[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3942-S3946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Tillis,
Mr. King, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Armstrong):
S. 4979. A bill to establish a process to assure the long-term fiscal
stability of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and
the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund; to the Committee on
Finance.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would like to speak on a separate topic.
In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt decided to try something. The
idea was to create a pension plan for every American. Why? Because many
people, despite working hard their whole lives, doing their best to
save money, ended up almost penniless when they retired, when they were
forced to quit working.
Those were the days when Grandma and Grandpa moved into the spare
bedroom in your house. If that didn't happen to you, ask your father or
even grandfather--they will remember those times.
So Franklin Roosevelt said: Let's create a pension system so that
after you retire, there will be some money coming in. You pay into it
all your working life. When you reach the age of retirement, you get a
benefit from it.
They called it Social Security. It was passed into law in 1935. It
made its first payment 5 years later in 1940.
I think it has become arguably the most important social program in
America. Certainly, more Americans have participated in Social Security
than almost every other program. And they should. They earned it. They
worked for it. They were promised. The promise should be kept.
How is Social Security doing? Well, that is why I am standing here
before you today. Last month, the Social Security Board of Trustees
released an alarming report about the status of Social Security's
finances. That Board found that Social Security will be unable to make
full payments to eligible Americans by 2032. That is not that far
away--6 years. This is alarming, and it is a call to arms to Congress.
I was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. Scared to
death that I was going to be a one-term Congressman, I was looking over
my shoulder every 5 minutes to see what was going to knock me out of my
perch there.
Well, they came in and said: There is news for you, new Congressman.
Social Security is about to go broke.
The year was 1983, and we could see in the short term, Social
Security unable to make its benefit payments. That would have been a
disaster in 1983. We rose to the occasion. We had a Republican
President, Ronald Reagan. We had a Democratic House of Representatives
with Tip O'Neill. We set out to write a change in Social Security that
would save it so it could keep making payments. Well, it took a long
time, it took several months, but we got it done, and we passed it. Our
goal was to buy 50 years of solvency for Social Security, make changes
to the program so that it would last, keep paying its benefits as
promised for 50 years.
That was 1983. I voted for it. Democrats and Republicans all voted
for it. To my knowledge, not a single Member of Congress lost
reelection over that vote. People said: We had to do it. There was no
question about it. It was a tough vote, but it was the right vote.
It was 1983. Fifty years of solvency--where does it take you? To
2033. And what is the situation we were just told? This program that we
value so much is going to last until the end of 2032. It worked. Fifty
years of changes worked.
Now the question is basically this: Can we respond with the same
bipartisan effort to buy 50 years more of solvency in Social Security?
I think we can. Social Security unable to make its payments in 2032 is
an alarm bell. It is a call to action for Congress, both political
parties--not just Democrats but Republicans as well.
Social Security is the bedrock promise of secure retirement and has
been for over 90 years in America. Americans pay into the system
throughout their careers of hard work, and come the time, that same
program was supposed to be there to give them peace of mind when they
seek retirement. Well, we know we have 6 short years to achieve that.
What is going to happen at the end of that 6-year period? The Board
of advisers tells us Social Security will only be able to pay 78
percent of benefits.
Translate that, Durbin. Put it in English.
That means the average senior citizen faces monthly--monthly--benefit
cuts of $450--$450 a month cut from Social Security. For some, that is
quite an inconvenience. For others, that is quite a disaster. It would
force many seniors to choose between purchasing groceries, paying their
utility bills, or filling their prescriptions. Honest to goodness, it
is that basic.
Seventy million Americans, including seniors and people with
disabilities, rely on Social Security to afford the basics in life:
food, medication, housing, utilities, and so many other things.
In my home State of Illinois, more than 2 million people receive
Social Security. Twenty percent of Illinois seniors rely on Social
Security for virtually all of their income. That is it, that Social
Security check.
If Congress sits on its hands and does nothing to respond to this
crisis, millions of Americans will be expected to make ends meet with
fewer and fewer dollars each month.
The fact of the matter is that Congress has known about this issue of
insolvency for quite some time, but year after year, Congress has
avoided confronting the question, instead kicking the can down the road
for a future Congress to show the courage to step up and save the
program. That is unacceptable. We owe it to our seniors. We owe it to
ourselves. We owe it to our reputation. We know that the longer we
wait, the more drastic the policy changes become. We owe it to every
American to save Social Security.
[[Page S3943]]
Today, I am doing something that is rarely done in the Senate:
introducing a bill sponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators--four
Democrats, four Republicans. Our goal is to protect and strengthen
Social Security. Our bill is called the PROMISE Act. It seeks to create
a fair, bipartisan process to ensure Congress finally debates and votes
on the future of Social Security.
Under our proposal, the independent and bipartisan Social Security
Advisory Board would collect public input and send a proposal to
Congress that would keep the trust fund for Social Security solvent for
50 years at least. That would kick-start a process in both the House
and the Senate to do something we rarely, rarely do around here. It is
called legislating--writing a law, passing a law. Under our bill,
Congress would have the opportunity to hold hearings, offer amendments,
debate competing proposals, and ultimately vote on them.
You say at this point: OK, Senator Durbin. What is this plan to save
Social Security?
That is the beauty of this proposal. We create an opportunity for
alternative plans to be offered, and the one with the most votes--as
long as it gets 60 votes in the Senate--the one with the most votes
will prevail and will be the work product of the Senate on Social
Security.
Our legislation does not lower the 60-vote threshold of the Senate,
nor does it predetermine any specific outcome.
It may not work. We may not be able to put together any bill that
gets 60 votes. But goodness gracious, we were sent here to try, weren't
we? It simply guarantees that the American people, through their
elected representatives, are finally going to have an open, transparent
debate.
I have gone to Members of the Senate on both sides of the aisle and
said: What we want to do is give you your day in court, give you your
day in the Senate. You bring your best idea and the Parliamentarian
looks at it and says there is proof here that this has at least 50
years of solvency for Social Security, you can offer this amendment,
Senator. Give it your best.
Members would be able to offer substitute proposals provided that it
is at least 50 years of Social Security solvency.
Let me say it another way. Every Member with a serious proposal for
the most important social program in America would have the opportunity
to bring their idea to the table, to the floor, and get a vote. That is
so rare around here. It restores the Senate to debating, amending, and
voting under regular order--compared to what we see today.
Many of my colleagues have been working on proposals for a number of
years. Many are broadly popular. I will note that the senior Senator
from Ohio, a Republican, and the senior Senator from Massachusetts, a
Democrat, recently shared their idea to shore up the program, a
bipartisan plan. They may offer an amendment to do just that.
Congress has no shortage of ideas; we simply have a lack of will on
both the left and the right. Many stakeholders would rather wait for
that perfect political moment. Well, that is a mistake. I worry that
moment will never come, and Americans will suffer because of that
calculation.
The PROMISE Act finally creates a pathway for those ideas to receive
the consideration they deserve.
Americans sent us to Congress not to observe the problems but to
solve the problems, and that is what I am trying to do with the PROMISE
Act.
There is no greater long-term challenge before Congress than
preserving Social Security. No excuses--we can do it this year.
So I urge my colleagues to support this bill, to set up the process,
the procedure, to bring it to the floor and have alternative
substitutes for Social Security's future offered for consideration, for
debate, and for a vote. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and
finally kick-start the process of tackling this important issue.
We will be working to pass this measure before we depart for the
August recess. Is it a long shot? Maybe it is. But I think, when we
understand the gravity of the challenge and the important
responsibility we shoulder when we accepted this position as Senators,
we will understand that we have to rise to that challenge. The eight of
us--four Democrats, four Republicans--are willing to step up and say:
Let's move forward. Let's not be afraid to legislate. Let's do it for
the good of Social Security and the millions and millions of Americans
who count on it.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill 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. 4979
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 ``Protecting Retirement
Opportunities and Maintaining Income Security for Everyone
Act of 2026'' or the ``PROMISE Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS TO ASSURE SOCIAL SECURITY
SOLVENCY.
Title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.)
is amended by inserting the following after section 201:
``establishment of process to assure social security solvency
``Sec. 201A. (a) Definitions.-- In this section:
``(1) Long-term solvency.--The term `long-term solvency'
means the financial ability of the Federal Old-Age and
Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability
Insurance Trust Fund to pay 100 percent of scheduled benefits
for a period of at least 50 years that begins on the date of
enactment of this section.
``(2) Social security bill.--The term `Social Security
bill' means a bill introduced pursuant to subsection
(c)(1)(B)(i) or subsection (c)(1)(B)(ii).
``(b) Social Security Advisory Board.--
``(1) In general.--The Social Security Advisory Board
(established under section 703) shall develop recommendations
and legislative language to achieve long-term solvency for
the Trust Funds. Such legislative language shall not include
provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing
with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability
insurance program established under this title, the
supplemental security income program under title XVI, or the
related provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(2) Request for information.--The Social Security
Advisory Board shall, for the purpose of carrying out this
section, issue a request for information to the public
regarding ways to achieve long-term solvency for the Trust
Funds.
``(3) Public listening sessions.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Social
Security Advisory Board shall, for the purpose of carrying
out this subsection, hold such public listening sessions, sit
and act at such times and places, require attendance of
stakeholders and production of books, papers, and documents,
take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer
such oaths as the Social Security Advisory Board considers
advisable.
``(B) Procedures.--
``(i) Announcement.--The Social Security Advisory Board
shall make a public announcement of the date, place, time,
and subject matter of any public listening session to be
conducted under this subparagraph not later than 7 calendar
days before the date of the public listening session, unless
the Chair of the Social Security Advisory Board determines
that there is good cause to begin such public listening
session on an earlier date.
``(ii) Written statement.--A stakeholder appearing before
the Social Security Advisory Board shall file a written
statement of the proposed testimony of the stakeholder not
later than 2 calendar days before the date of the appearance
of the witness, unless the Chair of the Social Security
Advisory Board--
``(I) determines that there is good cause for the
stakeholder to not file the written statement; and
``(II) waives the requirement that the stakeholder file the
written statement.
``(4) Technical assistance and consultation.--Upon written
request from the Chair of the Social Security Advisory Board,
the head of a Federal agency (including a legislative branch
agency) shall provide technical assistance to, and consult
with, the Social Security Advisory Board in order for the
Social Security Advisory Board to carry out its duties under
this subsection.
``(5) Assistance from federal agencies.--Upon request from
the Chair of the Social Security Advisory Board--
``(A) the Architect of the Capitol shall provide suitable
space to house the operations of the Social Security Advisory
Board to carry out its duties under this subsection; and
``(B) the Administrator of General Services shall provide
the administrative support services and security services
necessary for the Social Security Advisory Board to carry out
its duties under this subsection.
``(6) Temporary exemption.--Members of the Social Security
Advisory Board may, for the purpose of carrying out this
subsection, work more than 130 days during any period of 365
consecutive days on a full-time basis
[[Page S3944]]
to carry out their duties under this subsection without such
work days being counted against the 130 day limitation under
section 202 of title 18, United States Code. The exemption
provided under this paragraph shall terminate after the
Social Security Advisory Board submits a report to Congress
under this subsection.
``(7) Report.--Not later than September 14, 2026, the
Social Security Advisory Board shall submit to Congress, and
make available to the public, a report that contains detailed
recommendations and proposed legislative language that meets
the requirements described in paragraph (1).
``(c) Consideration of a Social Security Bill.--
``(1) Introduction.--
``(A) Reconvening.--
``(i) In the senate.--
``(I) Convening.--Upon receipt of the report under
subsection (b), if the Senate has adjourned or recessed for
more than 2 calendar days, the Majority Leader of the Senate,
after consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate,
shall notify the Members of the Senate that, pursuant to this
section, the Senate shall convene not later than 5 calendar
days after receipt of such report.
``(II) Adjourning.--Subject to paragraph (3)(A)(vi), no
concurrent resolution providing for the adjournment of the
Senate for more than 3 calendar days shall be in order until
the Senate votes on passage of the Social Security bill under
paragraph (3)(A)(v).
``(ii) In the house of representatives.--
``(I) Convening.--Upon receipt of the report under
subsection (b), if the House of Representatives has adjourned
or recessed for more than 2 calendar days, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, after consultation with the
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, shall notify
the Members of the House that, pursuant to this section, the
House shall convene not later than 5 calendar days after
receipt of such report.
``(II) Adjourning.--Subject to paragraph (3)(B)(ix), no
concurrent resolution providing for the adjournment of the
House of Representatives for more than 3 calendar days shall
be in order until the House votes on passage of the Social
Security bill under paragraph (3)(B)(vii).
``(B) Introduction of social security bill.--
``(i) Social security advisory board legislative
language.--The proposed legislative language contained in the
report submitted pursuant to subsection (b), upon receipt by
the Congress, shall (by request) be introduced not later than
September 17, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the
Senate and House of Representatives are in session, by the
Majority Leader of each House of Congress, for himself, or
any member of either House designated by the Majority Leader.
If the Social Security bill is not introduced in accordance
with the preceding sentence in either House of Congress, then
any Member of that House may introduce the Social Security
bill on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the Social
Security bill shall be referred to the appropriate committees
under subparagraph (C).
``(ii) Members of congress legislative language.--
``(I) In general.--In the case that the Social Security
Advisory Board does not submit proposed legislative language
pursuant to subsection (b), not later than September 17,
2026, the Majority Leader of each House of Congress, for
himself, or any Member of either House designated by the
Majority Leader shall (by request) introduce legislative
language subject to subclause (II). If legislative language
is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence
in either House of Congress, then any Member of that House
may introduce legislative language subject to subclause (II)
on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the legislative
language shall be referred to the appropriate committees
under subparagraph (C).
``(II) Requirements.--
``(aa) In the senate.--In the Senate, such legislative
language shall--
``(AA) achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds, as
certified by the Chairman of the Committee on Finance (in
consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security
Administration);
``(BB) not be introduced with less than 1 Member
associating with the majority party and not less than 1
Member associating with the minority party; and
``(CC) not include provisions that do not include changes
to the outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the
old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program
established under this title, the supplemental security
income program under title XVI, or the related provisions in
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(bb) In the house of representatives.--In the House of
Representatives, such legislative language shall --
``(AA) achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds as
certified by the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means
(in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social
Security Administration);
``(BB) not be introduced with less than 1 Member
associating with the majority party and not less than 1
Member associating with the minority party; and
``(CC) not include provisions that do not include changes
to the outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the
old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program
established under this title, the supplemental security
income program under title XVI, or the related provisions in
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(C) Committee consideration.--
``(i) In the senate.--
``(I) In general.--A Social Security bill introduced in the
Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Finance (in this
clause, referred to as the `Committee').
``(II) Amendments.--It shall be in order for the Committee
to consider and adopt amendments to the Social Security bill.
It shall not be in order for the Committee to consider or
adopt any amendment to the Social Security bill that causes
the bill to not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust
Funds or does not change outlays, revenues, or financing with
respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
program established under this title, the supplemental
security income program under title XVI, or the related
provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(III) Reporting.--The Committee shall report the bill on
November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the
Senate is in session. If the Committee fails to report the
bill within that period, the Committee shall be automatically
discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall
be placed on the appropriate calendar.
``(ii) In the house of representatives.--
``(I) In general.--A Social Security bill introduced in the
House of Representatives shall be referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means (in this clause, referred to as the
`Committee').
``(II) Amendments.--It shall be in order for the Committee
to consider and adopt amendments to the Social Security bill.
It shall not be in order for the Committee to consider or
adopt any amendment to the Social Security bill that causes
the bill to not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust
Funds or does not change outlays, revenues, or financing with
respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance
program established under this title, the supplemental
security income program under title XVI, or the related
provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
``(III) Reporting.--The Committee shall report the bill on
November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the
House is in session. If the Committee fails to report the
bill within that period, the Committee shall be automatically
discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall
be placed on the appropriate calendar.
``(2) Filing deadline and certification.--
``(A) Filing deadline.--
``(i) In the senate.--Not later than November 9, 2026, or
the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session,
Members may file substitute amendments, and amendments shall
be printed in the Congressional Record on the day such
amendments are filed.
``(ii) In the house of representatives.--Not later than
November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which that
House of Representatives is in session, Members may file
substitute amendments, and such amendments shall be printed
in the Congressional Record on the day such amendments are
filed.
``(B) Certification.--
``(i) In the senate.--Not later than November 16, 2026, or
the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session,
the Chairman of the Finance Committee (in consultation with
the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration and
the Parliamentarian of the Senate) shall certify whether the
complete substitute amendments filed under subparagraph
(A)(i) meet the criteria described in items (aa) and (bb) of
paragraph (3)(A)(iii)(II) and print the list of certified
amendments in the Congressional Record.
``(ii) In the house of representatives.--Not later than
November 16, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the
House of Representatives is in session, the Chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee (in consultation with the Chief
Actuary of the Social Security Administration and
Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives) shall
certify whether the complete substitute amendments filed
under subparagraph (A)(ii) meet the criteria described in
items (aa) and (bb) of paragraph (3)(B)(v)(II) and print the
list of certified amendments in the Congressional Record.
``(3) Procedures.--
``(A) Consideration in senate.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than
November 16, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the
Senate is in session, for the Majority Leader of the Senate
or the Majority Leader's designee to move to proceed to the
consideration of the Social Security bill. It shall also be
in order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to
the consideration of the Social Security bill at any time
after that period. A motion to proceed is in order even
though a previous motion to the same effect has been
disagreed to. All points of order, including budgetary points
of order, against the motion to proceed to the Social
Security bill are waived. The motion to proceed is not
debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone.
A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed
to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to
proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill is
agreed to, the Social Security bill shall remain the
unfinished business until disposed of.
``(ii) Consideration.--All points of order, including
budgetary points of order, against
[[Page S3945]]
the Social Security bill and against consideration of the
Social Security bill are waived. Consideration of the Social
Security bill and of all debatable motions and appeals in
connection therewith shall not exceed a total of 100 hours.
Debate shall be divided equally between the Majority and
Minority Leaders or their designees. A motion to further
limit debate on the Social Security bill is in order, shall
require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members
duly chosen and sworn, and is not debatable. Any debatable
motion or appeal is debatable for a period not to exceed 2
hours, to be divided equally between the Majority Leader and
Minority Leader. All time used for consideration of the
Social Security bill, including time used for quorum calls
and voting, shall be counted against the total 100 hours of
consideration.
``(iii) Restriction on amendments and motions.--
``(I) In general.--Except as provided in subclause (II), an
amendment to the Social Security bill, or a motion to
postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of
other business, or a motion to recommit the Social Security
bill is not in order. All points of order, including
budgetary points of order, against the consideration of
substitute amendments to the Social Security bill are waived.
``(II) Substitute amendments.--
``(aa) In general.--It shall be in order in the Senate to
consider any substitute amendment to the Social Security bill
that, as determined by the Chairman of the Committee on
Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social
Security Administration), achieve long-term solvency for the
Trust Funds, with such determination to be submitted by the
Chairman for printing in the Congressional Record. It shall
be in order in the Senate for the sponsor of a substitute
amendment to make minor or technical modifications to such
amendment.
``(bb) Extraneous provisions.--It shall not be in order in
the Senate to consider any substitute amendment to the Social
Security bill that--
``(AA) does not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust
Funds; or
``(BB) includes provisions that do not change outlays,
revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age,
survivors, and disability insurance program established under
this title, the supplemental security income program under
title XVI, or the related provisions in the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.
``(cc) Limit on debate.--Consideration of any amendment
described in this subclause and any debatable motions and
appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to 2 hours,
equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority
Leader. Adoption of a substitute amendment shall require an
affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn. An amendment described in this subclause is not
divisible and no amendment to a substitute amendment shall be
in order. All time used for consideration of any amendments
described in this subclause shall come from the 100 hours of
consideration described in clause (ii).
``(iv) Adoption of amendments.--If more than one of the
amendments described in clause (iii)(II) is adopted, then
only the one receiving the greater number of affirmative
votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of the Senate. In
the case of a tie for the greater number of affirmative
votes, then only the last amendment to receive that number of
affirmative votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of the
Senate. Action on all other amendments shall be vitiated.
``(v) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage shall occur
immediately following the conclusion of consideration of a
Social Security bill, and a single quorum call at the
conclusion of the debate if requested. Passage shall require
an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly
chosen and sworn. If the Social Security bill is passed, the
Secretary of the Senate shall cause the bill to be
transmitted to House of Representatives before the close of
the next day of session of the Senate.
``(vi) Adjournment.--If, by December 18, 2026, either House
has failed to adopt a motion to proceed to the Social
Security bill, paragraph (1)(A)(i)(II) shall not apply.
``(vii) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from
the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the
rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure
relating to a Social Security bill shall be debatable for a
period not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between
the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.
``(B) Consideration in house of representatives.--
``(i) Proceeding to consideration.--It shall be in order in
the House of Representatives, not later than November 16,
2026, or the first day thereafter on which the House is in
session, for the Majority Leader of the House of
Representatives or the Majority Leader's designee, to move to
proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill. It
shall also be in order for any Member of the House of
Representatives to move to proceed to the consideration of
the Social Security bill at any time after the conclusion of
that period. All points of order, including budgetary points
of order, against the motion to proceed to the Social
Security bill are waived. Such a motion shall not be in order
after the House of Representatives has disposed of a motion
to proceed on the Social Security bill. The previous question
shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption
without intervening motion. The motion shall not be
debatable. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the
motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
``(ii) Consideration.--The Social Security bill shall be
considered as read. All points of order, including budgetary
points of order, against the Social Security bill and against
its consideration are waived. The previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the Social Security bill to its
passage without intervening motion except 100 hours of
consideration equally divided and controlled by the Majority
Leader and the Minority Leader, and any motion to limit
debate. A motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the
Social Security bill shall not be in order.
``(iii) Appeals.--Appeals from decisions of the Chair
relating to the application of the Rules of the House of
Representatives to the procedure relating to a Social
Security bill shall be debatable for a period not to exceed 1
hour, to be divided equally between the Majority Leader and
the Minority Leader.
``(iv) Application of house rules.--Except to the extent
specifically provided in this subparagraph, consideration of
a Social Security bill shall be governed by the Rules of the
House of Representatives. It shall not be in order in the
House of Representatives to consider any Social Security bill
introduced pursuant to the provisions of this subsection
under a suspension of the rules pursuant to Clause 1 of House
Rule XV, or under a special rule reported by the House
Committee on Rules.
``(v) Restriction on amendments.--
``(I) In general.--Except as provided in subclause (II), no
amendment to the Social Security bill shall be in order in
the House of Representatives. All points of order, including
budgetary points of order, against the consideration of
substitute amendments to the Social Security bill are waived.
``(II) Substitute amendments.--
``(aa) In general.--It shall be in order in the House of
Representatives to consider any substitute amendment to the
Social Security bill that, as determined by the Chairman of
the Committee on Ways and Means (in consultation with the
Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration),
achieves long-term solvency for the Trust Funds, with such
determination to be submitted by the Chairman for printing in
the Congressional Record. It shall be in order in the House
of Representatives for the sponsor of a substitute amendment
to make minor or technical modifications to such amendment.
``(bb) Extraneous provisions.--It shall not be in order in
the House of Representatives to consider any substitute
amendment to the Social Security bill that--
``(AA) does not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust
Funds; or
``(BB) includes provisions that do not change outlays,
revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age,
survivors, and disability insurance program established under
title II, the supplemental security income program under
title XVI, or the related provisions in the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.
``(cc) Limit on debate.--Consideration of any amendment
described in this subclause and any debatable motions and
appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to 1 hour,
equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority
Leader. Adoption of a substitute amendment shall require an
affirmative vote of a majority of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn. An amendment described in this subclause is not
divisible and no amendment to a substitute amendment shall be
in order. All time used for consideration of any amendments
described in this subclause shall come from the 100 hours of
consideration described in clause (ii).
``(vi) Adoption of amendments.--If more than one of the
amendments described in clause (v)(II) is adopted, then only
the one receiving the greater number of affirmative votes
shall be engrossed as an amendment of the House. In the case
of a tie for the greater number of affirmative votes, then
only the last amendment to receive that number of affirmative
votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of the House. Action
on all other amendments shall be vitiated.
``(vii) Vote on passage.--Immediately following the
conclusion of consideration of the Social Security bill, the
vote on passage of the Social Security bill shall occur
without any intervening action or motion, requiring an
affirmative vote of a majority of the Members, duly chosen
and sworn. If the Social Security bill is passed, the Clerk
of the House of Representatives shall cause the bill to be
transmitted to the Senate before the close of the next day of
session of the House of Representatives.
``(viii) Vote.--The House Committee on Rules may not report
a rule or order that would have the effect of causing the
Social Security bill to be approved by a vote of less than a
majority of the Members, duly chosen and sworn.
``(ix) Adjournment.--If, by December 18, 2026, either House
has failed to adopt a motion to proceed to the Social
Security bill, paragraph (1)(A)(ii)(II) shall not apply.
``(C) Rules to coordinate action with other house.--
``(i) Referral.--If, before the passage by one House of a
Social Security bill of that House, that House receives from
the other House a Social Security bill, then the Social
Security bill of the other House shall not be referred to a
committee and shall immediately be placed on the calendar.
``(ii) Procedure.--If a House that has not voted to proceed
to a Social Security bill receives a Social Security bill
passed by the other House--
[[Page S3946]]
``(I) the procedure in the House that has not voted to
proceed to a Social Security bill shall be the same as if no
such bill had been introduced in that House; and
``(II) the bill considered in that House shall be the
Social Security bill of the other House.
``(iii) Treatment of social security bill of other house.--
If one House fails to introduce or consider a Social Security
bill under this section, the Social Security bill of the
other House shall be entitled to the floor procedures under
this section.
``(iv) Treatment of identical companion measures in either
house.--If, following passage of a Social Security bill in
one House, that House then receives an identical companion
bill from the other House, the Social Security bill of the
other House shall not be debatable. The vote on passage of
the Social Security bill in the House receiving the Social
Security bill shall be considered to be the vote on passage
of the Social Security bill received from the other House.
``(v) Treatment of different measures in either house.--
If, following passage of a Social Security bill in one House,
that House then receives a Social Security bill from the
other House that is different from the Social Security bill
passed by that House, the Social Security bill passed by the
other House shall be entitled to the floor procedures under
this section.
``(vi) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the Social Security
bill, consideration on a veto message in either House under
this section shall be limited to 1 hour equally divided
between the Majority and Minority Leaders or their designees.
``(4) Suspension.--No motion to suspend the application of
this subsection shall be in order in the Senate or in the
House of Representatives.
``(d) Decennial Review.--
``(1) Review.--If the Social Security Board of Trustees
submits a report to Congress pursuant to section 201(c)(2)
that finds that the Trust Funds are not able to pay 100
percent of scheduled benefits for a period of at least 50
years that begins on the date such report is submitted, the
Social Security Board of Trustees shall notify the Social
Security Advisory Board.
``(2) Reports.--
``(A) In general.--If a Social Security bill is enacted
into law under this section, the following shall apply:
``(i) Mandatory reports.--If the Social Security Advisory
Board receives a notice described in paragraph (1) during a
covered year, the Social Security Advisory Board shall submit
to Congress a report including recommendations and proposed
legislative language that meets the requirements of
subsection (b)(1).
``(ii) Discretionary reports.-- If the Social Security
Advisory Board receives a notice described in paragraph (1)
during a calendar that is not a covered year, the Social
Security Advisory Board may submit to Congress a report
described in clause (i).
``(B) Covered year defined.--In this paragraph, the term
`covered year' means calendar year 2037 and every 10 years
thereafter.
``(3) Consideration.--If Congress receives a report
described in paragraph (2)(A)(i), Congress shall consider the
recommendations and proposed legislative language pursuant to
the process described in subsection (c), except that the
dates described in such subsection and subsection (b) shall
apply in the calendar year that such report is submitted.''.
____________________