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HR 5970 116th Congress House

Language Equity in Social Security Act of 2020

Official title: To amend titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act to direct the Commissioner of Social Security to consider linguistic limitations in disability determinations, and for other purposes.

Introduced: December 2, 2020 Introduced by: Scanlon, Mary Gay Democratic · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Disability assistanceForeign language and bilingual programsSocial security and elderly assistance
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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
Feb 25, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 25, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Feb 25, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 25, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Language Equity in Social Security Act of 2020

This bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to take into account an individual's linguistic limitations, including any lack of facility with the English language, when determining if the individual has a disability for purposes of eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income. SSA regulations scheduled to take effect on April 27, 2020, eliminate an individual's inability to communicate in English as an educational factor for purposes of determining whether the individual can make an adjustment to perform other work.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Democratic 7
D
Boyle, Brendan F.
Pennsylvania · Dec 2, 2020
 D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Dec 2, 2020
 D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Dec 2, 2020
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Dec 2, 2020
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Dec 2, 2020
 D
Sánchez, Linda T.
California · Dec 2, 2020
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Dec 2, 2020
Wild, Susan
· Dec 2, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5970: Language Equity in Social Security Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5970/
MLA
"H.R. 5970: Language Equity in Social Security Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5970/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5970, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5970/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5970: Language Equity in Social Security Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5970/)
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