H.R. 6543: Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-12-09 · Social Welfare · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act

Plain summary

Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act This bill exempts from the Social Security Retirement Earnings Test (RET) wages earned through work as a health care professional or first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the RET, benefits are reduced for beneficiaries who are younger than full retirement age if they earn wages in excess of a specified annual limit. Further, the Social Security Administration may issue waivers to individuals employed as health care professionals or first responders during a declared public health emergency in which there is a shortage of health care workers. Wages earned by individuals granted waivers during a public health emergency are exempt from the RET.

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

Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] · 2 cosponsors

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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).
Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
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-119hr6543.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr6543 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills