[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 963 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 963
To require expedited consideration of a bill that addresses the
insolvency of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or
the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund in the case that either
trust fund becomes insolvent.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2025
Mr. Ryan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules,
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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require expedited consideration of a bill that addresses the
insolvency of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or
the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund in the case that either
trust fund becomes insolvent.
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 Social Security Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Social Security is under threat from President Donald
Trump and politicians like Speaker Mike Johnson, J.D. Vance,
and Rick Scott.
(2) Social Security is an earned benefit that Americans
have paid into over the course of their lifetime and belongs to
those who have worked for it.
(3) Social Security benefits have not been expanded in over
50 years.
(4) Nearly 9 out of every 10 people age 65 and older
receive Social Security benefits.
(5) The 176-member House Republican Study Committee
approved a plan that would increase the retirement age to 69
years old.
(6) Social Security benefits are protected against
inflation through automatic cost-of-living adjustments.
(7) There should be a Social Security field office
operating in every county in the country that has a population
greater than 150,000 people.
(8) Social Security is life saving for people without
pensions or significant savings to protect themselves against
hardship.
(9) Access to local Social Security offices is essential
for those who rely on the program and may not be able to seek
help online or over the phone.
(10) More than 9,000,000 veterans receive Social Security
benefits.
(11) Over 6,000,000 children depend on Social Security
because their parent has died, they live with a disability, or
they live in a household that receives income from Social
Security.
SEC. 3. SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES.
Section 205 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 505) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(v) Field Office Requirements.--The Commissioner of Social
Security shall ensure that there is a field office operating in every
county in the country that has a population greater than 150,000
people.''.
SEC. 4. SOCIAL SECURITY INSOLVENCY.
During any period for which the Commissioner of Social Security
certifies that the balance of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors
Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund
established under section 201 of such the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 401) is insufficient to finance benefit payments under title II
of such Act, there shall be appropriated to the insolvent trust fund,
on a monthly basis, an amount that is equal to the amount necessary for
the Social Security Administration to pay such benefit payments.
SEC. 5. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY SOLVENCY BILLS.
(a) Qualifying Legislation.--
(1) Certification.--If the balance of the Federal Old-Age
and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability
Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401) becomes insufficient to
finance benefit payments under title II of such Act, then the
Commissioner of Social Security shall certify to Congress that
the Administration is unable to finance such benefit payments.
(2) Entitlement to expedited consideration.--Only a Social
Security solvency bill shall be entitled to expedited
consideration under this section upon Congress receiving the
certification described in paragraph (1).
(3) Social security solvency bill defined.--In this Act,
the term ``Social Security solvency bill'' means a bill
consisting solely of legislative language that--
(A) ensures that individuals entitled to a benefit
under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
401 et seq.) will continue to receive full benefits;
(B) will not raise taxes on individuals other than
those described in subparagraph (C) or decrease
benefits provided under such title; and
(C) ensures that any need for additional funds is
to be borne by the ultra-wealthy and corporations.
(b) Consideration in the House of Representatives.--
(1) Introduction.--Upon receipt by Congress of a
certification from the Commissioner of Social Security
described in subsection (a)(1), a Social Security Solvency bill
described in subsection (a)(3) shall be jointly introduced in
the House of Representatives (by request) by the majority
leader and the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(2) Referral and reporting.--Any committee of the House of
Representatives to which a Social Security Solvency bill is
referred shall report the Social Security Solvency bill to the
House of Representatives without amendment not later than 5
legislative days after the date on which the Social Security
Solvency bill was so referred. If any committee of the House of
Representatives to which a Social Security Solvency bill is
referred fails to report the Social Security Solvency bill
within that period, that committee shall be automatically
discharged from consideration of the Social Security Solvency
bill, and the Social Security Solvency bill shall be placed on
the appropriate calendar.
(3) Proceeding to consideration.--After the last committee
authorized to consider a Social Security Solvency bill reports
it to the House of Representatives or has been discharged from
its consideration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to
consider the Social Security Solvency bill in the House of
Representatives. Such a motion shall not be in order after the
House of Representatives has disposed of a motion to proceed
with respect to the Social Security Solvency bill. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its
adoption without intervening motion. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
(4) Consideration.--The Social Security Solvency bill shall
be considered as read. All points of order against the Social
Security Solvency bill and against its consideration are
waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on
the Social Security Solvency bill to its passage without
intervening motion except 2 hours of debate equally divided and
controlled by the proponent and an opponent. A motion to
reconsider the vote on passage of the Social Security Solvency
bill shall not be in order.
(5) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage of the Social
Security Solvency bill shall occur not later than 15 days after
the date of the introduction of such bill under paragraph (1).
(c) Expedited Procedure in the Senate.--
(1) Reconvening and introduction.--Upon receipt by Congress
of a certification from the Commissioner of Social Security
described in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) if the Senate has adjourned or recessed for
more than 2 days, the majority leader of the Senate,
after consultation with the minority leader of the
Senate, shall notify the Members of the Senate that,
pursuant to this section, the Senate shall convene not
later than the second calendar day after receipt of
such message; and
(B) a Social Security Solvency bill described in
subsection (a)(3) shall be jointly introduced in the
Senate (by request) by the majority leader and the
minority leader of the Senate.
(2) Committee consideration.--A Social Security Solvency
bill introduced in the Senate under paragraph (1) shall be
jointly referred to the committee or committees of
jurisdiction, which committees shall report the Social Security
Solvency bill without any revision and with a favorable
recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or without
recommendation, not later than 5 session days after the date on
which the Social Security Solvency bill was so referred. If any
committee to which a Social Security Solvency bill is referred
fails to report the Social Security Solvency bill within that
period, that committee shall be automatically discharged from
consideration of the Social Security Solvency bill, and the
Social Security Solvency bill shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar.
(3) Proceeding.--Notwithstanding rule XXII of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 days of
session after the date on which a Social Security Solvency bill
is reported or discharged from all committees to which the
Social Security Solvency bill was referred, for the majority
leader of the Senate or the designee of the majority leader to
move to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security
Solvency bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of the
Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the Social
Security Solvency bill at any time after the conclusion of such
2-day period. A motion to proceed is in order even though a
previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. All
points of order against the motion to proceed to the Social
Security Solvency bill are waived. The motion to proceed is not
debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A
motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed
to the consideration of the Social Security Solvency bill is
agreed to, the Social Security Solvency bill shall remain the
unfinished business until disposed of. All points of order
against the Social Security Solvency bill and against
consideration of the Social Security Solvency bill are waived.
(4) No amendments.--An amendment to a Social Security
Solvency bill, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed
to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit
the Social Security Solvency bill, is not in order.
(5) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules
of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to
a Social Security Solvency bill shall be decided without
debate.
(6) Debate.--Debate on the Social Security Solvency bill,
and on all debatable motions and appeals in connection
therewith, shall be limited to not more than 10 hours, which
shall be divided equally between the majority and minority
leaders or their designees.
(7) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage shall occur
immediately following the conclusion of the debate on the
Social Security Solvency bill, and a single quorum call at the
conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with the
rules of the Senate.
(d) Amendment.--A Social Security Solvency bill shall not be
subject to amendment in either the Senate or the House of
Representatives.
(e) Consideration by the Other House.--
(1) In general.--If, before passing the Social Security
Solvency bill, one House receives from the other a Social
Security Solvency bill--
(A) the Social Security Solvency bill of the other
House shall not be referred to a committee; and
(B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be
the same as if no Social Security Solvency bill had
been received from the other House until the vote on
passage, when the Social Security Solvency bill
received from the other House shall supplant the Social
Security Solvency bill of the receiving House.
(2) Revenue measure.--This subsection shall not apply to
the House of Representatives if the Social Security Solvency
bill received from the Senate is a revenue measure.
(f) Rules To Coordinate Action With Other House.--
(1) Treatment of social security solvency bill of other
house.--If the Senate fails to introduce or consider a Social
Security Solvency bill under this section, the Social Security
Solvency bill of the House of Representatives shall be entitled
to expedited floor procedures under this section.
(2) Treatment of companion measures in the senate.--If,
following passage of the Social Security Solvency bill in the
Senate, the Senate then receives the Social Security Solvency
bill from the House of Representatives, the House-passed Social
Security Solvency bill shall not be debatable. The vote on
passage of the Social Security Solvency bill in the Senate
shall be considered to be the vote on passage of the Social
Security Solvency bill received from the House of
Representatives.
(3) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the Social Security
Solvency bill, debate on a veto message in the Senate under
this section shall be 1 hour equally divided between the
majority and minority leaders or their designees.
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