SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A resolution that passed an Illinois Senate committee asks for Congress to not raise the retirement age for social security. 

State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-East St. Louis) says the average age for low income Black workers is below 68, the age they would receive social security benefits. He also says forcing senior citizens to work during harsh winters could cause major health issues. 

"So let's say just say you're 68 and this measure was voted on and you're 70, you got to go outside and work today," Belt said. "Where your body may not be able to withstand the temperature or withstand the elements, you got to go out there."

Republicans were against the resolution, saying that social security needs reform to help future generations, and that this resolution was political grandstanding.

"It is a bit rich for the state of Illinois considering the status of our pensions," State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Vandalia) said. "We're going to tell Washington D.C. how to manage retirements when the state of Illinois is probably 48th or 49th, if not 50th, of the country in taking care of our own people."

According to US News, Illinois is ranked 50th on pension reliability.

The resolution passed along a partisan 7-3 vote with one present. 

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