Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to the President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, February 19, 1999

ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR. 2d District, Maryland 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3061 COMMITTEES BUDGET BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES Subcommittcc on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP Congress of tf ]t Untteb States Щош of Eepresientattbeg ®2UasStington, 2ЭС 20515-2002 February 19, 1999 Mr. Thomas J. Donohue President and Chief Executive Officer U.S. Chamber of Commerce 1615 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20062 DISTRICT offices: 1407 York Road Suite 304 Lutherville, MD 21093 (410) 337-7222 45 North Main Street Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 838-2517 Government Building 7701 Wise Avenue 2nd Floor Dundalk, MD 21222 (410) 284-6828 1011 Old Eastern Avenue Essex, MD 21221 (410) 780-3911 Lake Shore Professional Bldg. 4231 Postal Court Suite 204 Pasadena, MD 21122 (410) 255-6983 Dear Mr. Donohue: I was pleased to read in the National Journal’s CongressDailyAM edition on February 5,h about your views on Social Security reform, in particular, the Social Security earnings limit on senior citizens. We both agree wholeheartedly that lifting the Social Security earning limits is not only important to seniors but also to the businesses and organizations the U.S. Chamber represents. I am writing to request your support for my efforts to raise the limits the Social Security earnings threshold places on another class of workers-the blind. Originally, both blind Americans and seniors were linked for the purposes of this Social Security earnings test. In 1996, however, the exempt earnings threshold for seniors was raised to $30,000 while excluding the blind for the higher allowable earnings rat e-breaking the link. Under current law, a blind person receiving Social Security Disability Insurance loses all benefits by earning more than $1,1 10 a month. After paying taxes and the costs of working, the income resulting from an entry-level job is often less than the average Social Security benefit. With unemployment among working-age blind people above 70%, this is truly a crisis. As a result, I am the lead-sponsor of a bill entitled the "Blind Empowerment Act" (BEA) which will relink the blind’s exempt earnings threshold with that of seniors. In 1996, Congress, the Chamber, and other organizations worked together so that more senior citizens would have the opportunity to continue to work, earn, and pay taxes. In 1999, we must once again work together to ensure these same opportunities exist for the blind. The Blind Empowerment Act, with currently 1 50 original co-sponsors, has received positive media coverage. I hope you will join me in support of the BEA. Very truly yours, Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Member of Congress PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER