Lankford and Speier Release Bipartisan Social Security Disability Recommendations

Press Release

House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements Chairman James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Ranking Member Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) today released bipartisan recommendations to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits process in a letter to Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner Carolyn W. Colvin based on the Committee's ongoing investigation into abuses of the program.

Chairman Lankford: "The Subcommittee's work has uncovered significant management and implementation problems with federal disability programs that deserve to be addressed in a bipartisan fashion. Because the program will be insolvent in two years, the Social Security Administration needs to take immediate action with authority it already has to address shortcomings with its policies and management. We are committed to continuing to work together to ensure that the programs protect the truly disabled and to holding the agency accountable for its stewardship and management of these taxpayer-funded programs."

Ranking Member Speier: "Taxpayers are disgusted by reports of lawyers and judges gaming the disability system. The fraud we do know of is already into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Those who cheat the system are only hurting those who are truly disabled. What we need to do is make sure the Social Security Administration has the authority it needs to increase accountability and modernize its processes so it's more efficient. The integrity of the program must be protected so taxpayers' hard-earned money isn't squandered."

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