Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Untapped Talent in America
House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security
2025-09-09
Loading video...
Source: Congress.gov
Summary
No summary available.
Participants
Transcript
Subcommittee will come to order. Good afternoon, everyone. I want to welcome all our members and witnesses to today's hearings. Thank you all for being here today for our first hearing since we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act on August 14th. I'd like to recognize and thank Chairman Smith and Congressman Kerry, the distinguished members of the Subcommittees on Social Security and Work and Welfare. I'm going to Skip one paragraph, and I will come back to that. As chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee, I made it a priority to strengthen and protect Social Security programs to better serve all Americans, including those with disabilities. This year, it's been my pleasure to work closely with Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisognano, who we hosted here in June. And just this past Friday, the commissioner came to Wichita, where we held a productive meeting at the Social Security field office in my district. We discussed how Congress and the Social Security Administration can continue to deliver improved results to beneficiaries and recipients, and I'm confident this hearing will allow us to strengthen this partnership further. Today, there are 1.7 million Americans missing from the workforce, while at the same time we have over 7 million open jobs. This is not just a statistic, it's a call to action. It's crucial that we use the talents of every American able to work that we can. One of the most valuable yet underutilized talent pools in our country is Americans with disabilities, especially given that many individuals with disabilities want to work. In fact, roughly 60% of the Social Security Disability Insurance, the DI, and Supplemental Security Income, SSI, recipients are interested in finding a job, gaining new skills, or advancing their careers. They are a critical resource we cannot ignore. I want to emphasize that this is not about removing folks from their benefits. It's about removing the barriers that hinder Americans with disabilities from renewing, strengthening, or forging a connection with the workforce.
This hearing is about highlighting those barriers, understanding the complexities of the Social Security Administration return to work programs, and exploring how we can improve transitions to work whenever possible. Today, we'll hear from individuals who have navigated these policies. The reality is that for those who want to work, the current system is complex and full of red tape. The existing DI and SSI programs are intended to support beneficiaries, but they are often so confusing that both individuals and employers need third-party experts to understand them. We also face the issue of outdated and slow administrative processes. For those who find work, the Social Security Administration's management of benefits can lead to overpayments. This isn't just a bureaucratic problem, it's a financial hardship that can discourage people from continuing to work. The system is confusing, complexity, red tape, and the need to rely on third-party experts just to navigate the rules is a massive obstacle for both individuals and employers. I hope that this hearing will set the stage for a vital discussion about reform. This isn't about altering the fundamental purposes of DI and SSI, but about modernizing our programs to work more effectively. We have an opportunity to remove government barriers, streamline communications, and modernize existing programs to help individual Americans who want to participate in the workforce. By doing so, we will not only improve individuals' lives, but strengthen our economy as a whole. Now, I'll take a moment. This is a joint hearing between the Social Security Subcommittee and the Work and Welfare Subcommittee. And I just want to note that I'd like to thank my colleague, Representative Danny Davis, for your nearly three decades of service to Congress, your commitment to your constituents, and your tireless effort to address the issues facing our announcement. Your leadership and dedication will be most missed on this committee now that you've announced your retirement. So I look forward to your opening remarks when we get to that point.
Sign up for free to see the full transcript
Accounts help us prevent bots from abusing our site. Accounts are free and will allow you to access the full transcript.