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PRINTER'S NO. 706
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 83
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, KIM, SCHWANK, L. WILLIAMS, CAPPELLETTI,
STREET, KEARNEY, MUTH, TARTAGLIONE, COLLETT, PISCIOTTANO,
COMITTA, COSTA AND HAYWOOD, APRIL 30, 2025
REFERRED TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, APRIL 30, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to adopt H.R. 1876, the
"Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act," H.R. 1877, the
"Protecting Americans' Social Security Data Act," and S. 770,
the "Social Security Expansion Act."
WHEREAS, For 90 years Social Security benefits have been the
best protection against Americans falling into poverty; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 70 million Americans receive monthly
Social Security benefits with annual total benefits paid out
equaling approximately $1.6 trillion; and
WHEREAS, More than 11,000 Americans reach retirement age each
day; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians receive Social
Security benefits annually, including more than 2.3 million
Pennsylvanians over 65 years of age, disabled workers, widowers,
spouses and children; and
WHEREAS, Social Security benefits paid to Pennsylvania
beneficiaries on a monthly basis exceed $5.3 billion, injecting
more than $60 billion into Pennsylvania's economy every year;
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and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Social Security recipients receive an
average monthly benefit of approximately $1,979, while the
median monthly benefit in Pennsylvania is $1,946; and
WHEREAS, Social Security is under attack in Washington, DC;
and
WHEREAS, In just the last few weeks, Elon Musk, the world's
richest man, called Social Security "the biggest Ponzi Scheme of
all time"; and
WHEREAS, The Acting Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration (SSA) handed the private, personal data of
millions of Americans to operatives of the Department of
Government Efficiency (DOGE) and then threatened to shut down
the agency when a judge blocked the move; and
WHEREAS, The Acting Commissioner of the SSA announced that
7,000 employees, or 12% of the agency staff, are being cut,
plans to close 6 out of 10 regional Social Security offices and
47 field offices, and announced, and then delayed for two weeks,
plans that would make it more difficult for people to access
benefits by reducing customer phone service options for
beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Social Security recipients are both
furious and anxious about this attack on the program and its
impact on their economic security; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania retirees, and other beneficiaries, use
their monthly Social Security checks to pay for basic
necessities like housing and food; and
WHEREAS, The SSA's announced actions relating to staffing and
office closures will make it harder for beneficiaries to access
benefits or customer services and will have the same impact as
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if benefits are cut; and
WHEREAS, Staffing at the SSA has fallen to a 50-year low
while workloads have increased; and
WHEREAS, Neighborhood Social Security offices and employees
have faithfully served the public in communities across the
country since 1935; and
WHEREAS, Twenty percent of staff in local SSA offices are
veterans; and
WHEREAS, There are 56 Social Security offices across
Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Local Social Security offices staffed with trained
civil servants provide service to millions of Pennsylvanians and
depend on nearby offices for filing benefits, resolving problems
with payments and work records, generating Social Security
numbers and providing replacement Social Security cards, income
and award letters and applications for retirement, disability
and SSI; and
WHEREAS, Closing local Social Security offices will make it
harder for Pennsylvania retirees and other beneficiaries to
access their benefits - benefits they paid for and earned when
they were working; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
strongly urge the Congress of the United States to adopt H.R.
1876, the "Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act," H.R. 1877, the
"Protecting Americans' Social Security Data Act," and S. 770,
the "Social Security Expansion Act"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
stand shoulder to shoulder with the retirees and Social Security
beneficiaries, across Pennsylvania and the nation, who are
fighting for their financial future and the benefits they earned
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through a lifetime of work; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
unite in its opposition to the SSA's plan to close local Social
Security offices and cut staff; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
support robust staffing and local office facilities to serve the
public in a timely manner in Pennsylvania and across the nation;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
oppose Federal cuts to Social Security benefits; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, with one clear voice, demand the Trump
Administration, Elon Musk, DOGE and Congress to keep their hands
off Social Security; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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