119-s2763

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2763 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2763

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to permanently appropriate 
 funding for the administrative expenses of the Social Security 
 Administration, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 September 10, 2025

Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. 
 Gillibrand, Ms. Smith, Ms. Warren, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kim, Mr. Markey, Mr. 
King, Mr. Welch, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Coons, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
Padilla, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
 Whitehouse, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Booker, Mrs. 
 Murray, Mr. Warner, Ms. Alsobrooks, and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
 Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to permanently appropriate 
 funding for the administrative expenses of the Social Security 
 Administration, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Keep Billionaires 
Out of Social Security Act''.

    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Exempting Social Security from the jurisdiction of the 
 Department of Government Efficiency

    (DOGE) and the application of certain executive 
 orders.

Sec. 3. Access by political appointees and special government 
 employees.

Sec. 4. Limitations on authority of Social Security Administration to 
 except positions from competitive service 
 and transfer positions.

Sec. 5. Requiring that only deceased individuals be added to the Death 
 Master File.

Sec. 6. Closure of field and hearing offices and resident or rural 
 contact stations.

Sec. 7. Reestablishing the Offices of Civil Rights and Equal 
 Opportunity, Transformation, and Analytics, 
 Review, and Oversight.

Sec. 8. Funding for administrative expenses of the Social Security 
 Administration.

Sec. 9. Additional funding to improve Social Security customer 
 experience.

Sec. 10. Codification of former policy regarding recovery of Social 
 Security overpayments.

Sec. 11. State grants to protect the legal rights of SSI and SSDI 
 applicants and beneficiaries.

Sec. 12. Social Security assistance and representation grants.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTING SOCIAL SECURITY FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE 
 DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

    (DOGE) AND THE 
 APPLICATION OF CERTAIN EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

    (a) In General.--With respect to the agencies, personnel, systems, 
and benefits and programs described in subsection

    (b) --

    (1) DOGE shall have no authority or jurisdiction; and

    (2) the Executive orders described in subsection
            (c) shall 
 not apply.

    (b) Covered Agencies, Personnel, Systems, and Benefits and 
Programs.--The agencies, personnel, systems, and benefits and programs 
described in this subsection are the Social Security Administration, 
any officer or employee of the Social Security Administration, the 
data, information technology, and operating systems of the Social 
Security Administration, and any benefits or program administered by 
the Social Security Administration, including the Old-Age and Survivors 
Insurance and Disability Insurance programs and associated benefits 
under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
            (c) Executive Orders.--The Executive orders described in this 
subsection are--

    (1) Executive Orders 14158, 14210, 14219, and 14222 (90 
 Fed. Reg. 8441, 9669, 10583, 11095); and

    (2) any other Executive order relating to any entity 
 described in paragraph

    (1) ,

    (2) ,

    (3) , or

    (5) .
            (d) DOGE.--For purposes of this section, the term ``DOGE'' means--

    (1) the United States DOGE Service;

    (2) the United States DOGE Service Temporary Organization;

    (3) any DOGE team (as defined in any of the Executive 
 orders described in subsection
            (c) (1) );

    (4) any entity established in accordance with, or to 
 implement, any Executive order described in subsection
            (c) ; and

    (5) any successor entity to an entity described in 
 paragraphs

    (1) through

    (4) .

SEC. 3. ACCESS BY POLITICAL APPOINTEES AND SPECIAL GOVERNMENT 
 EMPLOYEES.

    (a) In General.--

Section 1106 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1306) is amended by adding after subsection

    (g) the following new 
subsections:
 ``

    (h) Access by Political Appointees and Special Government 
Employees.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--
 ``
        (A) Prohibition on access to beneficiary data 
 systems.--Notwithstanding any other subsection of this 
 section, an individual who is a political appointee (as 
 that term is defined in 

section 4

    (a) of the Edward 
 `Ted' Kaufman and Michael Leavitt Presidential 
 Transitions Improvements Act of 2015 (5 U.S.C. 3101 
 note)) or a special government employee (as that term 
 is defined in 

section 202

    (a) of title 18, United States 
 Code) may not access a beneficiary data system.
 ``
        (B) Exception.--Subparagraph
        (A) shall not apply 
 with respect to a political appointee or special 
 government employee who has been appointed to, or is 
 employed in, a position within the Social Security 
 Administration with responsibility to research, 
 analyze, or improve the delivery of benefits to program 
 recipients.
 ``

    (2) Beneficiary data system defined.--In this section, 
 the term `beneficiary data system' means a system that is 
 maintained by the Social Security Administration for the 
 purposes of administering this Act that--
 ``
        (A) issues or records social security account 
 numbers;
 ``
        (B) is used to determine eligibility for benefits 
 under this Act;
 ``
            (C) to pay benefits under this Act; or
 ``
            (D) otherwise contains records of personally 
 identifiable information, personal health information, 
 or Federal tax information of individuals receiving or 
 applying for a benefit under this Act.
 ``
            (i) Civil Penalties.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--
 ``
        (A) Disclosure or access by employee of united 
 states.--If any officer or employee of the United 
 States negligently discloses or accesses any 
 information that pertains to an individual in violation 
 of any provision of subsection

    (a) or

    (h) , such 
 individual may bring a civil action for damages against 
 the United States in a district court of the United 
 States.
 ``
        (B) Disclosure or access by a person who is not 
 an employee of united states.--If any person who is not 
 an officer or employee of the United States negligently 
 discloses or accesses any information that pertains to 
 an individual in violation of any provision of 
 subsection

    (a) or

    (h) , such individual may bring a 
 civil action for damages against such person in a 
 district court of the United States.
 ``

    (2) Exceptions.--No liability shall arise under this 
 section with respect to any disclosure or access--
 ``
        (A) which results from a good faith, but 
 erroneous, interpretation of subsection

    (a) or

    (h) ; or
 ``
        (B) which is requested by the individual.
 ``

    (3) Damages.--In any action brought under paragraph

    (1) , 
 upon a finding of liability on the part of the defendant, the 
 defendant shall be liable to the plaintiff in an amount equal 
 to the sum of--
 ``
        (A) the greater of--
 ``
            (i) $5,000 for each act of unauthorized 
 access or disclosure with respect to which such 
 defendant is found liable; or
 ``
            (ii) the sum of--
 ``
            (I) the actual damages sustained 
 by the plaintiff as a result of such 
 unauthorized access or disclosure, plus
 ``
            (II) in the case of a willful 
 access or disclosure or an access or 
 disclosure which is the result of gross 
 negligence, punitive damages,
 ``
        (B) the costs of the action, plus
 ``
            (C) reasonable attorneys fees, except that if the 
 defendant is the United States, reasonable attorneys 
 fees may be awarded only if the plaintiff is the 
 prevailing party.
 ``

    (4) Period for bringing action.--Notwithstanding any 
 other provision of law, an action to enforce any liability 
 created under this section may be brought, without regard to 
 the amount in controversy, at any time within 5 years after the 
 date of discovery by the plaintiff of the unauthorized 
 disclosure or access.
 ``

    (j) Criminal Penalties.--It shall be unlawful for any officer or 
employee of the United States to willfully to disclose to any person 
any information that pertains to an individual in violation of any 
provision of subsection

    (a) or

    (h) . Any violation of this subsection 
shall be a felony punishable upon conviction by a fine in any amount 
not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or 
both, together with the costs of prosecution, and, in addition to any 
other punishment, such officer or employee shall be dismissed from 
office or discharged from employment upon conviction for such offense.
 ``

    (k) Investigation and Report.--
 ``

    (1) Investigation.--The Inspector General of the Social 
 Security Administration shall investigate each disclosure in 
 violation of subsection

    (a) and each access of a beneficiary 
 data system in violation of subsection

    (h) .
 ``

    (2) Treatment of disclosure or access.--For the purposes 
 of this subsection, the Inspector General may, if the Inspector 
 General determines appropriate, treat a series of violations of 
 subsection

    (a) or

    (h) as a single violation.
 ``

    (3) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the Inspector 
 General becomes aware of a violation of subsection

    (a) or

    (h) , 
 the Inspector General shall submit to Congress a report on such 
 violation, which shall include--
 ``
        (A) a detailed description of the violation;
 ``
        (B) a risk assessment of any threat to the 
 privacy of any individual whose information was 
 disclosed or accessed, national security, 
 cybersecurity, or the integrity of the applicable 
 beneficiary data system as a result of the violation; 
 and
 ``
            (C) a detailed description of any stopped payment 
 during the unauthorized use or access.''.

    (b) Privacy Regulations.--Notwithstanding this section and the 
amendments made by this section, part 401 of title 20 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 19, 2025, shall have the 
force and effect of law.
            (c) GAO Study and Interim Reports.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
 enactment of this Act, the Comptroller of the United States 
 shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the 
 Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a 
 report including the following information:
        (A) The results of a study on the effects of the 
 changes made to 

section 1106 of the Social Security Act 
 (42 U.S.C. 1306) by this section and any subsequently 
 enacted law.
        (B) Any civil actions brought under subsection
            (i) of 

section 1106 of such Act, as added by subsection

    (a) , including the results of such civil action.
            (C) A summary of any investigations conducted under 
 subsection

    (k) of 

section 1106 of such Act, as added by 
 subsection

    (a) .
            (D) Any convictions for a violation of subsection

    (a) or

    (h) of 

section 1106 of such Act under subsection

    (j) of such Act, as added by subsection

    (a) .

    (2) Interim reports.--Not later than 1 month after the date 
 of enactment of this Act, and monthly thereafter until such 
 time as the report required under paragraph

    (1) is submitted, 
 the Comptroller of the United States shall submit to the 
 Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and 
 the Committee on Finance of the Senate an interim report on the 
 information required under paragraph

    (1) , including the status 
 of the study described in subparagraph
        (A) of such paragraph.
            (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections

    (a) and

    (b) of this section shall apply to violations of 

section 1106 of the Social 
Security Act occurring on or after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY OF SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION TO 
 EXCEPT POSITIONS FROM COMPETITIVE SERVICE AND TRANSFER 
 POSITIONS.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section--

    (1) the term ``Administration'' means the Social Security 
 Administration;

    (2) the term ``Commissioner'' means the Commissioner of 
 Social Security;

    (3) the term ``competitive service'' has the meaning given 
 the term in 

section 2102 of title 5, United States Code;

    (4) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office 
 of Personnel Management; and

    (5) the term ``excepted service'' has the meaning given the 
 term in 

section 2103 of title 5, United States Code.

    (b) Limitations.--A position in the competitive service in the 
Administration may not be excepted from the competitive service unless 
that position is placed--

    (1) in any of schedules A through E, as described in 
 

section 6.2 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, as in 
 effect on September 30, 2020; and

    (2) under the terms and conditions under part 6 of title 5, 
 Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on September 30, 
 2020.
            (c) Transfers.--

    (1) Within excepted service.--A position in the excepted 
 service in the Administration may not be transferred to any 
 schedule other than a schedule described in subsection

    (b)

    (1) .

    (2) OPM consent required.--The Commissioner may not 
 transfer any occupied position in the Administration from the 
 competitive service or the excepted service into schedule C of 
 subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, 
 or any successor regulations, without the prior consent of the 
 Director.

    (3) Limit during presidential term.--During any 4-year 
 presidential term, the Commissioner may not transfer from a 
 position in the competitive service in the Administration to a 
 position in the excepted service in the Administration the 
 greater of the following:
        (A) A total number of employees that is more than 1 
 percent of the total number of employees employed by 
 the Administration, as of the first day of that 
 presidential term.
        (B) 5 employees.

    (4) Employee consent required.--Notwithstanding any other 
 provision of this section--
        (A) an employee who occupies a position in the 
 excepted service in the Administration may not be 
 transferred to an excepted service schedule other than 
 the schedule in which that position is located without 
 the prior written consent of the employee; and
        (B) an employee who occupies a position in the 
 competitive service in the Administration may not be 
 transferred to the excepted service without the prior 
 written consent of the employee.
            (d) Report.--Not later than March 15 of each calendar year, the 
Director shall submit to Congress a report on the immediately preceding 
calendar year that lists--

    (1) each position in the Administration that, during the 
 year covered by the report, was transferred from the 
 competitive service to the excepted service and a justification 
 as to why each such position was so transferred; and

    (2) any violation of this section that occurred during the 
 year covered by the report.

    (e) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall issue regulations to 
implement this section.

SEC. 5. REQUIRING THAT ONLY DECEASED INDIVIDUALS BE ADDED TO THE DEATH 
 MASTER FILE.

 

Section 205

    (r) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405

    (r) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (7) --
        (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by 
 striking ``may'' and inserting ``shall'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``and'';
            (C) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking the period at 
 the end and inserting ``; and''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following new 
 subparagraph:
 ``
            (C) notify any agency that has a cooperative 
 arrangement with the Commissioner of Social Security 
 under paragraph

    (3) or

    (11) of the error.''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
 ``

    (12) The Commissioner of Social Security may not record a death 
to a record that may be provided under this section for any individual 
unless the Commissioner of Social Security has found it has clear and 
convincing evidence to support that the individual should be presumed 
to be deceased.''.

SEC. 6. CLOSURE OF FIELD AND HEARING OFFICES AND RESIDENT OR RURAL 
 CONTACT STATIONS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 704 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
904) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

 ``Access to Field and Hearing Offices and Live Telephone Operator 
 Services

 ``

    (f)

    (1) The Commissioner of Social Security shall--
 ``
        (A) maintain, at a minimum, the same number of field and 
 hearing offices of the Social Security Administration that 
 existed on January 1, 2025;
 ``
        (B) not close, or reduce the level of services provided 
 by, any field office, hearing office, or resident station of 
 the Administration that existed on January 1, 2025, except in 
 the case of a short-term emergency or relocation;
 ``
            (C) maintain meaningful and efficient access to live 
 operator assistance; and
 ``
            (D) not later than 12 months after the date of enactment 
 of the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act, 
 significantly improve telephone wait times, callback times, and 
 average service times for beneficiaries and applicants, as 
 compared to the average levels for such times during calendar 
 year 2024.
 ``

    (2) The Commissioner may make recommendations to Congress 
proposing field or hearing office location changes, consolidations, or 
closures from time to time.
 ``

    (3) The Commissioner may--
 ``
        (A) establish new field or hearing offices in addition to 
 those that existed on January 1, 2025; and
 ``
        (B) expand the level of services offered by a field or 
 hearing office beyond what such office offered on January 1, 
 2025.
 ``

    (4) The Commissioner shall not limit public access to any field 
or hearing office of the Administration, or the staff of any such 
office, that existed on January 1, 2025.
 ``

    (5) The Commissioner shall not reduce the number of employees of 
the Administration (as determined on an annual basis) below the number 
of employees of the Administration that were employed during calendar 
year 2024.
 ``

    (6) The Administration shall not be subject to any hiring freeze, 
hiring prohibition, reduction in force order, or similar policy, and, 
notwithstanding any such freeze, prohibition, order, or policy, the 
Commissioner shall have the authority to hire new employees if the 
Commissioner deems it necessary to improve services provided by the 
Administration to beneficiaries and applicants of the programs 
established under this Act.
 ``

    (7) The Commissioner shall establish an online option, in 
accessible formats, for beneficiaries and applicants to apply, make 
benefit claims, and make changes to direct deposit information.''.

    (b) Retroactive Application.--The amendment made by this section 
shall take effect as if enacted on January 1, 2025, and any actions 
taken by the Commissioner of Social Security or any other officer of 
the executive branch that are inconsistent with such amendment shall be 
reversed.

SEC. 7. REESTABLISHING THE OFFICES OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUAL 
 OPPORTUNITY, TRANSFORMATION, AND ANALYTICS, REVIEW, AND 
 OVERSIGHT.

 

Section 702 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902) is amended 
by adding at the end the following new subsections:
 ``

    (f) Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--There shall be in the Administration an 
 Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity. The head of the 
 Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity shall be the 
 Deputy Commissioner of Civil Rights, who shall--
 ``
        (A) be appointed by the Commissioner;
 ``
        (B) as of the date on which the appointment 
 described in subparagraph
        (A) is made, be serving as a 
 career appointee (as defined in 

section 3132

    (a) of 
 title 5, United States Code) in the Social Security 
 Administration; and
 ``
            (C) exercise such duties as are appropriate for 
 the Office of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity of the 
 Administration and in accordance with Federal civil 
 rights laws.
 ``

    (2) Responsibilities.--The Office of Civil Rights and 
 Equal Opportunity shall be responsible for the management of 
 the Administration's programs of civil rights and equal 
 opportunity, including the development of the Administration's 
 civil rights and equal opportunity policies, regulations, 
 procedures, and enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities 
 Act of 1990 and sections 501, 504, and 505 of the 
 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 pertaining to the development of 
 affirmative action employment and equal opportunity programs to 
 cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment, which shall 
 include--
 ``
        (A) planning, implementing, and directing 
 programs designed to ensure equal opportunity in 
 employment for all employees regardless of race, color, 
 national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic 
 information, or sex;
 ``
        (B) processing, adjudicating, and resolving 
 complaints of discrimination in compliance with all 
 applicable laws, regulations, and other guidance issued 
 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission;
 ``
            (C) directing and managing the Administration's 
 reasonable accommodation program for employees with 
 disabilities; and
 ``
            (D) developing and maintaining all necessary 
 information systems to manage the Administration's 
 equal opportunity programs, develop reliable 
 statistical data analyses, and track workloads.
 ``

    (g) Transformation.--There shall be in the Administration an 
Office of Transformation. The head of the Office of Transformation 
shall be the Deputy Commissioner of Transformation, who shall--
 ``

    (1) be appointed by the Commissioner;
 ``

    (2) as of the date on which the appointment described in 
 paragraph

    (1) is made, be serving as a career appointee (as 
 defined in 

section 3132

    (a) of title 5, United States Code) in 
 the Social Security Administration; and
 ``

    (3) exercise such duties as are appropriate for the 
 Office of Transformation of the Administration, which shall 
 include strategic guidance and oversight of the 
 Administration's initiatives, addressing policies, business 
 processes, and systems, including customer service-related 
 systems and projects and resolving delays and ensure successful 
 implementation of such systems and projects.
 ``

    (h) Analytics, Review, and Oversight.--There shall be in the 
Administration an Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight. The head 
of the Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight shall be the Deputy 
Commissioner of Analytics, Review, and Oversight, who shall--
 ``

    (1) be appointed by the Commissioner;
 ``

    (2) as of the date on which the appointment described in 
 paragraph

    (1) is made, be serving as a career appointee (as 
 defined in 

section 3132

    (a) of title 5, United States Code) in 
 the Social Security Administration;
 ``

    (3) exercise such duties as are appropriate for the 
 Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight of the 
 Administration which shall include reviewing program quality 
 and effectiveness, making recommendations for program 
 improvement, and coordinating the detection and prevention of 
 fraud.''.

SEC. 8. FUNDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY 
 ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--

Section 201

    (g)

    (1)
        (A) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 401

    (g)

    (1)
        (A) ) is amended--

    (1) in the third sentence of the matter following clause
            (ii) , by striking ``the costs of the part of the administration 
 of this title, title VIII, title XVI, and title XVIII for which 
 the Commissioner of Social Security is responsible,''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following: ``For each fiscal 
 year beginning with fiscal year 2026, there is hereby 
 appropriated to pay the costs of the part of the administration 
 of this title, title VIII, and title XVI for which the 
 Commissioner of Social Security is responsible an amount equal 
 to 1.2 percent of the sum of the amount of benefit payments 
 required to be made under this title for the fiscal year 
 involved and the amount of benefit payments expected to be paid 
 under titles VIII and XVI for the fiscal year involved, as 
 estimated by the Chief Actuary of the Social Security 
 Administration. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
            (I) the 
 portion of the amount to be appropriated for a fiscal year that 
 is attributable to benefit payments required to be made under 
 this title shall be appropriated from the Federal Old-Age and 
 Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability 
 Insurance Trust Fund, in such proportion as the Commissioner of 
 Social Security shall determine, and
            (II) the portion of the 
 amount to be appropriated for a fiscal year that is 
 attributable to benefit payments expected to be made under 
 titles VIII and XVI shall be appropriated from the general fund 
 of the Treasury. For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal 
 year 2026, there is hereby appropriated from the Federal 
 Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary 
 Medical Insurance Trust Fund, in such proportion as the 
 Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
 shall determine, such sums as are necessary to pay the costs of 
 the part of the administration of title XVIII for which the 
 Commissioner of Social Security is responsible.''.

    (b) Removing the Limitation on the Administrative Expenses of the 
Social Security Administration From Discretionary Budget Caps, the 
Congressional Budget Resolution, the 302

    (a) Allocations and the 302

    (b) Suballocations.--

    (1) Exclusion of the administrative costs of social 
 security, ssi, and parts of medicare from all budgets.--

Section 13301

    (a) of the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 632 
 note) is amended to read as follows:
 ``

    (a) Exclusion of the Administrative Costs of Social Security, 
SSI, and Parts of Medicare From All Budgets.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
 law, the receipts and disbursements described in paragraph

    (2) and the costs of program integrity activities described in 
 paragraph

    (3) shall not be counted as new budget authority, 
 outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of--
 ``
        (A) the budget of the United States Government as 
 submitted by the President under 

section 1105 of title 
 31, United States Code;
 ``
        (B) a concurrent resolution on the budget;
 ``
            (C) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit 
 Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.); or
 ``
            (D) the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 
 U.S.C. 931 et seq.).
 ``

    (2) Receipts and disbursements covered.--The receipts and 
 disbursements described in this paragraph are--
 ``
        (A) the receipts and disbursements of the Federal 
 Old-Age and Survivors Trust Fund and the Federal 
 Disability Insurance Trust Fund, including the costs of 
 the part of the administration of title II of the 
 Social Security Act for which the Commissioner of 
 Social Security is responsible; and
 ``
        (B) the receipts and disbursements from the 
 Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal 
 Supplementary Insurance Trust Fund, and amounts 
 appropriated for the Supplemental Security Income 
 program and for benefits paid to certain World War II 
 veterans under title VIII of the Social Security Act 
 for the costs of the part of the administration of 
 titles VIII, XVI, and XVIII of such Act for which the 
 Commissioner of Social Security is responsible.
 ``

    (3) Program integrity activities.--The costs of program 
 integrity activities described in this paragraph are costs 
 associated with--
 ``
        (A) continuing disability reviews under titles II 
 and XVI of the Social Security Act;
 ``
        (B) conducting redeterminations of eligibility 
 under title XVI of such Act;
 ``
            (C) cooperative disability investigation units; 
 and
 ``
            (D) the prosecution of fraud in the programs and 
 operations of the Social Security Administration by 
 Special Assistant United States Attorneys.''.

    (2) Exclusion of the administrative costs of social 
 security, ssi, and parts of medicare from the congressional 
 budget resolution.--

Section 301

    (a) of the Congressional Budget 
 Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 632

    (a) ) is amended by striking the matter 
 following paragraph

    (7) and inserting the following:
``The concurrent resolution shall not include in the surplus or deficit 
totals required by this subsection or in any other surplus or deficit 
totals required by this title the outlays and revenue totals of the 
program under title II of the Social Security Act, or the related 
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including the costs of 
the part of the administration of such title II for which the 
Commissioner of Social Security is responsible or the costs of the part 
of the administration of titles XVI and XVIII of the Social Security 
Act for which the Commissioner of Social Security is responsible.''.

    (3) Exclusion of the administrative costs of social 
 security, ssi, and parts of medicare from congressional budget 
 act 302

    (a) allocations.--

Section 302

    (a)

    (1) of the Congressional 
 Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633

    (a)

    (1) ) is amended by adding at 
 the end the following: ``The allocation under this paragraph 
 shall not include the outlays of the program under title II of 
 the Social Security Act, including the costs of the part of the 
 administration of such title for which the Commissioner of 
 Social Security is responsible, or the outlays for the costs of 
 the part of the administration of titles XVI and XVIII of the 
 Social Security Act for which the Commissioner of Social 
 Security is responsible.''.

    (4) Exclusion of the administrative costs of social 
 security, ssi, and parts of medicare from the congressional 
 budget act 302

    (b) suballocations.--

Section 302

    (b) of the 
 Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 633

    (b) ) is amended 
 by adding at the end the following: ``The suballocation under 
 this subsection shall not include the outlays of the program 
 under title II of the Social Security Act, including the costs 
 of the part of the administration of such title for which the 
 Commissioner of Social Security is responsible, or the outlays 
 for the costs of the part of the administration of titles XVI 
 and XVIII of the Social Security Act for which the Commissioner 
 of Social Security is responsible.''.
            (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section, or the 
amendments made by this section, shall be construed to reduce or 
eliminate the authority of the Committees on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate to oversee or direct outlays 
for the costs of the part of the administration under title II of the 
Social Security Act, or the outlays for the costs of the part of the 
administration of titles XVI and XVIII of the Social Security Act, for 
which the Commissioner of Social Security is responsible.
            (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2025.

SEC. 9. ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO IMPROVE SOCIAL SECURITY CUSTOMER 
 EXPERIENCE.

    (a) In General.--There are appropriated to the Commissioner of 
Social Security (referred to in this section as the ``Commissioner'') 
for the period of fiscal year 2026 through fiscal year 2035, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000,000, to 
remain available until expended, to be used by the Commissioner for the 
following purposes:

    (1) To conduct efforts to increase awareness of eligibility 
 for supplemental security income benefits among families with 
 children who may be eligible for such benefits, with such 
 efforts to be conducted throughout the United States to ensure 
 families of children with disabilities have awareness of the 
 program, its eligibility standards, and how to apply.

    (2) To reduce the initial disability insurance benefit 
 claims backlog and other disability insurance benefit 
 workloads, as well as backlogs and workloads relating to claims 
 for benefits under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act 
 which involve a disability determination (including appeals), 
 including by directing resources and workload assistance to 
 areas with the greatest need.

    (3) Maintaining, expanding, modernizing, or enhancing the 
 information technology capabilities and infrastructure of the 
 Social Security Administration, while ensuring that delivery of 
 benefits continues uninterrupted.

    (4) Increasing the menu of services that can be performed 
 online, including an application for benefits under title XVI 
 of the Social Security Act.

    (b) Reports to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner shall 
submit to Congress a report on the actions being undertaken by the 
Social Security Administration to address the issues described in 
paragraphs

    (1) through

    (4) of subsection

    (a) .

SEC. 10. CODIFICATION OF FORMER POLICY REGARDING RECOVERY OF SOCIAL 
 SECURITY OVERPAYMENTS.

    (a) In General.--

Section 204

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 404

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``With respect to payment'' and inserting 
 ``
            (i) Subject to clause
            (ii) , with respect to payment''; and

    (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
 ``
            (ii) 
            (I) With respect to adjustment or recovery on 
 account of an overpayment pursuant to clause
            (i) , the 
 amount of any monthly benefit payable to such person 
 under this title shall be decreased by the Commissioner 
 of Social Security by an amount equal to the greater 
 of--
 ``

    (aa) 10 percent of such monthly benefit, 
 or
 ``

    (bb) $10.
 ``
            (II) Subclause
            (I) shall not apply in the case of 
 a person who--
 ``

    (aa) received payment of more than the 
 correct amount as a result of fraud or similar 
 fault (as defined in 

section 205

    (u)

    (2) ), or
 ``

    (bb) elects to waive application of such 
 subclause and requests that the Commissioner of 
 Social Security impose a greater decrease in 
 the amount of monthly benefits payable to such 
 person under this title than the amount 
 otherwise determined under such subclause.''.

    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply with respect to overpayment determinations made on or after March 
25, 2024, and to any other overpaid amounts that have not been 
recovered as of such date.

SEC. 11. STATE GRANTS TO PROTECT THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF SSI AND SSDI 
 APPLICANTS AND BENEFICIARIES.

 Title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after 

section 1150C the following new section:

``

SEC. 1150D. STATE GRANTS TO PROTECT THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF SUPPLEMENTAL 
 SECURITY AND DISABILITY INSURANCE APPLICANTS AND 
 BENEFICIARIES.

 ``

    (a) In General.--The Commissioner may make payments in each State 
to the protection and advocacy system established pursuant to part C of 
title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights 
Act for the purpose of protecting the legal rights of beneficiaries 
with a disability.
 ``

    (b) Services Provided.--Services provided to beneficiaries with a 
disability pursuant to a payment made under this section may include--
 ``

    (1) information and advice about accessing and applying 
 for benefits under title II or title XVI on the basis of a 
 disability and appealing eligibility decisions with respect to 
 such benefits;
 ``

    (2) advocacy and other services that a beneficiary with a 
 disability may need related to such benefits; and
 ``

    (3) services described in 

section 1150

    (b) .
 ``
            (c) Application.--In order to receive payments under this 
section, a protection and advocacy system shall submit an application 
to the Commissioner, at such time, in such form and manner, and 
accompanied by such information and assurances as the Commissioner may 
require.
 ``
            (d) Amount of Payments.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Subject to the amount appropriated for a 
 fiscal year for making payments under this section, a 
 protection and advocacy system shall not be paid an amount that 
 is less than--
 ``
        (A) in the case of a protection and advocacy 
 system located in one of the 50 States, the District of 
 Columbia, or Puerto Rico, $200,000; and
 ``
        (B) in the case of a protection and advocacy 
 system located in Guam, American Samoa, the United 
 States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the 
 Northern Mariana Islands, $100,000.
 ``

    (2) Inflation adjustment.--For each fiscal year in which 
 the total amount appropriated to carry out this section exceeds 
 the total amount appropriated to carry out this section in the 
 preceding fiscal year, the Commissioner shall increase each 
 minimum payment under subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (B) of paragraph

    (1) by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the 
 total amount so appropriated to carry out this section.
 ``

    (e) Annual Report.--Each protection and advocacy system that 
receives a payment under this section shall submit an annual report to 
the Commissioner on the services provided to individuals by the system.
 ``

    (f) Funding.--
 ``

    (1) Allocation of payments.--Payments under this section 
 shall be made from amounts made available for the 
 administration of title II and amounts made available for the 
 administration of title XVI, and shall be allocated among those 
 amounts as appropriate.
 ``

    (2) Carryover.--Any amounts allotted for payment to a 
 protection and advocacy system under this section for a fiscal 
 year shall remain available for payment to or on behalf of the 
 protection and advocacy system until the end of the succeeding 
 fiscal year.
 ``

    (g) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Beneficiary with a disability.--The term `beneficiary 
 with a disability' means an individual who--
 ``
        (A) is a title II disability beneficiary or a 
 title XVI disability beneficiary (as such terms are 
 defined under 

section 1148

    (k) );
 ``
        (B) is an applicant or prospective applicant for 
 benefits under title II or title XVI on the basis that 
 such individual has a disability;
 ``
            (C) is requesting a hearing under 

section 221
            (d) or for an administrative review prior to such hearing; 
 or
 ``
            (D) is filing a request for reinstatement of 
 entitled under 

section 223
            (i) (1)
        (A) .
 ``

    (2) Commissioner.--The term `Commissioner' means the 
 Commissioner of Social Security.
 ``

    (3) Protection and advocacy system.--The term `protection 
 and advocacy system' means a protection and advocacy system 
 established pursuant to part C of title I of the Developmental 
 Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
 ``

    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2026 through 2030.''.

SEC. 12. SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--For each fiscal year during the 5-year period 
beginning with fiscal year 2026, the Commissioner shall award not less 
than 10 grants under this section to community-based organizations for 
the purpose of assisting individuals with disabilities--

    (1) during the process of applying for benefits under title 
 II or XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 
 1381 et seq.) on the basis of a disability;

    (2) any appeals processes before the Commissioner, an 
 administrative judge of the Social Security Administration, or 
 a State Disability Determination Services office; and

    (3) in accessing such benefits.

    (b) Grant Requirements.--

    (1) Duration and amount of grants.--A grant awarded to a 
 community-based organization under this section--
        (A) shall be for an amount that is not less than 
 $500,000; and
        (B) shall be for a period of 5 years.

    (2) Use of funds.--Grant funds shall only be used for a 
 purpose described in subsection

    (a) .
            (c) Application.--

    (1) In general.--To receive a grant under this section, a 
 community-based organization shall submit an application to the 
 Commissioner, at such time and in such form and manner and 
 accompanied by such information and assurances as the 
 Commissioner may require.

    (2) Required information.--An application for a grant under 
 this section shall include the following information:
        (A) The region to be served by the applicant.
        (B) A description of the needs of beneficiaries 
 with a disability in such region.
            (C) A description of services to be provided under 
 such grant.
            (D) The personnel that would provide such services.
        (E) The applicant's plan for disseminating 
 awareness of the services provided under the grant to 
 beneficiaries with a disability in the region.

    (3) Memorandum of understanding.--An application for a 
 grant under this section shall include a memorandum of 
 understanding among any collaborating entities as to roles and 
 allocation of grant funds for each collaborating agency.

    (4) Assurance of availability.--An application for a grant 
 under this section shall include a commitment by the applicant 
 that all services provided under the grant, including 
 information about such services, shall be accessible to 
 beneficiaries with a disability.
            (d) === Definitions. ===
-

    (1) Beneficiary with a disability.--The term ``beneficiary 
 with a disability'' has the meaning given such term in 

section 1150D of the Social Security Act (as added by 

section 14).

    (2) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means the 
 Commissioner of Social Security.

    (3) Community-based organization.--The term ``community-
 based organization'' means a non-profit agency or collaboration 
 of non-profit agencies that--
        (A) serves a region of one or more States;
        (B) includes--
            (i) a legal team of lawyers licensed to 
 practice in the State or States served by the 
 organization;
            (ii) experts in disability benefits 
 provided under title II and XVI of the Social 
 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et 
 seq.), including application, and appeals 
 procedures under such titles; and
            (iii) individuals currently receiving 
 benefits on the basis of a disability under 
 such a title, or who were beneficiaries under 
 such a title on the basis of a disability 
 within the past 5 years; and
            (C) is overseen by a board or advisory group 
 composed of at least \1/3\ members who are current or 
 former beneficiaries on the basis of a disability under 
 title II or XVI of the Social Security Act.

    (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the 50 States, the 
 District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
 American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
 Islands.

    (e) Appropriation.--There is appropriated to the Commissioner, for 
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, $15,000,000 for the purpose of 
carrying out this section.

    (f) Reports.--

    (1) In general.--Each community-based organization that 
 receives a grant under this sections shall provide the 
 Commissioner with--
        (A) for each year of the grant period, an annual 
 report on the services provided; and
        (B) at the conclusion of the grant period, a final 
 report of activities provided under the grant.

    (2) Evaluation grant.--From the administrative funds of 
 title II and title XVI, there shall be awarded an evaluation 
 grant to an independent entity to evaluate the impact of the 
 grants under this section. The amount to be awarded to the 
 evaluation entity shall be at least $500,000 for each of the 5 
 years of the grant period and at least $500,000 for the 2 years 
 following the grant period.
 <all>