SJR23,,112023 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 23 April 3, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Wirch, Carpenter, Hesselbein, L. Johnson, Roys and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Representatives C. Anderson, Bare, Emerson, Hong, Joers, Madison, Ortiz-Velez, Ratcliff, Sinicki and Shankland. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.
SJR23,,22Relating to: affirming the Wisconsin State Legislature’s support for Social Security and Medicare. SJR23,,33Whereas, Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, also known as Social Security, was enacted in 1935 to provide a safety net for workers in the event of old age, disability, or the death of a parent or spouse; and SJR23,,44Whereas, Social Security has become extremely popular and successful in its nearly 90-year existence; and SJR23,,55Whereas, in 2023, an average of almost 67 million Americans each month receive some form of Social Security benefit, totaling over one trillion dollars in benefits paid during the year; and SJR23,,66Whereas, Social Security is the primary source of income for many or most retirees, with nine out of ten people aged 65 and older receiving a Social Security benefit as of December 31, 2022; and SJR23,,77Whereas, Social Security provides more than just retirement benefits. Disabled workers and their dependents accounted for almost 12 percent of the total benefits paid in 2022, and the survivors of deceased workers accounted for 11.5 percent; and SJR23,,88Whereas, Social Security currently lifts more than 16 million older adults and 1.1 million children out of poverty; and SJR23,,99Whereas, Medicare started in 1965 through an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1935; and SJR23,,1010Whereas, Medicare serves as the primary source of health insurance for 65 million Americans, either aged 65 and older or younger people living with long-term disabilities; and SJR23,,1111Whereas, Medicare helps to pay for hospital and physician visits, prescription drugs, and other acute and post-acute care services; and SJR23,,1212Whereas, Medicare plays a major role in the health-care system, accounting for 21 percent of total national health spending in 2021; and SJR23,,1313Whereas, Medicare covers 62 percent of all long-term care costs in the United States; and SJR23,,1414Whereas, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will increase from about 58 million in 2022 to about 76 million by 2035; now, therefore, be it SJR23,,1515Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature support Social Security and Medicare, and Wisconsin’s congressional delegation is urged to oppose any cuts or changes that would harm the viability and stability of these programs.
