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HR 2684 104th Congress House Social Welfare Accounting Administrative remedies Alcoholism Appropriations Black lung Blind Clergy Coal Congress Congressional reporting requirements Department of Health and Human Services Disability evaluation Disabled Divorce Drug abuse Earnings Economics and Public Finance Energy Energy policy

Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1995

Introduced: November 29, 1995 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 18 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 28, 1996
For Further Action See H.R.3136.
Dec 6, 1995
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Dec 5, 1995
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Dec 5, 1995
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 411 - 4 (Roll No. 837).
Dec 5, 1995
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 411 - 4 (Roll No. 837).
Dec 5, 1995
Considered as unfinished business.
Dec 5, 1995
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.
Dec 5, 1995
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Dec 5, 1995
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H13962-13971, H13974)
Dec 5, 1995
Mr. Bunning moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Dec 4, 1995
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 191.
Dec 4, 1995
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 104-379.
Dec 4, 1995
Mr. Bass asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Ways and Means have until midnight on Dec. 4 to file a report on H.R. 2684. Agreed to without objection.
Nov 30, 1995
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 0.
Nov 30, 1995
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 30, 1995
Mr. Dreier asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Ways and Means have until midnight on Dec. 1 to file a report on H.R. 2684. Agreed to without objection.
Nov 29, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Nov 29, 1995
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Dec 5, 1995 House · vote #837 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 4114 See who voted →
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Senior Citizens' Right to Work Act of 1995 - Amends title II (Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to provide, through adjustments in the monthly exempt amount, for increases in the amounts of allowable earnings under the Social Security earnings limit for individuals who have attained retirement age. Retains the current limit on substantial gainful activity earnings applicable to individuals under age 65 who are eligible for disability benefits based on blindness.

(Sec. 3) Establishes a Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account for OASDI disability benefits in the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund.

Directs the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration (SSA) to estimate annually the present value of savings to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund which will accrue for all years as a result of cessation of benefit payments resulting from continuing disability reviews carried out pursuant to specified requirements during the fiscal year. Directs the Managing Trustee to: (1) transfer to the Account from amounts otherwise in the Trust Fund an amount equal to the estimated savings certified by the Chief Actuary; and (2) make available to the Commissioner of Social Security from funds in the Account an amount certified by the Chief Actuary as currently required to meet expenditures necessary to provide for required continuing disability reviews (including expenditures for the cost of staffing, training, purchase of medical and other evidence, and processing related to appeals and overpayments and related indirect costs).

Includes under required information in a specified annual report a final accounting of amounts transferred to the Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account in the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund during the year, the amount made available from such Account during such year pursuant to certifications made by the Chief Actuary of the SSA and expenditures made by the Commissioner of Social Security for the specified purposes during the year, including a comparison of the number of continuing disability reviews conducted during the year with the estimated number of continuing disability reviews upon which the estimate of such expenditures was made. Terminates the Continuing Disability Review Administration Revolving Account at the end of FY 2002, and provides that any balance in such Account shall revert to funds otherwise available in the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund.

Provides for appointment by the Commissioner of a Chief Actuary in the SSA.

(Sec. 4) Bases entitlement of stepchildren to child's insurance benefits solely on their actual dependency on stepparent support. Repeals the requirement that the stepchild actually be living with the stepparent. Requires termination of any child's insurance benefits based on the wages and self-employment income of the stepparent six months after the Commissioner is formally notified of the natural parent's divorce from the stepparent.

(Sec. 5) Extends the length of time required for recomputation of benefits after normal retirement age.

(Sec. 6) Eliminates the role of the SSA in processing attorney's fees. Prohibits any person, agent, or attorney from charging in excess of $4,000 (or, if the Commissioner approves, a higher fee) for services performed in connection with any claim before the Commissioner. Directs a court, in determining a reasonable fee, to take into consideration the amount of the fee, if any, that an attorney may charge the claimant for services (eliminating the current limitation of such fee to 25 percent of the total past-due benefits to which a judgment entitles the claimant).

(Sec. 7) Provides that an individual shall not be considered to be disabled for OASDI purposes, or for supplemental security income (SSI) purposes under title XVI of the Act (thus denying them benefits), if alcoholism or drug addiction would be a contributing factor material to the determination of disability. (Continues disability benefits based on a separate disabling condition to individuals also disabled by drug addiction or alcoholism.)

Requires the payment of OASDI or SSI benefits based on disability to a representative payee if such payment would serve the interest of an individual who also has an alcoholism or drug addiction condition that prevents the individual from managing such benefits. Requires the Commissioner to refer such individual to the appropriate State agency administering the approved State plan for substance abuse treatment services.

Appropriates additional specified amounts to supplement State and Tribal alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs funded under the Public Health Service Act. Requires State or Tribal governments receiving such an allotment to consider as priorities activities relating to the treatment of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

(Sec. 8) Permits members of the clergy to file to revoke their exemption from social security tax coverage under the Internal Revenue Code.

What's happening now March 28, 1996

For Further Action See H.R.3136.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2