Protecting Social Security Act
Latest action. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdictionA court's legal authority to hear a case: over the subject matter, the parties, and the territory.Read the full definition (opens a new tab) of the committee concerned.
Protecting Social Security Act
This bill provides funds for Social Security benefits payments in the event of the insolvency of one or both of the Social Security trust funds, and provides for the expedited consideration of legislation to address such insolvency in Congress.
Specifically, for any period in which the balance of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund is insufficient to cover monthly payments to beneficiaries, the bill provides funding in the amount necessary to make such payments.
Further, the bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to notify Congress of the insolvency of either trust fund, and makes certain legislation to address the insolvency eligible for expedited consideration upon such a notification. The bill sets forth certain requirements for eligible legislation, including that it must ensure that individuals entitled to Social Security or disability benefits continue to receive payments in full. The bill also sets out procedures for the consideration of eligible legislation in each chamber of Congress, including through specified time limits for committee consideration and a prohibition on amendments.
Finally, the bill requires SSA to maintain a field office in every U.S. county with a population of more than 150,000.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on February 4, 2025. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on February 4, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 118th Congress (2023-24), 274 of the 16,565 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 1.7 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
Patrick Ryan (D-NY) introduced it on February 4, 2025. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on February 4, 2025, 583 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 583 days ago, on February 4, 2025.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 119th Congress has not finished by January 3, 2027 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers