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
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.
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.