H.R. 5952: Strengthening Social Security Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-09-08 · Social Welfare · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-09-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Strengthening Social Security Act of 2016

Plain summary

Strengthening Social Security Act of 2016 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to prescribe special rules for the determination of taxable wages and self-employment income above the contribution and benefit base after 2016. Title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSAct) is amended to: (1) increase from 90% to 95% over five years the first bend point factor used in determining the primary OASDI insurance amount; and (2) include surplus average indexed monthly earnings in the determination of such amounts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor shall prepare and publish the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI-EC) that indicates changes over time in expenditures for consumption which are typical for individuals in the United States who have attained early retirement age for purposes of an old-age, wife's, or husband's insurance benefit. The bill amends the SSAct to make the CPI-EC the applicable Consumer Price Index for computation of cost-of-living increases in OASDI benefits for such individuals. The bill revises OASDI benefits for a widow or widower to provide benefits at a level equal to at least 75% of the amount received prior to the death of a spouse. The bill prevents any decrease in the benefit level of supplemental security income recipients resulting from any increase in other social security benefits in this bill.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Strengthening Social Security Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] · 47 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Adam Smith (D-WA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), William R. Keating (D-MA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Mark Takano (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), John B. Larson (D-CT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] reported raising $1.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr5952.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr5952 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114