The United States has 20 such agreements with other countries, but those countries have economies similar to ours.  The pacts are intended to ensure that workers who spend part of their careers working in another country are not subjected to double taxation, and they allow workers to total the amount of time worked in both countries in order to qualify for Social Security benefits.

In addition to this agreement with Mexico, President Bush is pushing another immigration proposal that would also provide access to Social Security for other immigrants, including some who are working here illegally.  At the same time, however, the President has been barnstorming the country telling the public that the long-term financing of Social Security is “in crisis” and that benefits must be cut.

Recently Representative Virgil Goode, Jr. (VA), an ally of TSCL, introduced a resolution co-sponsored by 25 other colleagues telling President Bush not to submit the U.S. Mexico Social Security agreement to Congress.  “It will be a drain on the Social Security Trust Fund,” said Congressman Goode.  “We have hordes of illegals here.  If they get an amnesty, they’ll be able to reap a huge benefit under this agreement,” he said.

Earlier this year TSCL also endorsed a resolution introduced by Representative J.D. Hayworth (AZ).  H. Res. 20 would disapprove the U.S. -Mexico Social Security agreement, stopping its implementation.  This would be the only way for Congress to stop the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Agreement once the president sends it to Congress.

Sources: Proposed Totalization Agreement With Mexico Presents Unique Challenges, Statement Barbara D. Bovbjerg, GAO, September 11, 2003. “U.S. Social Security Pact With Mexico Faces Trouble,” Alan Elsner, Reuters, February 14, 2005