SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
TITLE VII OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
Chapter 531 of the 74th Congress, as amended
49 Stat. 620, as amended
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
ch531
117–286
Statute Compilation
United States House of Representatives
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1935-08-14
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
[Chapter 531 of the 74th Congress, approved August 14, 1935, 49 Stat. 620.]
[As Amended Through P.L. 117–286, Enacted December 27, 2022]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of title VII of Chapter 531 of the 74th Congress. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
TITLE VII—

ADMINISTRATION1
^1
Title VII of the Social Security Act is administered by the Office of the Commissioner of Social Security, Office of the Secretary, and Department of Health and Human Services.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TITLE2
^2
This table of contents does not appear in the law.
Sec. 701.
Social Security Administration.
Sec. 702.
Commissioner; Deputy Commissioner; Other Officers.
Sec. 703.
Social Security Advisory Board.
Sec. 704.
Administrative Duties of the Commissioner.
Sec. 705.
Training grants for public welfare personnel.
[Sec. 706. Repealed.]
Sec. 707.
Grants for expansion and development of undergraduate and graduate programs.
Sec. 708.
Delivery of benefit checks.
Sec. 709.
Recommendations by Board of Trustees to remedy inadequate balances in the social security trust funds.
Sec. 710.
Budgetary treatment of trust fund operations.
Sec. 711.
Office of Rural Health Policy.
Sec. 712.
Duties and authority of Secretary.
Sec. 713.
Office of women's health.

social security administration
Sec. 701.
[42 U.S.C. 901]
(a)
There is hereby established, as an independent agency in the executive branch of the Government, a Social Security Administration (in this title referred to as the “Administration”).
(b)
It shall be the duty of the Administration to administer the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program under title II and the supplemental security income program under title XVI.

commissioner; deputy commissioner; other officers
Sec. 702.
[42 U.S.C. 902]
(a)

Commissioner of Social Security
(1)
There shall be in the Administration a Commissioner of Social Security (in this title referred to as the “Commissioner”) who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(2)
The Commissioner shall be compensated at the rate provided for level I of the Executive Schedule.
(3)
The Commissioner shall be appointed for a term of 6 years, except that the initial term of office for Commissioner shall terminate January 19, 2001. In any case in which a successor does not take office at the end of a Commissioner's term of office, such Commissioner may continue in office until the entry upon office of such a successor. A Commissioner appointed to a term of office after the commencement of such term may serve under such appointment only for the remainder of such term. An individual serving in the office of Commissioner may be removed from office only pursuant to a finding by the President of neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.
(4)
The Commissioner shall be responsible for the exercise of all powers and the discharge of all duties of the Administration, and shall have authority and control over all personnel and activities thereof.
(5)
The Commissioner may prescribe such rules and regulations as the Commissioner determines necessary or appropriate to carry out the functions of the Administration. The regulations prescribed by the Commissioner shall be subject to the rulemaking procedures established under section 553 of title 5, United States Code.
(6)
The Commissioner may establish, alter, consolidate, or discontinue such organizational units or components within the Administration as the Commissioner considers necessary or appropriate, except that this paragraph shall not apply with respect to any unit, component, or provision provided for by this Act.
(7)
The Commissioner may assign duties, and delegate, or authorize successive redelegations of, authority to act and to render decisions, to such officers and employees of the Administration as the Commissioner may find necessary. Within the limitations of such delegations, redelegations, or assignments, all official acts and decisions of such officers and employees shall have the same force and effect as though performed or rendered by the Commissioner.
(8)
The Commissioner and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this title referred to as the “Secretary”) shall consult, on an ongoing basis, to ensure—
(A)
the coordination of the programs administered by the Commissioner, as described in section 701, with the programs administered by the Secretary under titles XVIII and XIX of this Act; and
(B)
that adequate information concerning benefits under such titles XVIII and XIX is available to the public.
(b)

Deputy Commissioner of Social Security
(1)
There shall be in the Administration a Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (in this title referred to as the Deputy Commissioner) who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(2)
The Deputy Commissioner shall be appointed for a term of 6 years, except that the initial term of office for the Deputy Commissioner shall terminate January 19, 2001. In any case in which a successor does not take office at the end of a Deputy Commissioner's term of office, such Deputy Commissioner may continue in office until the entry upon office of such a successor. A Deputy Commissioner appointed to a term of office after the commencement of such term may serve under such appointment only for the remainder of such term.
(3)
The Deputy Commissioner shall be compensated at the rate provided for level II of the Executive Schedule.
(4)
The Deputy Commissioner shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Commissioner shall from time to time assign or delegate. The Deputy Commissioner shall be Acting Commissioner of the Administration during the absence or disability of the Commissioner and, unless the President designates another officer of the Government as Acting Commissioner, in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Commissioner.

chief actuary3
^3
So in original; probably should be set caps and lowercase.
(c)
(1)
There shall be in the Administration a Chief Actuary, who shall be appointed by, and in direct line of authority to, the Commissioner. The Chief Actuary shall be appointed from individuals who have demonstrated, by their education and experience, superior expertise in the actuarial sciences. The Chief Actuary shall serve as the chief actuarial officer of the Administration, and shall exercise such duties as are appropriate for the office of the Chief Actuary and in accordance with professional standards of actuarial independence. The Chief Actuary may be removed only for cause.
(2)
The Chief Actuary shall be compensated at the highest rate of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(d)

Chief Financial Officer
There shall be in the Administration a Chief Financial Officer appointed by the Commissioner in accordance with section 901(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code.
(e)

Inspector General
There shall be in the Administration an Inspector General appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, in accordance with section 403(a) of title 5, United States Code.

social security advisory board
Sec. 703.
[42 U.S.C. 903]
(a)

Establishment of Board
There shall be established a Social Security Advisory Board (in this section referred to as the “Board”).
(b)
On and after the date the Commissioner takes office, the Board shall advise the Commissioner on policies related to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program under title II, the program of special benefits for certain World War II veterans under title VIII, and the supplemental security income program under title XVI. Specific functions of the Board of the Board shall include—
(1)
analyzing the Nation's retirement and disability systems and making recommendations with respect to how the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program and the supplemental security income program, supported by other public and private systems, can most effectively assure economic security;
(2)
studying and making recommendations relating to the coordination of programs that provide health security with programs described in paragraph (1);
(3)
making recommendations to the President and to the Congress with respect to policies that will ensure the solvency of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program, both in the short-term and the long-term;
(4)
making recommendations with respect to the quality of service that the Administration provides to the public;
(5)
making recommendations with respect to policies and regulations regarding the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program and the supplemental security income program;
(6)
increasing public understanding of the social security system;
(7)
making recommendations with respect to a long-range research program evaluation plan for the Administration;
(8)
reviewing and assessing any major studies of social security as may come to the attention of the Board; and
(9)
making recommendations with respect to such other matters as the Board determines to be appropriate.
(c)

Structure and Membership of the Board
(1)
The Board shall be composed of 7 members who shall be appointed as follows:
(A)
3 members shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than 2 of such members shall be from the same political party.
(B)
2 members (each member from a different political party) shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate with the advice of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Finance.
(C)
2 members (each member from a different political party) shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the advice of the Chairman and the Ranking Minority Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
(2)
The members shall be chosen on the basis of their integrity, impartiality, and good judgment, and shall be individuals who are, by reason of their education, experience, and attainments, exceptionally qualified to perform the duties of members of the Board.
(d)

Terms of Appointment
Each member of the Board shall serve for a term of 6 years, except that—
(1)
a member appointed to a term of office after the commencement of such term may serve under such appointment only for the remainder of such term; and
(2)
the terms of service of the members initially appointed under this section shall begin on October 1, 1994, and expire as follows:
(A)
The terms of service of the members initially appointed by the President shall expire as designated by the President at the time of nomination, 1 each at the end of—
(i)
2 years;
(ii)
4 years; and
(iii)
6 years.
(B)
The terms of service of members initially appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate shall expire as designated by the President pro tempore of the Senate at the time of nomination, 1 each at the end of—
(i)
3 years; and
(ii)
6 years.
(C)
The terms of service of members initially appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall expire as designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time of nomination, 1 each at the end of—
(i)
4 years; and
(ii)
5 years.
(e)

Chairman
A member of the Board shall be designated by the President to serve as Chairman for a term of 4 years, coincident with the term of the President, or until the designation of a successor.
(f)

Compensation, Expenses, and Per Diem
A member of the Board shall, for each day (including traveltime) during which the member is attending meetings or conferences of the Board or otherwise engaged in the business of the Board, be compensated at the daily rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule. While serving on business of the Board away from their homes or regular places of business, members may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government employed intermittently.
(g)

Meeting
(1)
The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman (in consultation with the other members of the Board) not less than 4 times each year to consider a specific agenda of issues, as determined by the Chairman in consultation with the other members of the Board.
(2)
Four members of the Board (not more than 3 of whom may be of the same political party) shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business.
(h)

Chapter 10 of Title 5, United States Code
The Board shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code.
(i)

Personnel
The Board shall, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to the competitive service, appoint a Staff Director who shall be paid at a rate equivalent to a rate established for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code. The Board shall appoint such additional personnel as the Board determines to be necessary to provide adequate support for the Board, and may compensate such additional personnel without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to the competitive service.
(j)

Authorization of Appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated, out of the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, and the general fund of the Treasury, such sums as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

administrative duties of the commissioner
Sec. 704.
[42 U.S.C. 904]
(a)

Personnel
(1)
The Commissioner shall appoint such additional officers and employees as the Commissioner considers necessary to carry out the functions of the Administration under this Act, and attorneys and experts may be appointed without regard to the civil service laws. Except as otherwise provided in the preceding sentence or in any other provision of law, such officers and employees shall be appointed, and their compensation shall be fixed, in accordance with title 5, United States Code.
(2)
The Commissioner may procure the services of experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code.
(3)
Notwithstanding any requirements of section 3133 of title 5, United States Code, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall authorize for the Administration a total number of Senior Executive Service positions which is substantially greater than the number of such positions authorized in the Social Security Administration in the Department of Health and Human Services as of immediately before the date of the enactment of the Social Security Independence Program Improvements Act of 1994 to the extent that the greater number of such authorized positions is specified in the comprehensive work force plan as established and revised by the Commissioner under subsection (b)(2). The total number of such positions authorized for the Administration shall not at any time be less than the number of such authorized positions as of immediately before such date.
(b)

Budgetary Matters
(1)
(A)
The Commissioner shall prepare an annual budget for the Administration, which shall be submitted by the President to the Congress without revision, together with the President's annual budget for the Administration.
(B)
The Commissioner shall include in the annual budget prepared pursuant to subparagraph (A) an itemization of the amount of funds required by the Social Security Administration for the fiscal year covered by the budget to support efforts to combat fraud committed by applicants and beneficiaries.
(2)
(A)
Appropriations requests for staffing and personnel of the Administration shall be based upon a comprehensive work force plan, which shall be established and revised from time to time by the Commissioner.
(B)
Appropriations for administrative expenses of the Administration are authorized to be provided on a biennial basis.
(3)
For each fiscal year beginning with 2016 and ending with 2021, the Commissioner shall include in the annual budget prepared pursuant to subparagraph (A) a report describing the purposes for which amounts made available for purposes described in section 251(b)(2)(B) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for the fiscal year were expended by the Social Security Administration and the purposes for which the Commissioner plans for the Administration to expend such funds in the succeeding fiscal year, including—
(A)
the total such amount expended;
(B)
the amount expended on co-operative disability investigation units;
(C)
the number of cases of fraud prevented by co-operative disability investigation units and the amount expended on such cases (as reported to the Commissioner by the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration);
(D)
the number of felony cases prosecuted under section 208 (as reported to the Commissioner by the Inspector General) and the amount expended by the Social Security Administration in supporting the prosecution of such cases;
(E)
the amount of such felony cases successfully prosecuted (as reported to the Commissioner by the Inspector General) and the amount expended by the Social Security Administration in supporting the prosecution of such cases;
(F)
the amount expended on and the number of completed—
(i)
continuing disability reviews conducted by mail;
(ii)
redeterminations conducted by mail;
(iii)
medical continuing disability reviews conducted pursuant to section 221(i);
(iv)
medical continuing disability reviews conducted pursuant to 1614(a)(3)(H);
(v)
redeterminations conducted pursuant to section 1611(c); and
(vi)
work-related continuing disability reviews to determine whether earnings derived from services demonstrate an individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful activity;
(G)
the number of cases of fraud identified for which benefits were terminated as a result of medical continuing disability reviews (as reported to the Commissioner by the Inspector General), work-related continuing disability reviews, and redeterminations, and the amount of resulting savings for each such type of review or redetermination; and
(H)
the number of work-related continuing disability reviews in which a beneficiary improperly reported earnings derived from services for more than 3 consecutive months, and the amount of resulting savings.
(c)

Employment Restriction
The total number of positions in the Administration (other than positions established under section 702) which—
(1)
are held by noncareer appointees (within the meaning of section 3132(a)(7) of title 5, United States Code) in the Senior Executive Service, or
(2)
have been determined by the President or the Office of Personnel Management to be of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character and have been excepted from the competitive service thereby,
may not exceed at any time the equivalent of 20 full-time positions.
(d)

Seal of Office
The Commissioner shall cause a seal of office to be made for the Administration of such design as the Commissioner shall approve. Judicial notice shall be taken of such seal.
(e)

Data Exchanges
(1)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including subsection (b), (o), (p), (q), (r), and (u) of section 552a of title 5, United States Code)—
(A)
the Secretary shall disclose to the Commissioner any record or information requested in writing by the Commissioner for the purpose of administering any program administered by the Commissioner, if records or information of such type were disclosed to the Commissioner of Social Security in the Department of Health and Human Services under applicable rules, regulations, and procedures in effect before the date of the enactment of the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994; and
(B)
the Commissioner shall disclose to the Secretary or to any State any record or information requested in writing by the Secretary to be so disclosed for the purpose of administering any program administered by the Secretary, if records or information of such type were so disclosed under applicable rules, regulations, and procedures in effect before the date of the enactment of the Social Security Independence and Program Improvements Act of 1994.
(2)
The Commissioner and the Secretary shall enter into an agreement under which the Commissioner provides the Secretary data concerning the quality of the services and information provided to beneficiaries of the programs under titles XVIII and XIX and the administrative services provided by the Social Security Administration in support of such programs. Such agreement shall stipulate the type of data to be provided and the terms and conditions under which the data are to be provided.
(3)
The Commissioner and the Secretary shall periodically review the need for exchanges of information not referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) and shall enter into such agreements as may be necessary and appropriate to provide information to each other or to States in order to meet the programmatic needs of the requesting agencies.
(4)
(A)
Any disclosure from a system of records (as defined in section 552a(a)(5) of title 5, United States Code) pursuant to this subsection shall be made as a routine use under subsection (b)(3) of section 552a of such title (unless otherwise authorized under such section 552a).
(B)
Any computerized comparison of records, including matching programs, between the Commissioner and the Secretary shall be conducted in accordance with subsections (o), (p), (q), (r), and (u) of section 552a of title 5, United States Code.
(5)
The Commissioner and the Secretary shall each ensure that timely action is taken to establish any necessary routine uses for disclosures required under paragraph (1) or agreed to pursuant to paragraph (3).

training grants for public welfare personnel
Sec. 705.
[42 U.S.C. 906]
(a)
In order to assist in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of administration of public assistance programs by increasing the number of adequately trained public welfare personnel available for work in public assistance programs, there are hereby authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1963, the sum of $3,500,000, and for each fiscal year thereafter the sum of $5,000,000.
(b)
Such portion of the sums appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) for any fiscal year as the Secretary may determine, but not in excess of $1,000,000 in the case of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1963, and $2,000,000 in the case of any fiscal year thereafter, shall be available for carrying out subsection (f). From the remainder of the sums so appropriated for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall make allotments to the States on the basis of (1) population, (2) relative need for trained public welfare personnel, particularly for personnel to provide self-support and self-care services, and (3) financial need.
(c)
From each State's allotment under subsection (b), the Secretary shall from time to time pay to such State its costs of carrying out the purposes of this section through (1) grants to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning for training personnel employed or preparing for employment in public assistance programs, (2) special courses of study or seminars of short duration conducted for such personnel by experts hired on a temporary basis for the purpose, and (3) establishing and maintaining, directly or through grants to such institutions, fellowships or traineeships for such personnel at such institutions, with such stipends and allowances as may be permitted under regulations of the Secretary.
(d)
Payments pursuant to subsection (c) shall be made in advance on the basis of estimates by the Secretary and adjustments may be made in future payments under this section to take account of overpayments or underpayments in amounts previously paid.
(e)
The amount of any allotment to a State under subsection (b) for any fiscal year which the State certifies to the Secretary will not be required for carrying out the purposes of this section in such State shall be available for reallotment from time to time, on such dates as the Secretary may fix, to other States which the Secretary determines have need in carrying out such purposes for sums in excess of those previously allotted to them under this section and will be able to use such excess amounts during such fiscal year; such reallotments to be made on the basis provided in subsection (b) for the initial allotments to the States. Any amount so reallotted to a State shall be deemed part of its allotment under such subsection.
(f)
(1)
The portion of the sums appropriated for any fiscal year which is determined by the Secretary under the first sentence of subsection (b) to be available for carrying out this subsection shall be available to enable him to provide (A) directly or through grants to or contracts with public or nonprofit private institutions of higher learning, for training personnel who are employed or preparing for employment in the administration of public assistance programs, (B) directly or through grants to or contracts with public or nonprofit private agencies or institutions, for special courses of study or seminars of short duration (not in excess of one year) for training of such personnel, and (C) directly or through grants to or contracts with public or nonprofit private institutions of higher learning, for establishing and maintaining fellowships or traineeships for such personnel at such institutions, with such stipends and allowances as may be permitted by the Secretary.
(2)
Payments under paragraph (1) may be made in advance on the basis of estimates by the Secretary, or may be made by way of reimbursement, and adjustments may be made in future payments under this subsection to take account of overpayments or underpayments in amounts previously paid.
(3)
The Secretary may, to the extent he finds such action to be necessary, prescribe requirements to assure that any individual will repay the amount of his fellowship or traineeship received under this subsection to the extent such individual fails to serve, for the period prescribed by the Secretary, with a State or political subdivision thereof, or with the Federal Government, in connection with administration of any State or local public assistance program. The Secretary may relieve any individual of his obligation to so repay, in whole or in part, whenever and to the extent that requirement of such repayment would, in his judgment, be inequitable or would be contrary to the purposes of any of the public welfare programs established by this Act.
[Section 706 repealed by section 108(a)(2) of Public Law 103–296, 108 Stat. 1481.]

grants for expansion and development of undergraduate and graduate programs
Sec. 707.
[42 U.S.C. 908]
(a)
There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1969, and $5,000,000 for each of the three succeeding fiscal years, for grants by the Secretary to public or nonprofit private colleges and universities and to accredited graduate schools of social work or an association of such schools to meet part of the costs of development, expansion, or improvement of (respectively) undergraduate programs in social work and programs for the graduate training of professional social work personnel, including the costs of compensation of additional faculty and administrative personnel and minor improvements of existing facilities. Not less than one-half of the sums appropriated for any fiscal year under the authority of this subsection shall be used by the Secretary for grants with respect to undergraduate programs.
(b)
In considering applications for grants under this section, the Secretary shall take into account the relative need in the States for personnel trained in social work and the effect of the grants thereon.
(c)
Payment of grants under this section may be made (after necessary adjustments on account of previously made overpayments or underpayments) in advance or by way of reimbursement, and on such terms and conditions and in such installments, as the Secretary may determine.
(d)
For purposes of this section—
(1)
the term “graduate school of social work” means a department, school, division, or other administrative unit, in a public or nonprofit private college or university, which provides, primarily or exclusively, a program of education in social work and allied subjects leading to a graduate degree in social work;
(2)
the term “accredited” as applied to a graduate school of social work refers to a school which is accredited by a body or bodies approved for the purpose by the Commissioner of Education or with respect to which there is evidence satisfactory to the Secretary that it will be so accredited within a reasonable time; and
(3)
the term “nonprofit” as applied to any college or university refers to a college or university which is a corporation or association, or is owned and operated by one or more corporations or associations, no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

delivery of benefit checks
Sec. 708.
[42 U.S.C. 909]
(a)
If the day regularly designated for the delivery of benefit checks under title II, title VIII, or title XVI falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal public holiday (as defined in section 6103 of title 5, United States Code in any month, the benefit checks which would otherwise be delivered on such day shall be mailed for delivery on the first day preceding such day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal public holiday (as so defined), without regard to whether the delivery of such checks would as a result have to be made before the end of the month for which such checks are issued.
(b)
If more than the correct amount of payment under title II, title VIII, or XVI is made to any individual as a result of the receipt of a benefit check pursuant to subsection (a) before the end of the month for which such check is issued, no action shall be taken (under section 204 or 1631(b) or otherwise) to recover such payment or the incorrect portion thereof.
(c)
For purposes of computing the “OASDI trust fund ratio” under section 201(l), the “OASDI fund ratio” under section 215(i), and the “balance ratio” under section 709(b), benefit checks delivered before the end of the month for which they are issued by reason of subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to have been delivered on the regularly designated delivery date.

recommendations by board of trustees to remedy inadequate balances in the social security trust funds
Sec. 709.
[42 U.S.C. 910]
(a)
If the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, or the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund determines at any time that the balance ratio of any such Trust Fund for any calendar year may become less than 20 percent, the Board shall promptly submit to each House of the Congress a report setting forth its recommendations for statutory adjustments affecting the receipts and disbursements of such Trust Fund necessary to maintain the balance ratio of such Trust Fund at not less than 20 percent, with due regard to the economic conditions which created such inadequacy in the balance ratio and the amount of time necessary to alleviate such inadequacy in a prudent manner. The report shall set forth specifically the extent to which benefits would have to be reduced, taxes under section 1401, 3101, or 3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 would have to be increased, or a combination thereof, in order to obtain the objectives referred to in the preceding sentence.
(b)
For purposes of this section, the term “balance ratio” means, with respect to any calendar year in connection with any Trust Fund referred to in subsection (a), the ratio of—
(1)
the balance in such Trust Fund as of the beginning of such year, including the taxes transferred under section 201(a) on the first day of such year and reduced by the outstanding amount of any loan (including interest thereon) theretofore made to such Trust Fund under section 201(l) or 1817(j), to
(2)
the total amount which (for amounts which will be paid from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as estimated by the Commissioner, and for amounts which will be paid from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, as estimated by the Secretary) will be paid from such Trust Fund during such calendar year for all purposes authorized by section 201, 1817, or 1841 (as applicable), other than payments of interest on, or repayments of, loans under section 201(l) or 1817(j), but excluding any transfer payments between such Trust Fund and any other Trust Fund referred to in subsection (a) and reducing the amount of any transfers to the Railroad Retirement Account by the amount of any transfers into such Trust Fund from that Account.

budgetary treatment of trust fund operations
Sec. 710.
[42 U.S.C. 911]
(a)
The receipts and disbursements of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund and the taxes imposed under sections 1401 and 3101 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall not be included in the totals of the budget of the United States Government as submitted by the President or of the congressional budget and shall be exempt from any general budget limitation imposed by statute on expenditures and net lending (budget outlays) of the United States Government.
(b)
No provision of law enacted after the date of enactment of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (other than a provision of an appropriation Act that appropriated funds authorized under the Social Security Act as in effect on the date of the enactment of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit control Act of 1985) may provide for payments from the general fund of the Treasury to any Trust Fund specified in subsection (a) or for payments from any such Trust Fund to the general fund of the Treasury.

office of rural health policy
Sec. 711.
[42 U.S.C. 912]
(a)
There shall be established in the Department of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the “Department”) an Office of Rural Health Policy (in this section referred to as the “Office”). The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall advise the Secretary on the effects of current policies and proposed statutory, regulatory, administrative, and budgetary changes in the programs established under titles XVIII and XIX on the financial viability of small rural hospitals, the ability of rural areas (and rural hospitals in particular) to attract and retain physicians and other health professionals, and access to (and the quality of) health care in rural areas.
(b)
In addition to advising the Secretary with respect to the matters specified in subsection (a), the Director, through the Office, shall—
(1)
oversee compliance with the requirements of section 1102(b) of this Act and section 4403 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (as such section pertains to rural health issues),
(2)
establish and maintain a clearinghouse for collecting and disseminating information on—
(A)
rural health care issues, including rural mental health, rural infant mortality prevention, and rural occupational safety and preventive health promotion,
(B)
research findings relating to rural health care, and
(C)
innovative approaches to the delivery of health care in rural area, including programs providing community-based mental health services, pre-natal and infant care services, and rural occupational safety and preventive health education and promotion,
(3)
coordinate the activities within the Department that relate to rural health care,
(4)
provide information to the Secretary and others in the Department with respect to the activities, of other Federal departments and agencies, that relate to rural health care, including activities relating to rural mental health, rural infant mortality, and rural occupational safety and preventive health promotion, and
(5)
administer grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts to provide technical assistance and other activities as necessary to support activities related to improving health care in rural areas.

duties and authority of secretary
Sec. 712.
[42 U.S.C. 913]
The Secretary shall perform the duties imposed upon the Secretary by this Act. The Secretary is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, and to make such expenditures as may be necessary for carrying out the functions of the Secretary under this Act. The Secretary may appoint attorneys and experts without regard to the civil service laws.
SEC. 713.
[42 U.S.C. 914]

OFFICE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH.
(a)

Establishment.—
The Secretary shall establish within the Office of the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, an office to be known as the Office of Women's Health. The Office shall be headed by a director who shall be appointed by the Administrator.
(b)

Purpose.—
The Director of the Office shall—
(1)
report to the Administrator on the current Administration level of activity regarding women's health across, where appropriate, age, biological, and sociocultural contexts;
(2)
establish short-range and long-range goals and objectives within the Health Resources and Services Administration for women's health and, as relevant and appropriate, coordinate with other appropriate offices on activities within the Administration that relate to health care provider training, health service delivery, research, and demonstration projects, for issues of particular concern to women;
(3)
identify projects in women's health that should be conducted or supported by the bureaus of the Administration;
(4)
consult with health professionals, nongovernmental organizations, consumer organizations, women's health professionals, and other individuals and groups, as appropriate, on Administration policy with regard to women; and
(5)
serve as a member of the Department of Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women's Health (established under section 229(b)(4) of the Public Health Service Act).
(c)

Continued Administration of Existing Programs.—
The Director of the Office shall assume the authority for the development, implementation, administration, and evaluation of any projects carried out through the Health Resources and Services Administration relating to women's health on the date of enactment of this section.
(d)

Definitions.—
For purposes of this section:
(1)

Administration.—
The term “Administration” means the Health Resources and Services Administration.
(2)

Administrator.—
The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.
(3)

Office.—
The term “Office” means the Office of Women's Health established under this section in the Administration.
(e)

Authorization of Appropriations.—
For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2010 through 2014.