[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3468 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3468
To require the Commissioner of Social Security, the Administrator of
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development to certify to Congress that any
planned staffing cuts or regional field office closures will not impact
the provision of Congressionally-authorized services, and for other
purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2025
Ms. Sherrill introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on
Energy and Commerce, Veterans' Affairs, and Financial Services, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
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A BILL
To require the Commissioner of Social Security, the Administrator of
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development to certify to Congress that any
planned staffing cuts or regional field office closures will not impact
the provision of Congressionally-authorized services, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Retirement and Health
Benefits for Families Act''.
SEC. 2. CERTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--The head of a covered agency shall certify to
Congress before carrying out a covered activity that such covered
activity will not impact the provision of services or benefits by such
covered agency in a manner that--
(1) reduces the receipt of benefits or financial assistance
from a covered agency by individuals who are eligible for, or
entitled to, such benefits or financial assistance;
(2) increases delays in the receipt of benefits or
financial assistance from a covered agency, or in the response
times of a covered agency to inquiries about benefit or
financial assistance receipt, by individuals who are eligible
for, or entitled to, such benefits or financial assistance; or
(3) limits the ability of the staff of a covered agency to
conduct outreach or other activities designed to increase the
receipt of benefits or financial assistance from a covered
agency by individuals who are eligible for, or entitled to,
such benefits or financial assistance.
(b) Report.--Along with each certification required by subsection
(a), the head of a covered agency shall submit a report to Congress
explaining how the head of the agency will shift resources or
operational procedures of the agency to ensure that carrying out the
covered activity does not impact the provision of services or benefits
by that covered agency in a manner described under paragraphs (1)
through (3) of subsection (a), including how the head of the covered
agency will shift resources or operational procedures of the agency to
prevent the covered activity from--
(1) causing staffing shortages that reduce the ability of
the covered agency to process benefit claims and send out
benefit payments;
(2) leading to increases in phone and walk-in wait times
for benefits-related inquiries;
(3) reducing the level or intensity of outreach efforts
designed to boost the receipt of benefits by individuals
eligible for those benefits;
(4) harming the ability of the head of such covered agency
to conduct regulatory, investigatory, and enforcement functions
that protect the public, ensure compliance with applicable
laws, and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and
(5) harming the ability of the head of such covered agency
to fulfill statutory and administrative mandates related to the
core functions of the agency, including those not explicitly
tied to direct benefits disbursement but integral to public
service, financial administration, support for State and
municipal housing authorities, health care oversight, tax
administration, or the administration of veterans' health care
and education benefits.
(c) Inspector General Study and Report.--With respect to each
covered activity carried out by the head of a covered agency, the
Inspector General concerned shall, not later than 1 year after the head
of a covered agency submits the certification required by subsection
(a) with respect to such activity, and one year after the head of such
agency carries out such activity--
(1) study whether carrying out such covered activity has
impacted the provision of services or benefits by that covered
agency in a manner described under paragraphs (1) through (3)
of subsection (a); and
(2) submit a report to Congress on the results of such
study.
(d) Reversal of Covered Activity.--If an Inspector General
determines under the study required by subsection (b) that carrying out
a covered activity effected the provision of services or benefits by a
covered agency in a manner described under paragraphs (1) through (3)
of subsection (a), the head of such covered agency shall reverse the
covered activity, including by--
(1) reinstating any laid-off staff; and
(2) reopening shuttered regional field offices.
(e) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Covered activity.--The term ``covered activity''
means--
(A) any planned staffing cuts under which the head
of a covered agency expects to reduce the overall
staffing level of such covered agency by over five
percent in a single year;
(B) any planned regional field office closures
under which the head of a covered agency expects to
reduce the overall number of regional field offices of
such covered agency by over five percent in a single
year;
(C) any budget reallocation, funding recession, or
structural reorganization that would result in a
measurable reduction in the ability of the covered
agency to provide timely and effective services,
including processing claims, issuing refunds or
benefits, responding to public inquiries, enforcing
regulatory obligations, and conducting outreach or
compliance activities; or
(D) any restructuring of enforcement,
investigatory, or regulatory activities that could
significantly weaken beneficiary or taxpayer
protections, reduce agency oversight capabilities, or
increase risks of fraud, waste, or abuse in programs
administered by such covered agency.
(2) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means the
following:
(A) The Social Security Administration.
(B) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service.
(C) The Internal Revenue Service.
(D) The Department of Veterans Affairs.
(E) The Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
(3) Inspector general concerned.--The term ``Inspector
General concerned'' means--
(A) with respect to the Social Security
Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
Inspector General of the applicable agency;
(B) with respect to the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the Inspector General of the
Department of Health and Human Services; and
(C) with respect to the Internal Revenue Services,
the Treasury IG for Tax Administration.
(f) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date
that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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