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HR 173 108th Congress House Social Welfare Blind Cost of living adjustments Disability evaluation Disabled Earnings Economics and Public Finance Employment of the disabled Indexing (Economic policy) Labor and Employment Old age, survivors and disability insurance Social security eligibility

Blind Empowerment Act of 2003

Introduced: January 7, 2003 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 23, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Jan 7, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 7, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Blind Empowerment Act of 2003 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to increase, by specified increments over five years, the level of earnings demonstrating the ability of a blind person to engage in substantial gainful activity for purposes of determining disability insurance benefit payments.
What's happening now January 23, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 750 Identical bill Blind Empowerment Act of 2003
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 21
All 21 Democratic 16 Republican 4 Independent 1
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Feb 24, 2004
 D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Jun 5, 2003
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Apr 10, 2003
 D
Thompson, Mike
California · Mar 27, 2003
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Mar 20, 2003
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 20, 2003
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Mar 17, 2003
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Mar 17, 2003
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Mar 6, 2003
 D
Lynch, Stephen F.
Massachusetts · Mar 6, 2003
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Feb 27, 2003
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · Feb 27, 2003
 R
Rogers, Harold
Kentucky · Feb 27, 2003
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Feb 13, 2003
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · Feb 13, 2003
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Feb 13, 2003
 D
Schiff, Adam B.
California · Feb 11, 2003
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Feb 5, 2003
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 5, 2003
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Feb 5, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Feb 5, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 173: Blind Empowerment Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-173/
MLA
"H.R. 173: Blind Empowerment Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-173/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 173, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-173/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 173: Blind Empowerment Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-173/)
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