White Plains Social Security Hearing Office Closure

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, the new administration, as it indiscriminately cuts services, has announced that it will not keep the Social Security Administration's hearing office in White Plains, New York. Closing this hearing office with no local replacement is unacceptable to the community it serves, and it covers multiple congressional districts.

Seniors and people who are disabled come to this office from Westchester and the other counties of the Hudson Valley to fight for their benefits. With this closure, residents, likely on a fixed income, will have to travel much longer distances: to Albany, to New Haven, or to the south Bronx at greater expense, in some cases 4 hours one way on public transit.

This is a financial and logistical hardship for people already fighting for support. With the Westchester County government, my office and I have identified sites in White Plains close to the current office that are available. This would keep government services in the community where it belongs.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the new administration to reconsider driving constituents away from convenient services and to work with Members from New York State to find a solution before May.

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