Bill Summary
This legislation, titled the "Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act", aims to restore protections for Social Security, Railroad retirement, and Black Lung benefits from administrative offset. This means that the government would no longer have the authority to take money from these benefits to pay off any debts or overpayments. This protection would apply to all individuals receiving these benefits, including those under the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The legislation also repeals the administrative offset authority, meaning that the government can no longer use this method to collect debts from individuals receiving these benefits. These changes would apply to any collections made on or after the date of enactment of the Act.
Possible Impacts
1. This bill could affect people by restoring protections for their Social Security, Railroad retirement, and Black Lung benefits, thereby providing them with a safety net for their finances and well-being.
2. The bill could also impact people by prohibiting administrative offset authority, meaning that the government would no longer be able to take money from their Social Security or other benefits to pay off debts or overpayments. This could alleviate financial burden and stress for individuals who may have been struggling to make ends meet.
3. Additionally, the repeal of administrative offset authority could affect people by potentially allowing them to keep more of their benefits and have a better quality of life, as they would not have to worry about the government taking away a portion of their benefits.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2991 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2991
To restore protections for Social Security, Railroad retirement, and
Black Lung benefits from administrative offset.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2019
Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, and Ms. Fudge)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 restore protections for Social Security, Railroad retirement, and
Black Lung benefits from administrative offset.
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 ``Protection of Social Security
Benefits Restoration Act''.
SEC. 2. PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY, RAILROAD RETIREMENT, AND BLACK LUNG
BENEFITS FROM ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET.
(a) Prohibition on Administrative Offset Authority.--
(1) Assignment under social security act.--Section 207 of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 407) is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of section 3716(c)(3) of
title 31, United States Code, as such subparagraphs were in effect on
the date before the date of enactment of the Protection of Social
Security Benefits Restoration Act, shall be null and void and of no
effect.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 14(a) of the Railroad Retirement Act of
1974 (45 U.S.C. 231m(a)) is amended by adding at the
end the following: ``. The provisions of section 207(d)
of the Social Security Act shall apply with respect to
this title to the same extent as they apply in the case
of title II of such Act.''.
(B) Section 2(e) of the Railroad Unemployment
Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(e)) is amended by adding
at the end the following: ``The provisions of section
207(d) of the Social Security Act shall apply with
respect to this title to the same extent as they apply
in the case of title II of such Act.''
(b) Repeal of Administrative Offset Authority.--
(1) In general.--Paragraph (3) of section 3716(c) of title
31, United States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``(3)(A)(i) Notwithstanding'' and
all that follows through ``any overpayment under such
program).'';
(B) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D); and
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as paragraph
(3).
(2) Conforming amendment.--Paragraph (5) of such section is
amended by striking ``the Commissioner of Social Security
and''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to any collection by administrative offset occurring on or after
the date of enactment of this Act of a claim arising before, on, or
after the date of enactment of this Act.
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