MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                           3819

than July 1, 1975, and report its findings to the
Governor and General Assembly not later than January 1,
1976; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be sent to
the Honorable Marvin Mandel, Governor, [[and]] Dr. Wilson
H. Elkins, President, University of Maryland , and Dr.
Steven Muller, President, Johns Hopkins University.

Approved April 8, 1975.

No. 12
(Senate Joint Resolution 42)

A Senate Joint Resolution concerning

Medicare Coverage

FOR the purpose of requesting the 94th Congress to amend
the federal Medicare provisions to reduce the age of
eligibility to include certain retired employees.

The present law governing railroad employees  permits

them to retire with full benefits at the age of  60 with

30 years of service. In addition, Public Law 93—445

permits a railroad employee who takes advantage  of this
provision to collect a $70 supplemental pension and

permits his spouse to be eligible to collect her  annuity
at the age of 60.

Under the present terms of the Social Security Act a
worker and his spouse may retire and draw benefits at a
reduced amount at the age of 62 years.

Several other industries also permit early
retirement under conditions similar to that governing
railroad employees.

At the present time unemployment is one of the most
pressing problems facing the Nation. It is reaching a
level in the railroad industry similar to that in other
industries because of reduced freight shipments.
Penn—Central and seven other Northeast railroads are
presently in financial straits which are so dire that
CONRAIL will be operating only the profitable lines after
1975. This will lead to abandonment of the other lines
and result in large numbers of railroad employees either
taking an early retirement or being furloughed.