SEC. 826. ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF EARNINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than September 30, 2017, 
the Commissioner of Social Security shall establish and im-
plement a system that— 
(1) allows an individual entitled to a monthly 
insurance benefit based on disability under title II of 
the Social Security Act (or a representative of the in-
dividual) to report to the Commissioner the individ-
ual’s earnings derived from services through electronic 
means, including by telephone and Internet; and 
(2) automatically issues a receipt to the indi-
vidual (or representative) after receiving each such re-
port. 
(b) SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME REPORTING 
SYSTEM AS MODEL.—The Commissioner shall model the 
system established under subsection (a) on the electronic 
wage reporting systems for recipients of supplemental secu-
rity income under title XVI of such Act. 
Subtitle C—Protecting Social 
Security Benefits 
SEC. 831. CLOSURE OF UNINTENDED LOOPHOLES. 
(a) PRESUMED FILING OF APPLICATION BY INDIVID-
UALS ELIGIBLE FOR OLD-AGE INSURANCE BENEFITS AND 
FOR WIFE’S OR HUSBAND’S INSURANCE BENEFITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 202(r) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402(r)) is amended by strik-
ing paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) If an individual is eligible for a wife’s or 
husband’s insurance benefit (except in the case of eli-
gibility pursuant to clause (ii) of subsection (b)(1)(B) 
or subsection (c)(1)(B), as appropriate), in any 
month for which the individual is entitled to an old- 
age insurance benefit, such individual shall be deemed 
to have filed an application for wife’s or husband’s 
insurance benefits for such month. 
‘‘(2) If an individual is eligible (but for section 
202(k)(4)) for an old-age insurance benefit in any 
month for which the individual is entitled to a wife’s 
or husband’s insurance benefit (except in the case of 
entitlement pursuant to clause (ii) of subsection 
(b)(1)(B) or subsection (c)(1)(B), as appropriate), 
such individual shall be deemed to have filed an ap-
plication for old-age insurance benefits— 
‘‘(A) for such month, or 
‘‘(B) if such individual is also entitled to a 
disability insurance benefit for such month, in 
the first subsequent month for which such indi-
vidual is not entitled to a disability insurance 
benefit.’’.
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 202 of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B)(i) has attained age 62, or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a wife, has in her care (indi-
vidually or jointly with such individual) at the time 
of filing such application a child entitled to a child’s 
insurance benefit on the basis of the wages and self- 
employment income of such individual,’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c)(1), by striking sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B)(i) has attained age 62, or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a husband, has in his care 
(individually or jointly with such individual) at the 
time of filing such application a child entitled to a 
child’s insurance benefit on the basis of the wages and 
self-employment income of such individual,’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to individ-
uals who attain age 62 in any calendar year after 
2015. 
(b) VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION OF BENEFITS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 202 of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 402) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(z) VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION.—(1)(A) Except as oth-
erwise provided in this subsection, any individual who has 
attained retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)) and 
is entitled to old-age insurance benefits may request that 
payment of such benefits be suspended— 
‘‘(i) beginning with the month following the 
month in which such request is received by the 
Commissioner, and 
‘‘(ii) ending with the earlier of the month 
following the month in which a request by the 
individual for a resumption of such benefits is so 
received or the month following the month in 
which the individual attains the age of 70. 
‘‘(2) An individual may not suspend such benefits 
under this subsection, and any suspension of such benefits 
under this subsection shall end, effective with respect to any 
month in which the individual becomes subject to— 
‘‘(A) mandatory suspension of such benefits 
under section 202(x); 
‘‘(B) termination of such benefits under section 
202(n);
‘‘(C) a penalty under section 1129A imposing 
nonpayment of such benefits; or 
‘‘(D) any other withholding, in whole or in part, 
of such benefits under any other provision of law that 
authorizes recovery of a debt by withholding such ben-
efits. 
‘‘(3) In the case of an individual who requests that 
such benefits be suspended under this subsection, for any 
month during the period in which the suspension is in ef-
fect— 
‘‘(A) no retroactive benefits (as defined in sub-
section (j)(4)(B)(iii)) shall be payable to such indi-
vidual; 
‘‘(B) no monthly benefit shall be payable to any 
other individual on the basis of such individual’s 
wages and self-employment income; and 
‘‘(C) no monthly benefit shall be payable to such 
individual on the basis of another individual’s wages 
and self-employment income.’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
202(w)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(w)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended by inserting 
‘‘under section 202(z)’’ after ‘‘request’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to requests
for benefit suspension submitted beginning at least 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 832. REQUIREMENT FOR MEDICAL REVIEW. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 221(h) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 421(h)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(h) An initial determination under subsection (a), 
(c), (g), or (i) shall not be made until the Commissioner 
of Social Security has made every reasonable effort to en-
sure— 
‘‘(1) in any case where there is evidence which 
indicates the existence of a mental impairment, that 
a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist has completed 
the medical portion of the case review and any appli-
cable residual functional capacity assessment; and 
‘‘(2) in any case where there is evidence which 
indicates the existence of a physical impairment, that 
a qualified physician has completed the medical por-
tion of the case review and any applicable residual 
functional capacity assessment.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to determinations of dis-
ability made on or after the date that is 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 833. REALLOCATION OF PAYROLL TAX REVENUE. 
(1) WAGES.—Section 201(b)(1) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 401(b)(1)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘and (R) 1.80 per centum of the wages (as so de-
fined) paid after December 31, 1999, and so reported’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(R) 1.80 per centum of the wages (as 
so defined) paid after December 31, 1999, and before 
January 1, 2016, and so reported, (S) 2.37 per cen-
tum of the wages (as so defined) paid after December 
31, 2015, and before January 1, 2019, and so re-
ported, and (T) 1.80 per centum of the wages (as so 
defined) paid after December 31, 2018, and so re-
ported,’’. 
(2) 
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
INCOME.—Section 
201(b)(2) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 401(b)(2)) is amend-
ed by striking ‘‘and (R) 1.80 per centum of the 
amount of self-employment income (as so defined) so 
reported for any taxable year beginning after Decem-
ber 31, 1999’’ and inserting ‘‘(R) 1.80 per centum of 
the amount of self-employment income (as so defined) 
so reported for any taxable year beginning after De-
cember 31, 1999, and before January 1, 2016, (S) 
2.37 per centum of the amount of self-employment in-
come (as so defined) so reported for any taxable year 
beginning after December 31, 2015, and before Janu-
ary 1, 2019, and (T) 1.80 per centum of the amount
of self-employment income (as so defined) so reported 
for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 
2018’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this section shall apply with respect to wages paid 
after December 31, 2015, and self-employment income 
for taxable years beginning after such date. 
SEC. 834. ACCESS TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR WAIV-
ERS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF RECOVERY. 
(a) ACCESS TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR OLD- 
AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY INSURANCE WAIVERS.— 
Section 204(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 404(b)) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(b)(1) In any case in which more than the correct 
amount of payment has been made, there shall be no adjust-
ment of payments to, or recovery by the United States from, 
any person who is without fault if such adjustment or recov-
ery would defeat the purpose of this title or would be 
against equity and good conscience. 
‘‘(2) In making for purposes of this subsection any de-
termination of whether any individual is without fault, the 
Commissioner of Social Security shall specifically take into 
account any physical, mental, educational, or linguistic 
limitation such individual may have (including any lack 
of facility with the English language).
‘‘(3)(A) In making for purposes of this subsection any 
determination of whether such adjustment or recovery 
would defeat the purpose of this title, the Commissioner of 
Social Security shall require an individual to provide au-
thorization for the Commissioner to obtain (subject to the 
cost reimbursement requirements of section 1115(a) of the 
Right to Financial Privacy Act) from any financial insti-
tution (within the meaning of section 1101(1) of such Act) 
any financial record (within the meaning of section 1101(2) 
of such Act) held by the institution with respect to such 
individual whenever the Commissioner determines the 
record is needed in connection with a determination with 
respect to such adjustment or recovery. 
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding section 1104(a)(1) of the Right 
to Financial Privacy Act, an authorization provided by an 
individual pursuant this paragraph shall remain effective 
until the earlier of— 
‘‘(i) the rendering of a final decision on whether 
adjustment or recovery would defeat the purpose of 
this title; or 
‘‘(ii) the express revocation by the individual of 
the authorization, in a written notification to the 
Commissioner. 
‘‘(C)(i) An authorization obtained by the Commis-
sioner of Social Security pursuant this paragraph shall be
considered to meet the requirements of the Right to Finan-
cial Privacy Act for purposes of section 1103(a) of such Act, 
and need not be furnished to the financial institution, not-
withstanding section 1104(a) of such Act. 
‘‘(ii) The certification requirements of section 1103(b) 
of the Right to Financial Privacy Act shall not apply to 
requests by the Commissioner of Social Security pursuant 
to an authorization provided under this paragraph. 
‘‘(iii) A request by the Commissioner pursuant to an 
authorization provided under this paragraph is deemed to 
meet the requirements of section 1104(a)(3) of the Right to 
Financial Privacy Act and the flush language of section 
1102 of such Act. 
‘‘(D) The Commissioner shall inform any person who 
provides authorization pursuant to this paragraph of the 
duration and scope of the authorization. 
‘‘(E) If an individual refuses to provide, or revokes, 
any authorization for the Commissioner of Social Security 
to obtain from any financial institution any financial 
record, the Commissioner may, on that basis, determine 
that adjustment or recovery would not defeat the purpose 
of this title.’’. 
(b) ACCESS TO FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR SUPPLE-
MENTAL SECURITY INCOME WAIVERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1631(b)(1)(B) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1383(b)(1)(B)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘In 
making for purposes of this subparagraph a deter-
mination of whether an adjustment or recovery would 
defeat the purpose of this title, the Commissioner of 
Social Security shall require an individual to provide 
authorization for the Commissioner to obtain (subject 
to the cost reimbursement requirements of section 
1115(a) of the Right to Financial Privacy Act) from 
any financial institution (within the meaning of sec-
tion 1101(1) of such Act) any financial record (with-
in the meaning of section 1101(2) of such Act) held 
by the institution with respect to such individual 
whenever the Commissioner determines that the record 
is needed in connection with a determination with re-
spect to such adjustment or recovery, under the terms 
and 
conditions 
established 
under 
subsection 
(e)(1)(B).’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
1631(e)(1)(B)(ii)(V) 
of 
such 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1383(e)(1)(B)(ii)(V)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, de-
termine that adjustment or recovery on account of an 
overpayment with respect to the applicant or recipi-
ent would not defeat the purpose of this title, or both’’ 
before the period at the end. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply with respect to determinations made on 
or after the date that is 3 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this section. 
Subtitle D—Relieving Administra-
tive Burdens and Miscellaneous 
Provisions 
SEC. 841. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TO IMPROVE PRO-
GRAM ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title XI of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 1127 the following: 
‘‘INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TO IMPROVE PROGRAM 
ADMINISTRATION 
‘‘SEC. 1127A. (a) COORDINATION AGREEMENT.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of law, including section 
207 of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security (re-
ferred to in this section as ‘the Commissioner’) and the Di-
rector of the Office of Personnel Management (referred to 
in this section as ‘the Director’) shall enter into an agree-
ment under which a system is established to carry out the 
following procedure: 
‘‘(1) The Director shall notify the Commissioner 
when any individual is determined to be entitled to
a monthly disability annuity payment pursuant to 
subchapter V of chapter 84 of subpart G of part III 
of title 5, United States Code, and shall certify that 
such individual has provided the authorization de-
scribed in subsection (f). 
‘‘(2) If the Commissioner determines that an in-
dividual described in paragraph (1) is also entitled to 
past-due benefits under section 223, the Commissioner 
shall notify the Director of such fact. 
‘‘(3) Not later than 30 days after receiving a no-
tification described in paragraph (2) with respect to 
an individual, the Director shall provide the Commis-
sioner with the total amount of any disability annu-
ity overpayments made to such individual, as well as 
any other information (in such form and manner as 
the Commissioner shall require) that the Commis-
sioner determines is necessary to carry out this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(4) If the Director provides the Commissioner 
with the information described in paragraph (3) in 
a timely manner, the Commissioner may withhold 
past-due benefits under section 223 to which such in-
dividual is entitled and may pay the amount de-
scribed in paragraph (3) to the Office of Personnel
Management for any disability annuity overpayments 
made to such individual. 
‘‘(5) The Director shall credit any amount re-
ceived under paragraph (4) with respect to an indi-
vidual toward any disability annuity overpayment 
owed by such individual. 
‘‘(b) LIMITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) PRIORITY
OF OTHER REDUCTIONS.—Benefits 
shall only be withheld under this section after any other 
reduction applicable under this Act, including sections 
206(a)(4), 224, and 1127(a). 
‘‘(2) TIMELY NOTIFICATION REQUIRED.—The Com-
missioner may not withhold benefits under this section if 
the Director does not provide the notice described in sub-
section (a)(3) within the time period described in such sub-
section. 
‘‘(c) DELAYED PAYMENT OF PAST-DUE BENEFITS.— 
If the Commissioner is required to make a notification de-
scribed in subsection (a)(2) with respect to an individual, 
the Commissioner shall not make any payment of past-due 
benefits under section 223 to such individual until after the 
period described in subsection (a)(3). 
‘‘(d) REVIEW.—Notwithstanding section 205 or any 
other provision of law, any determination regarding the 
withholding of past-due benefits under this section shall
only be subject to adjudication and review by the Director 
under section 8461 of title 5, United States Code. 
‘‘(e) DISABILITY ANNUITY OVERPAYMENT DEFINED.— 
For purposes of this section, the term ‘disability annuity 
overpayment’ means the amount of the reduction under sec-
tion 8452(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code, applicable 
to a monthly annuity payment made to an individual pur-
suant to subchapter V of chapter 84 of subpart G of part 
III of such title due to the individual’s concurrent entitle-
ment to a disability insurance benefit under section 223 
during such month. 
‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION TO WITHHOLD BENEFITS.—The 
authorization described in this subsection, with respect to 
an individual, is written authorization provided by the in-
dividual to the Director which authorizes the Commissioner 
to withhold past-due benefits under section 223 to which 
such individual is entitled in order to pay the amount with-
held to the Office of Personnel Management for any dis-
ability overpayments made to such individual. 
‘‘(g) EXPENSES.—The Director shall pay to the Social 
Security Administration an amount equal to the amount 
estimated by the Commissioner as the total cost incurred 
by the Social Security Administration in carrying out this 
section for each calendar quarter.’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this 
section shall apply to past-due disability insurance benefits 
payable on or after the date that is 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this section. 
SEC. 842. ELIMINATION OF QUINQUENNIAL DETERMINA-
TIONS RELATING TO WAGE CREDITS FOR 
MILITARY SERVICE PRIOR TO 1957. 
Section 217(g)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
417(g)(2)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘through 2010’’ after ‘‘each fifth 
year thereafter’’; and 
(2) by inserting after the first sentence the fol-
lowing: ‘‘The Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices shall revise the amount determined under para-
graph (1) with respect to the Federal Hospital Insur-
ance Trust Fund under title XVIII in 2015 and each 
fifth year thereafter through such date, and using 
such data, as the Secretary determines appropriate on 
the basis of the amount of benefits and administrative 
expenses actually paid from such Trust Fund under 
title XVIII and the relevant actuarial assumptions set 
forth in the report of the Board of Trustees of such 
Trust Fund for such year under section 1817(b).’’.
SEC. 843. CERTIFICATION OF BENEFITS PAYABLE TO A DI-
VORCED SPOUSE OF A RAILROAD WORKER TO 
THE RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD. 
Section 205(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
405(i)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or divorced wife or di-
vorced husband’’ after ‘‘the wife or husband’’. 
SEC. 844. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO ELIMINATE OBSO-
LETE PROVISIONS. 
(a) ELIMINATION OF REFERENCE IN SECTION 226 TO 
A REPEALED PROVISION.—Section 226 of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 426) is amended— 
(1) by striking subsection (i); and 
(2) by redesignating subsection (j) as subsection 
(i). 
(b) ELIMINATION OF REFERENCE IN SECTION 226A TO 
A REPEALED PROVISION.—Section 226A of such Act (42 
U.S.C. 426–1) is amended by striking the second subsection 
(c). 
SEC. 845. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) REPORT ON FRAUD AND IMPROPER PAYMENT PRE-
VENTION ACTIVITIES.—Section 704(b) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 904(b)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(3) For each fiscal year beginning with 2016 
and ending with 2021, the Commissioner shall in-
clude in the annual budget prepared pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A) a report describing the purposes for 
which amounts made available for purposes described 
in section 251(b)(2)(B) of the Balanced Budget and 
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 for the fiscal 
year were expended by the Social Security Adminis-
tration and the purposes for which the Commissioner 
plans for the Administration to expend such funds in 
the succeeding fiscal year, including— 
‘‘(A) the total such amount expended; 
‘‘(B) the amount expended on co-operative 
disability investigation units; 
‘‘(C) the number of cases of fraud prevented 
by co-operative disability investigation units and 
the amount expended on such cases (as reported 
to the Commissioner by the Inspector General of 
the Social Security Administration); 
‘‘(D) the number of felony cases prosecuted 
under section 208 (as reported to the Commis-
sioner by the Inspector General) and the amount 
expended by the Social Security Administration 
in supporting the prosecution of such cases; 
‘‘(E) the amount of such felony cases suc-
cessfully prosecuted (as reported to the Commis-
sioner by the Inspector General) and the amount
expended by the Social Security Administration 
in supporting the prosecution of such cases; 
‘‘(F) the amount expended on and the num-
ber of completed— 
‘‘(i) continuing disability reviews con-
ducted by mail; 
‘‘(ii) redeterminations conducted by 
mail; 
‘‘(iii) medical continuing disability re-
views conducted pursuant to section 221(i); 
‘‘(iv) medical continuing disability re-
views conducted pursuant to 1614(a)(3)(H); 
‘‘(v) redeterminations conducted pursu-
ant to section 1611(c); and 
‘‘(vi) 
work-related 
continuing 
dis-
ability reviews to determine whether earn-
ings derived from services demonstrate an 
individual’s ability to engage in substantial 
gainful activity; 
‘‘(G) the number of cases of fraud identified 
for which benefits were terminated as a result of 
medical continuing disability reviews (as re-
ported to the Commissioner by the Inspector 
General), work-related continuing disability re-
views, and redeterminations, and the amount of
resulting savings for each such type of review or 
redetermination; and 
‘‘(H) the number of work-related continuing 
disability reviews in which a beneficiary im-
properly reported earnings derived from services 
for more than 3 consecutive months, and the 
amount of resulting savings.’’. 
(b) REPORT ON WORK-RELATED CONTINUING DIS-
ABILITY REVIEWS.—The Commissioner of Social Security 
shall annually submit to the Committee on Ways and 
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Finance of the Senate a report on the number of work- 
related continuing disability reviews conducted each year 
to determine whether earnings derived from services dem-
onstrate an individual’s ability to engage in substantial 
gainful activity. Such report shall include— 
(1) the number of individuals receiving benefits 
based on disability under title II of such Act for 
whom reports of earnings were received from any 
source by the Commissioner in the previous calendar 
year, reported as a total number and separately by 
the source of the report; 
(2) the number of individuals for whom such re-
ports resulted in a determination to conduct a work-
related continuing disability review, and the basis on 
which such determinations were made; 
(3) in the case of a beneficiary selected for a 
work-related continuing disability review on the basis 
of a report of earnings from any source— 
(A) the average number of days— 
(i) between the receipt of the report 
and the initiation of the review; 
(ii) between the initiation and the 
completion of the review; and 
(iii) the average amount of overpay-
ment, if any; 
(B) the number of such reviews completed 
during such calendar year, and the number of 
such reviews that resulted in a suspension or ter-
mination of benefits; 
(C) the number of such reviews initiated in 
the current year that had not been completed as 
of the end of such calendar year; 
(D) the number of such reviews initiated in 
a prior year that had not been completed as of 
the end of such calendar year; 
(4) the total savings to the Trust Funds and the 
Treasury generated from benefits suspended or termi-
nated as a result of such reviews; and
(5) with respect to individuals for whom a work- 
related continuing disability review was completed 
during such calendar year— 
(A) the number who participated in the 
Ticket to Work program under section 1148 dur-
ing such calendar year; 
(B) the number who used any program 
work incentives during such calendar year; and 
(C) the number who received vocational re-
habilitation services during such calendar year 
with respect to which the Commissioner of Social 
Security reimbursed a State agency under sec-
tion 222(d). 
(c) REPORT ON OVERPAYMENT WAIVERS.—Not later 
than January 1 of each calendar year, the Commissioner 
of Social Security shall submit to the Committee on Ways 
and Means of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Finance of the Senate a report on— 
(1) the number and total value of overpayments 
recovered or scheduled to be recovered by the Social 
Security Administration during the previous fiscal 
year of benefits under title II and title XVI, respec-
tively, including the terms and conditions of repay-
ment of such overpayments; and
(2) the number and total value of overpayments 
waived by the Social Security Administration during 
the previous fiscal year of benefits under title II and 
title XVI, respectively. 
SEC. 846. EXPEDITED EXAMINATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE 
LAW JUDGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the Office of Personnel Management shall, upon 
request of the Commissioner of Social Security, expedi-
tiously administer a sufficient number of competitive ex-
aminations, as determined by the Commissioner, for the 
purpose of identifying an adequate number of candidates 
to be appointed as Administrative Law Judges under sec-
tion 3105 of title 5, United States Code. The first such ex-
amination shall take place not later than April 1, 2016 and 
other examinations shall take place at such time or times 
requested by the Commissioner, but not later than December 
31, 2022. Such examinations shall proceed even if one or 
more individuals who took a prior examination have ap-
pealed an adverse determination and one or more of such 
appeals have not concluded, provided that— 
(1) the Commissioner of Social Security has 
made a determination that delaying the examination 
poses a significant risk that an adequate number of 
Administrative Law Judges will not be available to
meet the need of the Social Security Administration 
to reduce or prevent a backlog of cases awaiting a 
hearing; 
(2) an individual whose appeal is pending is 
provided an option to continue their appeal or elects 
to take the new examination, in which case the appeal 
is considered vacated; and 
(3) an individual who decides to continue his or 
her appeal and who ultimately prevails in the appeal 
shall receive expeditious consideration for hire by the 
Office Personnel Management and the Commissioner 
of Social Security. 
(b) PAYMENT OF COSTS.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Commissioner of Social Security shall 
pay the full cost associated with each examination con-
ducted pursuant to subsection (a). 
TITLE IX—TEMPORARY EXTEN-
SION OF PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT 
SEC. 901. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF PUBLIC DEBT LIMIT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3101(b) of title 31, United 
States Code, shall not apply for the period beginning on 
the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on March 
15, 2017. 
(b) SPECIAL
RULE
RELATING
TO
OBLIGATIONS 
ISSUED DURING EXTENSION PERIOD.—Effective March 16,
2017, the limitation in effect under section 3101(b) of title 
31, United States Code, shall be increased to the extent 
that— 
(1) the face amount of obligations issued under 
chapter 31 of such title and the face amount of obliga-
tions whose principal and interest are guaranteed by 
the United States Government (except guaranteed ob-
ligations held by the Secretary of the Treasury) out-
standing on March 16, 2017, exceeds 
(2) the face amount of such obligations out-
standing on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 902. RESTORING CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY OVER 
THE NATIONAL DEBT. 
(a) EXTENSION LIMITED
TO NECESSARY OBLIGA-
TIONS.—An obligation shall not be taken into account 
under section 901(b)(1) unless the issuance of such obliga-
tion was necessary to fund a commitment incurred pursu-
ant to law by the Federal Government that required pay-
ment before March 16, 2017. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON CREATION OF CASH RESERVE 
DURING EXTENSION PERIOD.—The Secretary of the Treas-
ury shall not issue obligations during the period specified 
in section 901(a) for the purpose of increasing the cash bal-
ance above normal operating balances in anticipation of 
the expiration of such period.
TITLE X—SPECTRUM PIPELINE 
SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Spectrum Pipeline Act 
of 2015’’. 
SEC. 1002. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Assist-
ant Secretary’’ means the Assistant Secretary of Com-
merce for Communications and Information. 
(2) 
COMMISSION.—The 
term 
‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
(3) FEDERAL ENTITY.—The term ‘‘Federal enti-
ty’’ has the meaning given such term in section 113(l) 
of the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 923(l)). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
SEC. 1003. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Each range of frequencies described in this title shall 
be construed to be inclusive of the upper and lower fre-
quencies in the range. 
SEC. 1004. IDENTIFICATION, REALLOCATION, AND AUCTION 
OF FEDERAL SPECTRUM. 
(a) IDENTIFICATION OF SPECTRUM.—Not later than 
January 1, 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Presi-
dent and to the Commission a report identifying 30 mega-
hertz of electromagnetic spectrum (in bands of not less than 
10 megahertz of contiguous frequencies) below the frequency 
of 3 gigahertz (except for the spectrum between the fre-
quencies of 1675 megahertz and 1695 megahertz) for re-
allocation from Federal use to non-Federal use or shared 
Federal and non-Federal use, or a combination thereof. 
(b) CLEARING OF SPECTRUM.—The President shall— 
(1) not later than January 1, 2022, begin the 
process of withdrawing or modifying the assignment 
to a Federal Government station of the electro-
magnetic spectrum identified under subsection (a); 
and 
(2) not later than 30 days after completing the 
withdrawal or modification, notify the Commission 
that the withdrawal or modification is complete. 
(c) REALLOCATION AND AUCTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 
(A) reallocate the electromagnetic spectrum 
identified under subsection (a) for non-Federal 
use or shared Federal and non-Federal use, or a 
combination thereof; and 
(B) notwithstanding paragraph (15)(A) of 
section 309(j) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 309(j)), not later than July 1,
2024, begin a system of competitive bidding 
under such section to grant new initial licenses 
for the use of such spectrum, subject to flexible- 
use service rules. 
(2) PROCEEDS TO COVER 110 PERCENT OF FED-
ERAL RELOCATION OR SHARING COSTS.—Nothing in 
paragraph (1) shall be construed to relieve the Com-
mission 
from 
the 
requirements 
of 
section 
309(j)(16)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 309(j)(16)(B)). 
SEC. 1005. ADDITIONAL USES OF SPECTRUM RELOCATION 
FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 118 of the National Tele-
communications and Information Administration Organi-
zation Act (47 U.S.C. 928) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
(i); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following: 
‘‘(g) ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS FOR RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT AND PLANNING ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(1) 
AMOUNTS
AVAILABLE.—Notwithstanding 
subsections (c) through (e)— 
‘‘(A) there are appropriated from the Fund 
on the date of the enactment of the Spectrum 
Pipeline Act of 2015, and available to the Direc-
tor of OMB for use in accordance with para-
graph (2), not more than $500,000,000 from 
amounts in the Fund on such date of enactment; 
and 
‘‘(B) there are appropriated from the Fund 
after such date of enactment, and available to the 
Director of OMB for use in accordance with such 
paragraph, not more than 10 percent of the 
amounts deposited in the Fund after such date 
of enactment. 
‘‘(2) USE OF AMOUNTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director of OMB 
may use amounts made available under para-
graph (1) to make payments requested by Fed-
eral entities for research and development, engi-
neering studies, economic analyses, activities 
with respect to systems, or other planning activi-
ties intended to improve the efficiency and effec-
tiveness of the spectrum use of Federal entities in 
order to make available frequencies described in 
subparagraph (C) for reallocation for non-Fed-
eral use or shared Federal and non-Federal use, 
or a combination thereof, and for auction in ac-
cordance with such reallocation.
‘‘(B) SYSTEMS THAT IMPROVE EFFICIENCY 
AND
EFFECTIVENESS
OF
FEDERAL
SPECTRUM 
USE.—For purposes of a payment under sub-
paragraph (A) for activities with respect to sys-
tems that improve the efficiency and effectiveness 
of the spectrum use of Federal entities, such sys-
tems include the following: 
‘‘(i) Systems that have increased 
functionality or that increase the ability of 
a Federal entity to accommodate spectrum 
sharing with non-Federal entities. 
‘‘(ii) Systems that consolidate func-
tions or services that have been provided 
using separate systems. 
‘‘(iii) Non-spectrum technology or sys-
tems. 
‘‘(C) FREQUENCIES DESCRIBED.—The fre-
quencies described in this subparagraph are, 
with respect to a payment under subparagraph 
(A), frequencies that— 
‘‘(i) are assigned to a Federal entity; 
and 
‘‘(ii) at the time of the activities con-
ducted with such payment, are not identi-
fied for auction.
100 
‘‘(D) CONDITIONS.—The Director of OMB 
may not make a payment to a Federal entity 
under subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) unless— 
‘‘(I) the Federal entity has sub-
mitted to the Technical Panel estab-
lished under section 113(h)(3) a plan 
describing the activities that the Fed-
eral entity will conduct with such pay-
ment; 
‘‘(II) the Technical Panel has ap-
proved such plan under subparagraph 
(E); and 
‘‘(III) the Director of OMB has 
submitted the plan approved under 
subparagraph (E) to the congressional 
committees described in subsection 
(d)(2)(C); and 
‘‘(ii) until 60 days have elapsed after 
submission of the plan under clause (i)(III). 
‘‘(E) REVIEW BY TECHNICAL PANEL.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 
days after a Federal entity submits a plan 
under subparagraph (D)(i)(I) to the Tech-
nical 
Panel 
established 
under 
section
101 
113(h)(3), the Technical Panel shall ap-
prove or disapprove such plan. 
‘‘(ii) CRITERIA FOR REVIEW.—In con-
sidering whether to approve or disapprove a 
plan under this subparagraph, the Tech-
nical Panel shall consider whether— 
‘‘(I) the activities that the Federal 
entity will conduct with the payment 
will— 
‘‘(aa) increase the probability 
of relocation from or sharing of 
Federal spectrum; 
‘‘(bb) facilitate an auction 
intended to occur not later than 8 
years after the payment; and 
‘‘(cc) increase the net ex-
pected auction proceeds in an 
amount not less than the time 
value of the amount of the pay-
ment; and 
‘‘(II) the transfer will leave suffi-
cient amounts in the Fund for the 
other purposes of the Fund. 
‘‘(h) PRIORITIZATION OF PAYMENTS.—In determining 
whether to make payments under subsections (f) and (g),
102 
the Director of OMB shall, to the extent practicable, 
prioritize payments under subsection (g).’’. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT
FOR
TECHNICAL 
PANEL.—Section 113(h)(3)(C) of the National Tele-
communications and Information Administration Organi-
zation Act (47 U.S.C. 923(h)(3)(C)) is amended by striking 
‘‘this subsection and subsection (i)’’ and inserting ‘‘this sub-
section, subsection (i), and section 118(g)(2)(E)’’. 
(c) ELIGIBLE FEDERAL ENTITIES.—Section 113 of the 
National Telecommunications and Information Adminis-
tration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 923) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘authorized to use a 
band of eligible frequencies described in 
paragraph (2) and’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘eligible’’ after ‘‘auc-
tion of’’; 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘eligible’’ after ‘‘re-
allocation of’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘pre-
viously assigned to such entity or the sharing of 
spectrum frequencies assigned to such entity’’ 
and inserting ‘‘or the sharing of spectrum fre-
quencies’’; and
103 
(2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ‘‘authorized 
to use any such frequency’’. 
SEC. 1006. PLANS FOR AUCTION OF CERTAIN SPECTRUM. 
(a) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—In accordance with each 
paragraph of subsection (c), the Commission, in coordina-
tion with the Assistant Secretary, shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Represent-
atives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report containing a pro-
posed plan for the assignment of new licenses for non-Fed-
eral use of the spectrum identified under such paragraph, 
including— 
(1) an assessment of the operations of Federal 
entities that operate Federal Government stations au-
thorized to use such spectrum; 
(2) an estimated timeline for the competitive bid-
ding process; and 
(3) a proposed plan for balance between unli-
censed and licensed use. 
(b) INFORMATION FOR ASSESSMENT OF FEDERAL EN-
TITY OPERATIONS.—The Assistant Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the affected Federal entities, shall provide to the 
Commission the necessary information to carry out sub-
section (a)(1).
104 
(c) REPORT DEADLINES; IDENTIFICATION OF SPEC-
TRUM.—The Commission shall submit reports under sub-
section (a) as follows: 
(1) Not later than January 1, 2022, for at least 
50 megahertz of spectrum (in bands of not less than 
10 megahertz of contiguous frequencies) below 6 
gigahertz, to be identified by the Commission, in co-
ordination with the Assistant Secretary, from spec-
trum other than the spectrum identified under section 
1004(a). 
(2) Not later than January 1, 2024, for at least 
50 megahertz of spectrum (in bands of not less than 
10 megahertz of contiguous frequencies) below 6 
gigahertz, to be identified by the Commission, in co-
ordination with the Assistant Secretary, from spec-
trum other than the spectrum identified under para-
graph (1) or section 1004(a). 
SEC. 1007. FCC AUCTION AUTHORITY. 
Section 309(j)(11) of the Communications Act of 1934 
(47 U.S.C. 309(j)(11)) is amended by inserting before the 
period at the end the following: ‘‘, except that, with respect 
to the electromagnetic spectrum identified under section 
1004(a) of the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2015, such author-
ity shall expire on September 30, 2025’’.
105 
SEC. 1008. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress— 
(1) a report containing an analysis of the results 
of the rules changes relating to the frequencies between 
3550 megahertz and 3650 megahertz; and 
(2) a report containing an analysis of proposals 
to promote and identify additional spectrum bands 
that can be shared between incumbent uses and new 
licensed, and unlicensed services under such rules and 
identification of at least 1 gigahertz between 6 
gigahertz and 57 GHz for such use. 
TITLE 
XI—REVENUE 
PROVI-
SIONS RELATED TO TAX COM-
PLIANCE 
SEC. 1101. PARTNERSHIP AUDITS AND ADJUSTMENTS. 
(a) REPEAL
OF
TEFRA PARTNERSHIP
AUDIT 
RULES.—Chapter 63 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
is amended by striking subchapter C (and by striking the 
item relating to such subchapter in the table of subchapters 
for such chapter). 
(b) REPEAL
OF
ELECTING
LARGE
PARTNERSHIP 
RULES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter K of chapter 1 of 
such Code is amended by striking part IV (and by