Archives of Social Security Legislation of the 109th Congress

The following are summaries, prepared by Social Security's Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, of legislation of the 109th Congress affecting Social Security benefits and programs. The first session of the 109th Congress convened on January 4th, 2005 and adjourned on December 22, 2005. The second session convened on January 3, 2006 and adjourned sine die on December 8, 2006.

For additional information on legislation, you can use THOMAS, which was developed by the Library of Congress to make federal legislative information freely available to the public. You can access THOMAS at: http://thomas.loc.gov/.

Summaries of Legislation of the 109th Congress With Provisions Affecting Social Security:

• P.L. 109-465, on December 22, 2006, the President signed into law S.4091, the Social Security Trust Funds Restoration Act of 2006.
       Previous action 12/09/06

• On December 20, 2006, the President signed into law H.R. 6111, the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. The Act has been designated Public Law 109-432.

• On September 26, 2006 by a voice vote, the House passed H.R. 5835, the Veterans Identity and Credit Security Act of 2006. The bill was sent to the Senate. No further action was taken on this bill.

• On July 28, 2006, the House passed H.R. 5970, the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006, by a recorded vote of 230-180. The bill was introduced in the House on July 28, 2006 by Representative William Thomas. The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the Motion to Proceed to consider HR 5970 on August 3, 2006 (Roll Call vote 229). No further action was taken on this bill.

• On May 25, 2006, the Senate passed S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Specter (R-PA) on April 7, 2006. No further action was taken on this bill.
       Previous action 12/16/05

• P.L. 109-171, on February 8, 2006, the President signed S. 1932, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, into law. The Act contains two Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provisions, including a review of initial disability and blindness determinations, and a requirement that certain lump sum amounts be paid in installments. It also accelerates the implementation of the income-related reduction in subsidy of Part B premiums.
       Previous actions 12/23/05; 11/28/05; 10/28/05

• P.L. 109-163, on January 6, 2006, the President signed H.R. 1815, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. The new law includes one Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provision.
       Previous actions 12/23/05; 11/18/05

• On December 16, 2005, the House passed H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 by a recorded vote of 239 to 182. The bill was introduced by Representative Sensenbrenner (R-WI) on December 6, 2005. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill on December 8 by a vote of 23-15. H.R. 4437 was received in the Senate for consideration on December 17, 2005. No further action was taken on this bill. (See above entry for May 25, 2006.)

• P.L. 109-91, on October 20, 2005, President Bush signed into law H.R. 3971, the "QI, TMA, and Abstinence Programs Extension and Hurricane Katrina Unemployment Relief Act of 2005". The bill extends the "Qualified Individual" (QI) Medicare savings program until September 30, 2007. The bill also extends the Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) and Abstinence Education programs until December 31, 2005.

• P.L. 109-64, on September 20, 2005, President Bush signed into law H.R. 804 which clarified consideration of funds received for flood mitigation activities for needs-based programs.
       Previous actions 09/16/05

• P.L. 109-13, on May 11, 2005, President Bush signed into law H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for FY 2005. H.R. 1268 also incorporates the text of H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act of 2005, as passed by the House on February 10, 2005. H.R. 1268 and H.R. 418 contain identical provisions designed to establish and implement regulations for State driver's license and identification security standards. The law establishes and implements regulations for State driver's license and identification security standards.
       Previous actions 04/06/05; 02/24/05