What This Bill Does
This resolution affirms that Social Security is a main source of retirement income for millions of older Americans. The House of Representatives states its commitment to save and strengthen Social Security and declares it is not the policy of the House to cut Social Security during debt ceiling negotiations (talks about raising the government's borrowing limit).
Who It Affects
Current retirees and people nearing retirement who receive Social Security benefits.
Key Provisions
The bill contains no enforceable provisions, as it is a resolution expressing the House's position rather than a law that requires action. The resolution states that the House affirms current retirees and those nearing retirement expect certain Social Security commitments to be made.
What Changes
Nothing legally changes if this resolution passes. Resolutions express positions or opinions of Congress but do not create new laws or requirements.
Important Definitions
None defined in this bill text.
IV
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 117
Affirming that Social Security is one of the primary pillars of retirement
support for millions of older Americans, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 2023
Ms. VAN DUYNE (for herself, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. WITTMAN, Mrs. MILLER of
West Virginia, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Ms. GREENE of Georgia, Mr. MILLS,
Mrs. LESKO, Mr. MCCORMICK, Mrs. MCCLAIN, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr.
DONALDS, and Mr. JACKSON of Texas) submitted the following resolu-
tion; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
RESOLUTION
Affirming that Social Security is one of the primary pillars
of retirement support for millions of older Americans,
and for other purposes.
Whereas the Social Security Administration was established
by the Social Security Act of 1935;
Whereas Social Security pays cash benefits to more than 65
million people per month;
Whereas benefits are expected to be paid in full on a timely
basis only until 2033;
Whereas, the reserves for Social Security’s Retirement and
Survivors benefit program may become exhausted as soon
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•HRES 117 IH
as 2033, and benefits are expected to be paid out at only
77 percent;
Whereas, due to President Biden and his administration, in-
flation has risen 13.9 percent across the country since he
has taken the oath of office;
Whereas sky rocketing costs are even worse as prices have
outpaced seniors’ fixed incomes, causing this year’s Social
Security benefits to have the highest automatic increase
in 40 years, further exacerbating the strain on the Social
Security trust fund; and
Whereas it is the sense of the House of Representatives that
its commitment to the United States is to save and
strengthen Social Security: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives affirms
1
that current retirees and those nearing retirement expect
2
certain Social Security commitments to be made, as Social
3
Security has been one of the primary pillars of retirement
4
support for millions of older Americans for the past eight
5
decades and it is not the policy of the House of Represent-
6
atives to cut Social Security as part of debt ceiling nego-
7
tiations.
8
Æ
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