HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 73

(By Delegates Pyles, Lynch, Ferro, Iaquinta, Caputo, Fleischauer, Love, Moye, Longstreth, Rowan and Rohrbach)

[Introduced February 13, 2018; Referred to the Committee on Rules ]

Urging the United States Congress to increase the Social Security death benefit from $255 to $1000.

Whereas, The death benefit available through Social Security offers an important benefit to many families faced with final expenses related to the death of a loved one; and

Whereas, The benefit has remained at or near its present level for more than six decades; and

Whereas, The effectiveness of the benefit now offered has been eroded over time compared to the increased costs associated with a person’s final expenses; and

Whereas, The Social Security lump sum death benefit is inadequate to fulfill the historic purpose of assisting survivors of the insured; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the West Virginia Legislature hereby strongly urges the United States Congress to fund the Social Security death benefit payable to each eligible beneficiary at $1000; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of West Virginia’s congressional delegation.