I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5480 

To restore protections for Social Security, Railroad retirement, and Black 

Lung benefits from administrative offset. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 

Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Ms. SA ́NCHEZ, Ms. TLAIB, and Mr. TRONE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 

A BILL 

To restore protections for Social Security, Railroad retirement, and Black Lung benefits from administrative offset. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protection of Social 

5 Security Benefits Restoration Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY, RAILROAD RE2 TIREMENT, AND BLACK LUNG BENEFITS 

3 FROM ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET. 

4 (a) PROHIBITION ON ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET AU5 THORITY.— 

6 (1) ASSIGNMENT UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY

7 ACT.—Section 207 of the Social Security Act (42 

8 U.S.C. 407) is amended by adding at the end the 

9 following new subsection: 

10 ‘‘(d) Subparagraphs (A), (C), and (D) of section 

11 3716(c)(3) of title 31, United States Code, as such sub12 paragraphs were in effect on the date before the date of 

13 enactment of the Protection of Social Security Benefits 

14 Restoration Act, shall be null and void and of no effect.’’. 

15 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

16 (A) Section 14(a) of the Railroad Retire17 ment Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. 231m(a)) is 

18 amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘. 

19 The provisions of section 207(d) of the Social 

20 Security Act shall apply with respect to this 

21 title to the same extent as they apply in the 

22 case of title II of such Act.’’. 

23 (B) Section 2(e) of the Railroad Unem24 ployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 352(e)) is 

25 amended by adding at the end the following: 

26 ‘‘The provisions of section 207(d) of the Social 


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1 Security Act shall apply with respect to this 

2 title to the same extent as they apply in the 

3 case of title II of such Act.’’ 

4 (b) REPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFSET AUTHOR5 ITY.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (3) of section 

7 3716(c) of title 31, United States Code, is amend8 ed— 

9 (A) by striking ‘‘(3)(A)(i) Notwith10 standing’’ and all that follows through ‘‘any 

11 overpayment under such program).’’; 

12 (B) by striking subparagraphs (C) and 

13 (D); and 

14 (C) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 

15 paragraph (3). 

16 (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (5) 

17 of such section is amended by striking ‘‘the Commis18 sioner of Social Security and’’. 

19 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

20 this section shall apply to any collection by administrative 

21 offset occurring on or after the date of enactment of this 

22 Act of a claim arising before, on, or after the date of en23 actment of this Act. 

Æ 


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