HR 227 119th Congress House Social Welfare Congressional oversight Income tax exclusion Religion Social security and elderly assistance Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Clergy Act

Introduced: September 15, 2025 Introduced by: Fong, Vince Republican · California See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 14 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Apr 28, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Apr 27, 2026 · 4:57 PM EDT

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 227.

Apr 27, 2026 · 7:01 PM EDT

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3118-3119)

Apr 27, 2026 · 4:57 PM EDT

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3115-3116)

Apr 27, 2026 · 4:57 PM EDT

Mr. Carey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Apr 27, 2026 · 5:03 PM EDT

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

Apr 27, 2026 · 7:10 PM EDT

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Apr 27, 2026 · 7:10 PM EDT

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): 350 - 5 (Roll no. 139). (text: CR H3115-3116)

Jan 7, 2026

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-425.

Jan 7, 2026

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 370.

Dec 10, 2025

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Dec 10, 2025

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.

Jan 7, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Jan 7, 2025

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 1

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Apr 27, 2026	House · vote #139	On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended	Passed	350–5	See who voted →

Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Clergy Act

This bill establishes a two-year window for certain members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners to revoke their exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes on ministerial earnings. Under current law, such individuals who object to participation in public insurance programs on religious or conscientious grounds may apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an irrevocable exemption and will not receive Social Security or Medicare benefits in retirement unless they have qualifying credits from other employment.

The IRS must develop a plan to inform members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners of their eligibility to revoke prior exemptions, pursuant to the bill's changes.

What's happening now April 28, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Hearings & markups 1

H.R. 6500, H.R. 6504, H.R. 4930, H.R. 227, H.R. 2716, H.R. 4993, H.R. 6506, H.R. 6495, and H.R. 4242
Markup Dec 10, 2025 · 10:00 AM EST · Ways and Means Committee

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 2

Ways and Means Committee
House of Representatives
Finance Committee
Senate

Lobbying activity 14

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

K&L GATES, LLP
for CHURCH ALLIANCE · Illinois · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026
K&L GATES, LLP
for CHURCH ALLIANCE · Illinois · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2025
K&L GATES, LLP
for CHURCH ALLIANCE · Illinois · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2025
K&L GATES, LLP
for CHURCH ALLIANCE · Illinois · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2025
K&L GATES, LLP
for CHURCH ALLIANCE · Illinois · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2025
K&L GATES, LLP
for CHURCH ALLIANCE · Illinois · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2026