[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1700 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1700
To enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency
of the Social Security program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Ms. Hoyle of Oregon (for herself, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Carter of
Louisiana, Mr. Casar, Ms. Chu, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Lois Frankel
of Florida, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Khanna, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Moore of
Wisconsin, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Pocan, Mrs.
Ramirez, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Tlaib, and Ms. Tokuda) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means,
and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and
Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency
of the Social Security program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Social Security
Expansion Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Across-the-board benefit increase.
Sec. 3. Computation of cost-of-living increases.
Sec. 4. Increase in minimum benefit for lifetime low earners based on
years in the workforce.
Sec. 5. Extended benefit eligibility for children who are full-time
students.
Sec. 6. Payroll tax on remuneration up to contribution and benefit base
and more than $250,000.
Sec. 7. Tax on net earnings from self-employment up to contribution and
benefit base and more than $250,000.
Sec. 8. Tax on investment gain.
Sec. 9. Social Security Trust Fund established.
SEC. 2. ACROSS-THE-BOARD BENEFIT INCREASE.
(a) Increase of First Bend Point Percentage.--Section
215(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(A)(i))
is amended by striking ``90 percent'' and inserting ``95 percent''.
(b) Adjustment To Bend Point Amount.--
(1) In general.--Section 215(a)(1)(B) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(B)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause (iv);
and
(B) by inserting after clause (ii) the following
new clause:
``(iii) For an individual who is eligible for an old-age or
disability insurance benefit (or who dies before becoming
eligible for such a benefit) in any calendar year after 2025,
the amount determined for the individual under clause (ii) of
this subparagraph for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)(I) shall
be increased by 18 percent.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Clause (iv) of section
215(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
415(a)(1)(B)), as redesignated by paragraph (1), is amended by
inserting ``(after the application of clause (iii), when
applicable)'' after ``clause (ii)''.
(c) Effective Date.--
(1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall
take effect on January 1, 2026, and shall apply with respect to
monthly insurance benefits payable under title II of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) for months in calendar
years beginning on or after such date.
(2) Recomputation of primary insurance amounts.--
(A) In general.--Notwithstanding section 215(f) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(f)), the
Commissioner of Social Security shall recompute primary
insurance amounts to the extent necessary to carry out
the amendments to this section.
(B) Rule of application.--In recomputing the
primary insurance amount of an individual who initially
became eligible for old-age or disability insurance
benefits before January 1, 2026, the Commissioner of
Social Security shall apply the increase described in
clause (iii) of section 215(a)(1)(B) of the Social
Security Act (as added by subsection (b)(1)(B)) to the
amount determined under clause (ii) of such section
215(a)(1)(B) for the calendar year in which the
individual initially became eligible for such benefits.
SEC. 3. COMPUTATION OF COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES.
(a) In General.--Section 215(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 415(i)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(H) the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Consumer
Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E, as published by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor).''.
(b) Application to Pre-1979 Law.--
(1) In general.--Section 215(i)(1) of the Social Security
Act as in effect in December 1978, and as applied in certain
cases under the provisions of such Act as in effect after
December 1978, is amended by adding at the end the following
new subparagraph:
``(D) the term `Consumer Price Index' means the Consumer
Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-E, as published by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor).''.
(2) Conforming change.--Section 215(i)(4) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(4)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``and by section 9001'' and
inserting ``, section 9001''; and
(B) by inserting ``and section 3 of the Social
Security Expansion Act,'' after ``1986,''.
(c) No Effect on Adjustments Under Other Laws.--Section 215(i) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(6) Any provision of law (other than in this title, title VIII,
or title XVI) which provides for adjustment of an amount based on a
change in benefit amounts resulting from a determination made under
this subsection shall be applied and administered without regard to the
amendments made by section 3 of the Social Security Expansion Act, and,
for purposes of making such an adjustment under such a provision, this
subsection as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of such
Act shall continue to apply.''.
(d) Publication of Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers.--The
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor shall prepare and
publish the index authorized by section 191 of the Older Americans
Amendments Act of 1987 (29 U.S.C. 2 note) for each calendar month,
beginning with July of the calendar year following the calendar year in
which this Act is enacted, and such index shall be known as the
``Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply to determinations made with respect to cost-of-living computation
quarters (as defined in section 215(i)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 415(i)(1)(B))) ending on or after September 30 of the second
calendar year following the calendar year in which this Act is enacted.
SEC. 4. INCREASE IN MINIMUM BENEFIT FOR LIFETIME LOW EARNERS BASED ON
YEARS IN THE WORKFORCE.
(a) In General.--Section 215(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 415(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new
subparagraph:
``(D)(i) Effective with respect to the benefits of individuals who
become eligible for old-age insurance benefits or disability insurance
benefits (or die before becoming so eligible) after 2025, no primary
insurance amount computed under subparagraph (A) may be less than the
greater of--
``(I) the minimum monthly amount computed under
subparagraph (C); or
``(II) in the case of an individual who has more than 10
years of work (as defined in clause (iv)(I)), the alternative
minimum amount determined under clause (ii).
``(ii)(I) The alternative minimum amount determined under this
clause is the applicable percentage of \1/12\ of the annual dollar
amount determined under clause (iii) for the year in which the amount
is determined.
``(II) For purposes of subclause (I), the applicable percentage is
the percentage specified in connection with the number of years of
work, as set forth in the following table:
``If the number of years The applicable
of work is: percentage is:
11........................................... 6.25 percent
12........................................... 12.50 percent
13........................................... 18.75 percent
14........................................... 25.00 percent
15........................................... 31.25 percent
16........................................... 37.50 percent
17........................................... 43.75 percent
18........................................... 50.00 percent
19........................................... 56.25 percent
20........................................... 62.50 percent
21........................................... 68.75 percent
22........................................... 75.00 percent
23........................................... 81.25 percent
24........................................... 87.50 percent
25........................................... 93.75 percent
26........................................... 100.00 percent
27........................................... 106.25 percent
28........................................... 112.50 percent
29........................................... 118.75 percent
30 or more................................... 125.00 percent.
``(iii) The annual dollar amount determined under this clause is--
``(I) for calendar year 2026, the poverty guideline for
2025; and
``(II) for any calendar year after 2026, the annual dollar
amount for 2026 multiplied by the ratio of--
``(aa) the national average wage index (as defined
in section 209(k)(1)) for the second calendar year
preceding the calendar year for which the determination
is made, to
``(bb) the national average wage index (as so
defined) for 2024.
``(iv) For purposes of this subparagraph--
``(I) the term `year of work' means, with respect to an
individual, a year to which 4 quarters of coverage have been
credited based on such individual's wages and self-employment
income; and
``(II) the term `poverty guideline for 2025' means the
annual poverty guideline for 2025 (as updated annually in the
Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services
under the authority of section 673(2) of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981) as applicable to a single
individual.''.
(b) Recomputation.--Notwithstanding section 215(f)(1) of the Social
Security Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall recompute
primary insurance amounts originally computed for months prior to
November 2025 to the extent necessary to carry out the amendments made
by this section.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 209(k)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
409(k)(1)) is amended by inserting ``215(a)(1)(E),'' after
``215(a)(1)(D),''.
SEC. 5. EXTENDED BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE FULL-TIME
STUDENTS.
(a) In General.--
(1) In general.--Section 202(d) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 402(d)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``or (ii)'' and
inserting ``(ii)''; and
(II) by inserting ``or (iii) was
the child of an individual entitled to
disability insurance benefits or of an
individual who dies a fully or
currently insured individual and was a
full-time student at an educational
institution and had not attained the
age of 22,'' after ``22,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (E)--
(I) by striking ``and (ii)'' and
inserting ``(ii)''; and
(II) by inserting ``and (iii) is
not a full-time student at an
educational institution during any part
of such month (in the case of a child
who is the child of an individual
entitled to disability insurance
benefits or of an individual who dies a
fully or currently insured
individual)'' before the comma at the
end;
(iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking
clauses (i) and (ii) and inserting the
following:
``(i) in the case of a child who is the child of an
individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student, or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19, and
``(ii) in the case of a child who is the child of
an individual entitled to disability insurance benefits
or of an individual who dies a fully or currently
insured individual--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time student at an
educational institution, or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22,''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (G), by striking
clauses (ii) and (iii) and inserting the
following:
``(ii) in the case of a child who is the child of
an individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student, or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19, and
``(iii) in the case of a child who is the child of
an individual entitled to disability insurance benefits
or of an individual who dies a fully or currently
insured individual--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time student at an
educational institution, or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22,'';
(B) in paragraph (6)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``or (ii)'' and
inserting ``(ii)''; and
(II) by inserting ``or (iii) is the
child of an individual entitled to
disability insurance benefits or of an
individual who dies a fully or
currently insured individual and is a
full-time student at an educational
institution and has not attained the
age of 22,'' after ``22,''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (D) and (E)
and inserting the following:
``(D) the earlier of--
``(i) in the case of a child who is the child of an
individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student; or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19; and
``(ii) in the case of a child who is the child of
an individual entitled to disability insurance benefits
or of an individual who dies a fully or currently
insured individual--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time student at an
educational institution; or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 22,
but only if the child is not under a disability (as so
defined) in such earlier month; or
``(E) if the child was under a disability (as so defined),
the termination month (as defined in paragraph (1)(G)(i)),
subject to section 223(e), or (if later) the earlier of--
``(i) in the case of a child who is the child of an
individual entitled to old-age insurance benefits--
``(I) the first month during no part of
which the child is a full-time elementary or
secondary school student; or
``(II) the month in which the child attains
the age of 19; and
``(ii) in the case of a child who is the child of
an individual entitled to disability insurance benefits
or of an individual who dies a fully or currently
insured individual--
``(I) the first month during no part of