Number: 111- 62
Date: December 10, 2010

On December 8, 2010, the House and Senate each acted on bills that would have authorized the Department of the Treasury to disburse $250 payments to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries.

• The Senate defeated S. 3985, the “Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act of 2010.”  The Senate voted 53-45 on the motion to limit debate to the bill    (S. 3985) — short of the 60 votes required to overcome a potential filibuster.

• Earlier in the day, the House considered H.R. 5987, the “Seniors Protection Act of 2010,” under suspension of the rules, a procedure that requires a two-thirds majority for passage. The 254-153 vote fell short of that requirement.

• Further action is unlikely during the last days of the 111th Congress.