II

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 717

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that the reductions

in social security benefits which are required in the case of spouses

and surviving spouses who are also receiving certain Government pensions

shall be equal to the amount by which two-thirds of the total amount

of the combined monthly benefit (before reduction) and monthly pension

exceeds $1,200, adjusted for inflation.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MARCH 25, 1999

Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. DODD, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. HOLLINGS, Mr. INOUYE, Ms. LANDRIEU, and Mr. REID) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide

that the reductions in social security benefits which are

required in the case of spouses and surviving spouses

who are also receiving certain Government pensions shall

be equal to the amount by which two-thirds of the total

amount of the combined monthly benefit (before reduction) and monthly pension exceeds $1,200, adjusted for

inflation.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Government Pension

3 Offset Reform Act’’.

4 SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON REDUCTIONS IN BENEFITS FOR

5 SPOUSES AND SURVIVING SPOUSES RECEIV6 ING GOVERNMENT PENSIONS.

7 (a) WIFE’S INSURANCE BENEFITS.—Section

8 202(b)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

9 402(b)(4)(A)) is amended—

10 (1) by inserting ‘‘the amount (if any) by which

11 the sum of such benefit (before reduction under this

12 paragraph) and’’ after ‘‘two-thirds of ’’; and

13 (2) by inserting ‘‘exceeds the amount described

14 in subsection (z) for such month,’’ before ‘‘if ’’.

15 (b) HUSBAND’S INSURANCE BENEFITS.—Section

16 202(c)(2)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(c)(2)(A)) is

17 amended—

18 (1) by inserting ‘‘the amount (if any) by which

19 the sum of such benefit (before reduction under this

20 paragraph) and’’ after ‘‘two-thirds of ’’; and

21 (2) by inserting ‘‘exceeds the amount described

22 in subsection (z) for such month,’’ before ‘‘if ’’.

23 (c) WIDOW’S INSURANCE BENEFITS.—Section

24 202(e)(7)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(7)(A)) is

25 amended—
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1 (1) by inserting ‘‘the amount (if any) by which

2 the sum of such benefit (before reduction under this

3 paragraph) and’’ after ‘‘two-thirds of ’’; and

4 (2) by inserting ‘‘exceeds the amount described

5 in subsection (z) for such month,’’ before ‘‘if ’’.

6 (d) WIDOWER’S INSURANCE BENEFITS.—Section

7 202(f)(2)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402(f)(2)(A)) is

8 amended—

9 (1) by inserting ‘‘the amount (if any) by which

10 the sum of such benefit (before reduction under this

11 paragraph) and’’ after ‘‘two-thirds of ’’; and

12 (2) by inserting ‘‘exceeds the amount described

13 in subsection (z) for such month,’’ before ‘‘if ’’.

14 (e) MOTHER’S AND FATHER’S INSURANCE BENE15 FITS.—Section 202(g)(4)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C.

16 402(g)(4)(A)) is amended—

17 (1) by inserting ‘‘the amount (if any) by which

18 the sum of such benefit (before reduction under this

19 paragraph) and’’ after ‘‘two-thirds of ’’; and

20 (2) by inserting ‘‘exceeds the amount described

21 in subsection (z) for such month,’’ before ‘‘if ’’.

22 (f) AMOUNT DESCRIBED.—Section 202 of such Act

23 (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended by adding at the end the fol24 lowing:
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1 ‘‘(z) The amount described in this subsection is, for

2 months in each 12-month period beginning in December

3 of 1999, and each succeeding calendar year, the greater

4 of—

5 ‘‘(1) $1200; or

6 ‘‘(2) the amount applicable for months in the

7 preceding 12-month period, increased by the cost-of8 living adjustment for such period determined for an

9 annuity under section 8340 of title 5, United States

10 Code (without regard to any other provision of

11 law).’’.

12 (g) LIMITATIONS ON REDUCTIONS IN BENEFITS.—

13 Section 202 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 402), as amended by

14 subsection (f), is amended by adding at the end the fol15 lowing:

16 ‘‘(aa) For any month after December 1999, in no

17 event shall an individual receive a reduction in a benefit

18 under subsection (b)(4)(A), (c)(2)(A), (e)(7)(A), (f)(2)(A),

19 or (g)(4)(A) for the month that is more than the reduction

20 in such benefit that would have applied for such month

21 under such subsections as in effect on December 1,

22 1999.’’.

23 SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

24 The amendments made by section 1 shall apply with

25 respect to monthly insurance benefits payable under title
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1 II of the Social Security Act for months after December

2 1999.

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