Congressman Speaks To ALJ Class

     From a press release:

Addressing a new group of judges being sworn in today to determine the outcomes of Social Security Disability cases, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) used his life story to emphasize the importance of their task. His remarks were part of a keynote address delivered to nineteen new Administrative Law Judges and ten new Administrative Appeals Judges for the Social Security Administration (SSA) who will play a key role in reducing the disability backlog. During his speech before administering the oath of office, Langevin recalled the incident when a gun accidentally discharged and fired a bullet that severed his spinal cord, leaving him a quadriplegic at age 16. ...

Langevin has supported efforts to reduce the backlog of cases, the number of which increased when the economic downturn hit. For Fiscal Year 2012, which began in October, the average processing time for a case is down 80 days from FY 2010 and 168 days from FY 2008. In addition, according to SSA, the Administration is issuing more hearing decisions, an increase of 45% between FYs 2007 and 2011, and expects that to increase to 55% through FY 2012. ...