• On December 29, 2022, the President signed H.R. 2617, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which became Public Law 117-328. In addition to agency appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023, the law contains several other provisions of interest to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
    Previous Action 12/23/22

  • On December 13, 2022, the President signed H.R 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act, which became Public Law 117-228. This law generally revokes a 1996 law that had defined marriage as between one man and one woman, until it was struck down by the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor. The Respect for Marriage Act replaces that 1996 law with a new definition of marriage for Federal programs, as described below. This new definition is different than the Social Security Act’s definitions for the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs. However, we do not expect this new definition to change in practice how we evaluate marriages in most claims.
  • On August 16, 2022, the President signed H.R 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which became Public Law 117-169. The House previously passed the bill on August 12, and the Senate passed it on August 8. The new law makes changes related to certain taxes, climate change, and prescription drug costs. Of interest to SSA, it changes how we will determine eligibility for the Medicare Part D Extra Help Program. Attached is a legislative bulletin summarizing these changes.
  • On April 6, 2022, the President signed H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which became Public Law 117-108. The new law establishes a new health benefits program for USPS employees, annuitants, and the family members of employees and annuitants. In general, annuitants and family members who are entitled to Medicare Part A will now also need to be enrolled in Part B in order to participate in this new program.
    Previous Action 02/08/22
  • On September 24, 2021, the President signed S. 272, the Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021, which became Public Law 117-40. The bill previously passed the House on August 23, by roll call vote of 423-1 under suspension of rules, and the Senate on June 24, by unanimous consent with an amendment. This law, among other things, amends the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2016, to require Federal agencies (except those with budgets confidential by law) to post their congressional budget justifications on the agency website. Additionally, OMB must establish a website that publishes a list of all agencies’ budget justifications for each fiscal year, and in consultation with Treasury, establish policies and issue guidance to Federal agencies to ensure congressional budget justification materials will be produced and made available in an accessible, user-friendly format no later than one year after enactment.
    Prior action: July 2, 2021
  • On March 23, 2021, the President signed S. 579, which became Public Law 117-3. The bill previously passed the Senate on March 3 and the House on March 11, both by Unanimous Consent. The new law changes the criteria for eliminating the five-month waiting period for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to those eligible individuals who were approved for benefits on or after July 23, 2020. The law immediately amends the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 and has an effective date of December 23, 2020.
  • On March 18, 2021, the House passed, as amended, H.R. 1603, which became the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021. The bill would, among other things, create a new certified agricultural worker (CAW) status that provides temporary work authorization, requires SSA, as practicable, to assign CAWs Social Security numbers through an automated system, and offers CAWs the ability to adjust to lawful permanent resident status. In addition, the bill would make permanent an employment eligibility verification system (similar to E-Verify), mandate use of the system by agricultural employers, and allow the Department of Agriculture to assist agricultural employees contesting tentative nonconfirmations. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
  • On March 11, 2021, the President signed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, into law.  The new law provides funding for COVID-19 testing and vaccine production and distribution, as well as additional economic relief for individuals, communities and businesses.
  • On January 5, 2021, the House passed H.R. 21, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Authorization Act of 2021, on motion to suspend the rules, by voice vote. Introduced by Representative Gerald E. Connolly on January 4, the bill would codify FedRAMP. In general, the bill establishes FedRAMP within the General Services Administration and establishes the Joint Authorization Board and the FedRAMP Program Management Office as components of FedRAMP. H.R. 21 moved to the Senate for action on January 6.

 

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