Sam JohnsonVerified account

Having a modern IT infrastructure is going to be critical for Social Security’s future, and I look forward to hearing how Social Security can get there on time and on budget. Americans want, need, and deserve nothing less.

But there is still a long way to go. It’s going to take consistent leadership at Social Security, and it’s going to take continued oversight from Congress to make sure Social Security isn’t just spinning its wheels.

Social Security is undergoing a technology transformation that is long overdue. These changes will not only make sure Social Security can quickly respond to new challenges, but also ensure the agency can serve Americans in a modern way.

But I also have some good news to share. After releasing a modernization plan last October, Social Security has started to make some real progress in bringing the agency’s information technology into the 21st century.

Although Social Security now has modern hardware and modern data centers, its employees are still using software that is decades out of date. About 30% of these legacy systems still use COBOL code, an ancient programming language that isn’t even taught in schools anymore.

Over the years, the Subcommittee has continued to focus on this important topic. In fact, the first hearing that I held as Chairman back in 2011 was on replacing Social Security’s aging data center.

While Social Security faces many challenges, information technology is among the most critical to providing the exceptional service Americans expect and deserve.

I’m proud to say that one of this Subcommittee’s recent successes is the bipartisan representative payee bill that became law earlier this year. @RepJohnLarson & I did this together. He’s been a good friend & it’s been a pleasure to lead this Subcommittee w/ him. GBU partner

I thank all my colleagues on the Social Security Subcommittee for the honor of serving with them on behalf of the American people. I also want to thank the Subcommittee staff who work behind the scenes to help make our successes possible.

As Chairman, I’ve focused on many challenges facing Social Security such as modernizing the disability program; combating fraud; protecting Americans from identity theft; & making sure our children and grandchildren can count on Social Security.

This is the last hearing I plan to hold as Subcommittee Chairman.

The IRS already allows state and local workers as well as teachers to do this. So, too, should our brave men and women in uniform. They should NOT be penalized when it comes to saving for retirement simply for serving our country.

My Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act addresses this problem by allowing Guard & Reserve forces to contribute the maximum to BOTH their civilian 401(k) plan AND their military TSP.

However, Guard & Reserve forces who have already hit the IRS contribution cap in their civilian 401(k) are unable to receive their military TSP matching funds AT ALL! This in turn hurts our military’s ability to recruit & retain the best & brightest.

The ’16 NDAA included military retirement reforms that reduced the military pension but helped make up for this by allowing servicemembers to receive matching TSP funds for the first time.

America’s Guard and Reserve forces typically have a civilian job in addition to their military career. BC of this, they often have a civilian 401(k) in addition to their military TSP.

Included in H.R. 6757 is my Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act, a commonsense measure to correct a problem in the ’16 NDAA, which limits the ability of Guard & Reserve forces to save for retirement.