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H.R. 4277 103rd Congress House

Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994

Official title: To establish the Social Security Administration as an independent agency and to make other improvements in the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program.

Introduced: April 21, 1994 See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Administrative procedureAdvice and consent of the SenateAgriculture and FoodAlcoholism
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 Everywhere this bill has been 48 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 15, 1994
Became Public Law No: 103-296.
Aug 15, 1994
Signed by President.
Aug 12, 1994
Presented to President.
Aug 11, 1994
On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 431 - 0 (Roll no. 392). (consideration: CR H7925)
Aug 11, 1994
Motions to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Aug 11, 1994
The previous question was ordered without objection.
Aug 11, 1994
DEBATE - the House proceeded with one hour of debate on the conference report.
Aug 11, 1994
Mr. Jacobs brought up conference report H. Rept. 103-670 by previously agreed to special order of August 5, 1994.
Aug 8, 1994
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Aug 5, 1994
Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S10875)
Aug 5, 1994
Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S10875)
Aug 5, 1994
Mr. Gibbons asked unanimous consent That it be in order at any time to consider the conference report on H.R. 4277, and that any points of order against the conference report and its consideration be waived, and that the conference report be considered as read. Agreed to without objection.
Aug 4, 1994
Conference report H. Rept. 103-670 filed. (text of conference report: CR H6843-6883)
Aug 4, 1994
Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 103-670 filed.(text of conference report: CR H6843-6883)
Aug 4, 1994
Mr. Gibbons asked unanimous consent that managers on the part of the House have until midnight on Aug. 4 to file a conference report on H.R. 4277. Agreed to without objection.
Jul 20, 1994
Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Jul 20, 1994
Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
Jun 21, 1994
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 21, 1994
The Speaker appointed conferees: Gibbons, Rostenkowski, Pickle, Jacobs, Ford (TN), Archer, Bunning, and Santorum.
Jun 21, 1994
On motion that the House instruct conferees Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H4752)
Jun 21, 1994
The previous question was ordered without objection.
Jun 21, 1994
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on the motion to instruct conferees on the part of the House to insist upon section 231 of the House bill, relating to Social Security fraud investigation.
Jun 21, 1994
Mr. Santorum moved that the House instruct conferees.
Jun 21, 1994
On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H4750)
Jun 21, 1994
Mr. Jacobs asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
May 24, 1994
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 23, 1994
Senate insists on its amendment asks for a conference, appoints conferees Moynihan; Baucus; Breaux; Packwood; Dole. (consideration: CR S6186)
May 23, 1994
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
May 23, 1994
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
May 23, 1994
Senate struck all after the Enacting Clause and substituted the language of S. 1560 amended.
May 23, 1994
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6186-6192)
May 19, 1994
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 433.
May 17, 1994
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 17, 1994
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 413 - 0 (Roll No. 177).
May 17, 1994
Considered as unfinished business. (CR H3485-3486)
May 17, 1994
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
May 17, 1994
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
May 17, 1994
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3430-3452)
May 17, 1994
Mr. Rostenkowski moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 12, 1994
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 283.
May 12, 1994
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 103-506.
May 4, 1994
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 4, 1994
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 28, 1994
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 21, 1994
Joint Hearing Held on Issue by Subcommittee on Human Resources and Subcommittee on Oversight Prior to Introduction (Feb 24, 93).
Apr 21, 1994
Joint Hearing Held on Issue by Subcommittee on Social Security and Subcommittee on Human Resources Prior to Introduction (Feb 10, 94).
Apr 21, 1994
Hearings Held on Issue by Subcommittee on Human Resources Prior to Introduction (Oct 14; Nov 15, 93; Mar 1, 94).
Apr 21, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Aug 11, 1994 House · vote #392 On Agreeing to the Conference Report Passed 431–0 See who voted →
May 17, 1994 House · vote #177 SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS, AS AMENDED Passed 413–0 See who voted →
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 Latest action August 15, 1994

Became Public Law No: 103-296.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration

as an Independent Agency

Title II: Miscellaneous Improvements to the Old-Age

Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program

Social Security Administrative Reform Act of 1994 - Title I: Establishment of the Social Security Administration as an Independent Agency - Amends title VII (Administration) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to establish as an independent executive agency the Social Security Administration, governed by a Social Security Board, to administer the Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program under SSA titles II and XVI.

(Sec. 102) Establishes in the Administration an Office of the Beneficiary Ombudsman.

(Sec. 104) Transfers to the Board all functions carried out by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) pertaining to such programs.

(Sec. 107) Requires the Board to report to the Congress within 120 days after the beginning of each regular session of its administration under SSA.

Requires the Secretary to study and make recommendations on the most effective methods of providing economic security and on the administrative policy for SSA programs administered by the Secretary.

Title II: Improvements (sic) to the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program - Amends SSA titles II and XVI with respect to the payment of disability benefits to substance abusers.

(Sec. 202) Amends SSA titles II and related provisions of Federal law with respect to: (1) OASDI trust fund administration, including the creation of a Continuing Disability Review Account in the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund; (2) telephone access to local Social Security Administration offices; (3) OASDI coverage of State election personnel, police officers, and fire fighters; (4) use of social security numbers for jury selection and in administration of Federal workers' compensation laws; (5) totalization benefits, military reservists, and application of windfall elimination and Government pension offset provisions; (6) facility-of-payment provisions; (7) maximum family benefits in guarantee cases; (8) annual earnings filing; (9) disability insurance program demonstration project authority; (10) cross-matching of social security number information and employer ID number information maintained by the Department of Agriculture; (11) retirement eligibility for Federal employees transferred to International Organizations; (12) treatment of certain visas; and (13) rounding when calculating OASDI contribution and benefit base and earnings test exempt amounts.

(Sec. 208) Provides a limited exemption from certain self-employment tax liability for individuals performing religious services in Canada.

(Sec. 213) Amends SSA title XI with regard to: (1) disclosure of mortality information for research purposes; (2) misuse of HHS and Treasury symbols, emblems, or names in reference to social security programs and agencies, and associated penalties; and (3) penalties for unauthorized disclosure of social security information.

(Sec. 219) Amends the Railroad Retirement Solvency Act of 1983 concerning certain transfers to the Railroad Retirement Account.

(Sec. 223) Directs the Secretary to appoint a Commission on the Evaluation of Disability in Children to study and report to the Congress on SSI's definition of "disability" and how it applies with respect to children.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 1864 Procedurally related Social Security Integrity Act of 1993
  • HR 3929 Procedurally related To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to provide that, for purposes of determining whether an individua…
  • S 1560 Related document Social Security Administration Independence Act of 1994
 Bill text 7 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4277: Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4277/
MLA
"H.R. 4277: Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4277/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4277, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4277/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4277: Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4277/)
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