2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
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2023 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.
1 Relating to: affirming the Wisconsin State Legislature's support for Social Security
2 and Medicare.
3 Whereas, Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, also known as Social
4 Security, was enacted in 1935 to provide a safety net for workers in the event of old
5 age, disability, or the death of a parent or spouse; and
6 Whereas, Social Security has become extremely popular and successful in its
7 nearly 90-year existence; and
8 Whereas, in 2023, an average of almost 67 million Americans each month
9 receive some form of Social Security benefit, totaling over one trillion dollars in
10 benefits paid during the year; and
11 Whereas, Social Security is the primary source of income for many or most
12 retirees, with nine out of ten people aged 65 and older receiving a Social Security
13 benefit as of December 31, 2022; and
14 Whereas, Social Security provides more than just retirement benefits.
15 Disabled workers and their dependents accounted for almost 12 percent of the total
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1 benefits paid in 2022, and the survivors of deceased workers accounted for 11.5
2 percent; and
3 Whereas, Social Security currently lifts more than 16 million older adults and
4 1.1 million children out of poverty; and
5 Whereas, Medicare started in 1965 through an amendment to the Social
6 Security Act of 1935; and
7 Whereas, Medicare serves as the primary source of health insurance for 65
8 million Americans, either aged 65 and older or younger people living with long-term
9 disabilities; and
10 Whereas, Medicare helps to pay for hospital and physician visits, prescription
11 drugs, and other acute and post-acute care services; and
12 Whereas, Medicare plays a major role in the health-care system, accounting for
13 21 percent of total national health spending in 2021; and
14 Whereas, Medicare covers 62 percent of all long-term care costs in the United
15 States; and
16 Whereas, the number of Americans aged 65 and older will increase from about
17 58 million in 2022 to about 76 million by 2035; now, therefore, be it
18 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the
19 Wisconsin Legislature support Social Security and Medicare, and Wisconsin's
20 congressional delegation is urged to oppose any cuts or changes that would harm the
21 viability and stability of these programs.
22 (END)