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H.R. 6356: Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act

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H.R. 6356: Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-03-23 · Social Welfare · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2020-03-23 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act

Plain summary

Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act This bill makes changes to Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits, including by (1) modifying funding formulas, (2) extending eligibility for certain benefits, and (3) increasing income thresholds used to determine the percentage of OASDI benefits subject to federal income tax. Changes to funding formulas include (1) increasing the primary insurance amount, and (2) establishing new methods to calculate benefits for individuals with lifetime low earnings and for widows and widowers. In addition, children of a deceased, disabled, or retired worker remain eligible for benefits through age 22 if they are full-time students. Under current law, they receive benefits through age 18. The bill also extends dependent child benefits to specified family members other than grandparents or step-grandparents, including in cases where a court grants custody of the dependent child to an eligible family member. To receive benefits under current law, either both parents must be disabled or deceased or a grandparent or step-grandparent must legally adopt the dependent child.

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

Emergency Social Security Benefits Improvement Act

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. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] · 54 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), André Carson (D-IN), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] reported raising $3.0 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 (2)
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).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr6356 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116