Staff testified about the ssi disability program. And the process for filing disability claims. Sam johnson chairs the ways and means subcommittee on Social Security. This is an hour and 40 minutes. Good morning to all of you. And welcome to todays hearing. On the challenges Social Security faces when deciding if a person should receive disability benefits. Since i have been chairman, we have held 18 hearings including today on the Disability Insurance program. On one topic or another. Now thats a lot of hearings. But the Disability Insurance program is too important for Social Security not to get it right. Americans pay taxes on their hard earned wages for the promise of future Social Security benefits. When the worker retires, and is unable to work unable to disability or dies. These benefits are an important part of a familys financial security. And americans rightfully expect that when they apply for benefits, if they are eligible, that they will receive them quickly. But for those
With the backlog forhose of drawing applyingor benefits. The challenges faces, since i have been chairman we have held 18 hearings including today on the Disability Insurance program. On one topic or another. Now thats a lot of hearings. But the Disability Insurance program is too important for Social Security not to get it right. Americans pay taxes on their hard earned wages for the promise of future social secuty benefits. When the worker retires, and is unable to work unable to disability or dies. These benefits are animportant part of a familys financial security. And americans rightfully expect that when they apply for benefits, if they areeligible, that they will receive them ickly. But for those applying for disability benefits, that isnt the case. Today over 1Million People are waiting for a heing with Social Security admistrative law judges and on the average these folks will wt around 600 days to get that hearing. Thats nearly two years. And thats after waiting almost four m
Investigation into what happened there yesterday and today. Reporter well jim, as you know this started chaotically yesterday and Law Enforcement official were hope that this would end with nobody getting hurt and as you know that is not what happened. And the family and community is mourning the loss of a Law Enforcement officer. Detectives are going cell by cell collecting evidence and at this time. I am not able to give you a motive for at tack and i am not able to give you a trips of the weapons other than to know we are aware that some had sharp instruments. The violence started wednesday morning when inmates took four hostage, three officers and one counselor. And they released two later in the day and Sergeant Lloyd and the counselor were held overnight and then a Tactical Team gathered entrance in building c and teams were forced to use a backhoe to get in and the counselor was rescued and not hurt and Authorities Say she was protected by some of the inmates. The officer Sergea
We appreciate you coming and taking the time in your thoughtful testimony. Youre looking forward to answers to what should be a number of interesting questions. Members of this committee, it should come as no surprise that the security of our borders been a top priority in this committee. In november 2015 we published a report the state of americas border security. We have copies, so any new members are all members emma i would be happy to give you one. We have learned an awful lot. I would ask that my Opening Statement be entered in the record. I will take silence as a consent, thanks. I would like to read some of the findings out of that Opening Statement as well as other things we have learned very first and foremost, what we have ,earned in this 23rd hearing the first finding is that our borders are not secure. Two, americans demand for drugs is one root cause. In order to secure our borders agents need full situational awareness, including staying on the other side of the border.
We appreciate you coming and taking the time in your thoughtful testimony. Youre looking forward to answers to what should be a number of interesting questions. Members of this committee, it should come as no surprise that the security of our borders been a top priority in this committee. In november 2015 we published a report the state of americas border security. We have copies, so any new members are all members emma i would be happy to give you one. We have learned an awful lot. I would ask that my Opening Statement be entered in the record. I will take silence as a consent, thanks. I would like to read some of the findings out of that Opening Statement as well as other things we have learned very first and foremost, what we have ,earned in this 23rd hearing the first finding is that our borders are not secure. Two, americans demand for drugs is one root cause. In order to secure our borders agents need full situational awareness, including staying on the other side of the border.