission.

Approximately 8 million Social Security beneficiaries receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). In order to receive SSDI, you must meet several criteria that focus on your work history, severity of your disability, and ability to perform future work.

The application process for SSDI is incredibly complex and there are strict guidelines that govern the process. As a result, the disability process is very slow.

As you may know, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) issued a report in August 2007 that compared the number of people waiting for a hearing on their disability application to the number of individuals receiving disability benefits at the end of 2006. The report indicates that of Social Security disability beneficiaries residing in Kansas, over 26 percent of those men and women are still waiting for their cases to be heard. This is unacceptable. Nationwide, there are approximately 750,000 pending cases at Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, with the average case now in the system taking 542 days to conclude.

Please be assured that Congress is working with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to improve the efficiency of the disability application process. I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 5110, the Social Security Customer Service Improvement Act, sponsored by Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY). This bill would require the Social Security Commissioner to submit the annual SSA budget directly to Congress and the President, including the amount of funds required to combat fraud committed by applicants and beneficiaries, the number of pending cases and the average processing time, as well as employment statistics for each hearing and field office. This legislation would also prohibit the Commissioner from closing or otherwise limiting public access to an SSA field office until 180 days after submitting to Congress a detailed report outlining and justifying the process for such actions. The Social Security Administration must work more closely with Congress to ensure that all Social Security beneficiaries get the benefits and service they deserve in a timely and professional manner.

In the meantime, please contact my office if you have any questions or need assistance with your disability case.