SRES363FEB3

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending February 3, 2006

S.RES.363 A resolution designating February 2006 as "Go Direct Month".

BRIEF

Paper checks, the Resolution preamble notes, are not just an inconvenience to the US Treasury but lend themselves easily to theft and fraud. 70,000 checks worth $61 million were illegally signed for in 2004. 500,000 Americans call the Treasury yearly to solve check problems.

Congress took action in 1986 to improve direct deposit and has saved $5 billion yet 1 in 5 new Social Security beneficiaries don’t sign up for direct deposit.

The Senate, then, declares February 2006 as “Go Direct Month” with the hopes of alerting Americans to the benefits of direct deposit and getting them to sign up.

Sponsor: Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent Feb. 1, 2006.

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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MORE INFORMATION

Whereas the Department of Treasury issued over 70,000 checks worth approximately $61,000,000 that were illegally signed for in 2004;

Whereas the Department of the Treasury receives approximately 500,000 telephone calls each year regarding problems with paper checks;

Whereas the use of direct deposit has resulted in approximately $5,000,000,000 in savings for the Federal Government since 1986;

Whereas 1 out of every 5 newly eligible Social Security recipients has yet to sign up for direct deposit;

Whereas the United States would generate approximately $120,000,000 in annual savings if all federal beneficiaries used direct deposit;

Whereas the use of direct deposit is a more secure, reliable, and cost effective method of payment because the use of direct deposit--

(1) eliminates the risk of lost or stolen checks;

(2) helps protect against fraud; and

(3) provides citizens of the United States with more control over their money;

Whereas the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank has launched `Go Direct', a national campaign organized to encourage citizens of the United States to use direct deposit for the receipt of Social Security and other Federal benefits; and

Whereas, by working with financial institutions, advocacy groups, and community organizations, the sponsors of `Go Direct' educate citizens of the United States about the advantages of using direct deposit and assist them during the enrollment process: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) supports the goals and ideas of `Go Direct';

(2) proclaims February 2006 as `Go Direct Month';

(3) commends Federal, State, and local governments, and the private sector, for promoting February as `Go Direct Month'; and

(4) encourages all citizens of the United States to--

(A) participate in events and awareness initiatives held during the month of February;

(B) become informed about the convenience and safety of direct deposit; and

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