I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1731

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate the earnings

test for individuals who have attained age 62.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 3, 2001

Mr. SESSIONS (for himself, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. WELDON of Florida, and

Mr. DOOLITTLE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate

the earnings test for individuals who have attained age 62.

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 The Act may be cited as the ‘‘Social Security Earn5 ings Limit Repeal Act of 2001’’.

6 SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF EARNINGS TEST FOR INDIVID7 UALS WHO HAVE ATTAINED AGE 62.

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203 of the Social Security

9 Act (42 U.S.C. 403) is amended—
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1 (1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘retirement

2 age (as defined in section 216(l))’’ and inserting

3 ‘‘the age of 62’’;

4 (2) in paragraphs (1)(A) and (2) of subsection

5 (d), by striking ‘‘retirement age (as defined in sec6 tion 216(l))’’ each place it appears and inserting

7 ‘‘the age of 62’’;

8 (3) in subsection (f)(1)(B), by striking ‘‘was at

9 or above retirement age (as defined in section

10 216(l))’’ and inserting ‘‘was age 62 or above’’;

11 (4) in subsection (f)(3)—

(A) by striking ‘‘331 12 ⁄3 percent’’ and all

13 that follows through ‘‘any other individual,’’

14 and inserting ‘‘50 percent of such individual’s

15 earnings for such year in excess of the product

16 of the exempt amount as determined under

17 paragraph (8),’’; and

18 (B) by striking ‘‘retirement age (as defined

19 in section 216(l))’’ and inserting ‘‘age 62’’;

20 (5) in subsection (f)(8)(E), by striking ‘‘retire21 ment age (as defined in section 216(l))’’ and insert22 ing ‘‘age 62’’;

23 (6) in subsection (h)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘retire24 ment age (as defined in section 216(l))’’ each place

25 it appears and inserting ‘‘age 62’’; and
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1 (7) in subsection (j)—

2 (A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Retire3 ment Age’’ and inserting ‘‘Age 62’’; and

4 (B) by striking ‘‘having attained retire5 ment age (as defined in section 216(l))’’ and in6 serting ‘‘62 years of age’’.

7 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS ELIMINATING THE

8 SPECIAL EXEMPT AMOUNT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE

9 ATTAINED RETIREMENT AGE.—

10 (1) SINGLE EXEMPT AMOUNT.—Section

11 203(f)(8) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 403(f)(8)) is

12 amended—

13 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the

14 new exempt amounts (separately stated for in15 dividuals described in subparagraph (D) and for

16 other individuals) which are to be applicable’’

17 and inserting ‘‘a new exempt amount which

18 shall be applicable’’;

19 (B) in the matter in subparagraph (B)

20 preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘Except’’ and

21 all that follows through ‘‘whichever’’ and insert22 ing ‘‘The exempt amount which is applicable for

23 each month of a particular taxable year shall be

24 whichever’’;
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1 (C) in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph

2 (B), by striking ‘‘corresponding’’ each place it

3 appears; and

4 (D) in the last sentence of subparagraph

5 (B), by striking ‘‘an exempt amount’’ and in6 serting ‘‘the exempt amount’’.

7 (2) ELIMINATION OF RULES FOR COMPUTING

8 SPECIAL EXEMPT AMOUNT.—Section 203(f)(8) of

9 such Act (42 U.S.C. (f)(8)(D)) is amended

10 further—

11 (A) by striking subparagraph (D);

12 (B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) (as

13 amended by subsection (a)(5)) as subparagraph

14 (D); and

15 (C) in subparagraph (D) (as redesignated),

16 by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding subparagraph

17 (D), no’’ and inserting ‘‘No’’.

18 (3) MAINTENANCE OF CURRENT RULES FOR

19 DISABILITY BENEFITS.—Section 223(d)(4)(A) of

20 such Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(4)(A)) is amended by

21 inserting ‘‘and section 2 of the Social Security Earn22 ings Limit Repeal Act of 2001’’ after ‘‘section 102

23 of the Senior Citizens’ Right to Work Act of 1996’’.
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1 SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

2 The amendments made by this Act shall apply with

3 respect to taxable years ending after December 31, 2001.

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