[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 106 (Thursday, August 3, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8856-S8857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD:
  S. 3839. A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to 
provide that the eligibility requirement for disability insurance 
benefits under which an individual must have 20 quarters of Social 
Security coverage in the 40 quarters preceding a disability shall not 
be applicable in the case of a disabled individual suffering from a 
covered terminal disease; to the Committee on Finance.

[[Page S8857]]

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
bill, the Claire Collier Social Security Disability Insurance Fairness 
Act, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3839

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Claire Collier Social 
     Security Disability Insurance Fairness Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXCEPTION FROM 20/40 REQUIREMENT FOR DISABILITY 
                   INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING 
                   FROM A COVERED TERMINAL DISEASE.

       (a) Exception From Recent Work Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--Section 223(c)(1) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 423(c)(1)) is amended in the flush matter 
     following subparagraph (B)(iii) by inserting ``or suffering 
     from a covered terminal disease'' after ``216(i)(1))''.
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 216(i)(3) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 416(i)(3)) is amended in the flush matter 
     following subparagraph (B)(iii) by inserting ``or suffering 
     from a covered terminal disease'' after ``paragraph (1))''.
       (b) Definition of Covered Terminal Disease.--Not later than 
     60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Commissioner of Social Security shall issue a proposed rule 
     defining the term ``covered terminal disease'' for purposes 
     of sections 216(i)(3) and 223(c)(1) of the Social Security 
     Act (as amended by subsection (a)) that shall include (but 
     not be limited to) those diseases that are incurable, 
     progressive, and terminal, including neurodegenerative and 
     neurological diseases that are likely to cause death within a 
     5-year period of onset.
       (c) Interim Final and Final Rules.--
       (1) Interim final rule.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social 
     Security shall issue an interim final rule defining the term 
     ``covered terminal disease'' in accordance with the 
     requirements of subsection (b) and shall provide for a period 
     of public comments on such rule.
       (2) Final rule.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security 
     shall issue a final rule defining the term ``covered terminal 
     disease'' in accordance with the requirements of subsection 
     (b) and consideration of any public comments received during 
     the period required under paragraph (1).
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and 
     shall apply to any applications for disability insurance 
     benefits under title II of the Social Security Act that are 
     pending or filed on or after that date.

                          ____________________