Retirees Have Earned Their Pensions

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, this week marks a heroic milestone for millions of America's retirees as the House finally considers the Butch Lewis Act. This bill moves America one step closer to restoring its broken pension promises to 1,300,000 pensioners across our Nation.

Today I met with another 50 retirees from trucking firms, candy manufacturers, miners, and others in Ohio whose futures are at risk in their golden years. Their top concern is economic security.

I heard the stresses they have endured since receiving letters threatening pension cuts of up to 70 percent of their earned pensions. Worry between family members, increased suicides amongst pensioner friends, anxiety and growing health concerns. This isn't the retirement hardworking Americans earned.

Valorie Shapler, a retired Roadway Express truck driver, is suffering from brain cancer. She is fighting for her life daily, and why should she have to worry about the pension cuts that she earned?

Vicki Bailey, a widow of a trucker, raised their family but already struggles to survive on her spousal benefits that were cut in half with her husband's passing, and she has her own health issues to worry about.

Jim Baumgartner asked for a prayer.

How can Congress ignore the pleas of millions of hardworking Americans?

Pensions have afforded millions of retired middle-class people some economic security in their retirement years. Please let our colleagues join us in broad bipartisan passage of the Butch Lewis Act tomorrow.

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