‘‘(2) TRANSFER
CONTINGENT
UPON
RECEIPT
OF NECESSARY INFORMATION.—A transfer may not
be made for an account holder under paragraph (1)
until the Executive Director receives from such ac-
count holder the information required by the Execu-
tive Director specifically to identify the eligible re-
tirement plan or plans to which the transfer is to be
made.
‘‘(d) MODIFICATION OF ELECTIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph
(3)(A) and subsections (a) and (d) of section 258,
an account holder may change an election previously
made under this section.
‘‘(2) MODIFICATION
OF
DATE
FOR
DELAYED
DISTRIBUTIONS.—Subject to paragraph (3)(B) and
section 258(d), an account holder who has made an
election pursuant to subsection (b)(2) may modify
the date specified in such election or in a previous
modification under this paragraph.
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—
‘‘(A) MODIFICATIONS DISALLOWED UPON
COMMENCEMENT
OF
DISTRIBUTION.—An ac-
count holder may not change an election under
this section on or after the date on which a
payment is made in accordance with such elec-
tion or, in the case of an election to receive an
annuity, the date on which an annuity contract
is purchased to provide for the annuity elected
by the account holder.
‘‘(B) OTHER
LIMITATIONS.—A modifica-
tion of a date may not be made under para-
graph (2) on or after the date on which an an-
nuity contract is purchased to provide for the
annuity involved, and may not specify a date
for the commencement of an annuity earlier
than 90 days after the date on which the modi-
fication is submitted to the Executive Director
(or such period shorter than 90 days as the Ex-
ecutive Director may by regulation prescribe).
‘‘(e) DEFAULT MEANS OF DISTRIBUTION.—
‘‘(1) LUMP SUM DISTRIBUTIONS OF MINIMAL
AMOUNTS.—Notwithstanding subsection (b), if an
account holder becomes entitled to old-age insurance
benefits under section 202(a) and the balance in
such account holder’s investment account is $3,500
or less, the Executive Director shall pay the balance
to the account holder in a single payment unless the
account holder elects, at such time and otherwise in
such manner as the Executive Director prescribes,
one of the options available under subsection (b).
‘‘(2) 
DEFAULT
ANNUITY
COMMENCEMENT
DATE.—Unless otherwise elected under this section,
and subject to paragraph (1), the balance in an ac-
count holder’s investment account shall be paid as
an annuity commencing for the account holder on
February 1 of the year following the year in which
the account holder becomes entitled to old-age insur-
ance benefits under section 202(a).
‘‘PAYMENT OF ANNUITIES
‘‘SEC. 257. (a) METHODS OF PAYMENT.—The Board
shall prescribe methods of payment of annuities under this
part. The methods of payment prescribed under this sub-
section shall include, but not be limited to—
‘‘(1) a method which provides for the payment
of a monthly annuity only to an annuitant during
the life of the annuitant;
‘‘(2) a method which provides for the payment
of a monthly annuity to an annuitant for the joint
lives of the annuitant and the spouse of the annu-
itant and an appropriate monthly annuity to the one
of them who survives the other of them for the life
of the survivor;
‘‘(3) a method described in paragraph (1) which
provides for automatic adjustments in the amount of
the annuity payable so long as the amount of the
annuity payable in any one year shall not be less
than the amount payable in the previous year;
‘‘(4) a method described in paragraph (2) which
provides for automatic adjustments in the amount of
the annuity payable so long as the amount of the an-
nuity payable in any one year shall not be less than
the amount payable in the previous year; and
‘‘(5) a method which provides for the payment
of a monthly annuity—
‘‘(A) to the annuitant for the joint lives of
the annuitant and an individual who is des-
ignated by the annuitant under regulations pre-
scribed by the Executive Director and (i) is a
former spouse of the annuitant, or (ii) has an
insurable interest in the annuitant; and
‘‘(B) to the one of them who survives the
other of them for the life of the survivor.
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENT OF ELECTION.—Subject to sec-
tion 258(c), under such regulations as the Executive Di-
rector shall prescribe, an account holder who elects under
section 256 to receive an annuity under this part shall
elect, on or before the date on which an annuity contract
is purchased to provide for that annuity, one of the meth-
ods of payment prescribed under subsection (a).
‘‘(c) CONTINUED PERIOD OF 5 YEARS AVAILABILITY
FOR ELIMINATED METHODS.—Notwithstanding an elimi-
nation of a method of payment by the Board, an account
holder may elect the eliminated method if the elimination
of such method became effective less than 5 years before
the date on which the annuity commences.
‘‘(d) CONTRACTS FOR PURCHASE OF ANNUITIES.—
‘‘(1) TIME
LIMIT
FOR
ENTERING
INTO
CON-
TRACT.—Not earlier than 90 days (or such shorter
period as the Executive Director may by regulation
prescribe) before an annuity is to commence under
this part, the Executive Director shall expend the
balance in the annuitant’s account to purchase an
annuity contract from any entity which, in the nor-
mal course of its business, sells and provides annu-
ities.
‘‘(2) ASSURANCE OF PROVISION OF ANNUITY.—
The Executive Director shall assure, by contract en-
tered into with each entity from which an annuity
contract is purchased under paragraph (1), that the
annuity shall be provided in accordance with the
provisions of this part.
‘‘(3) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—An annuity
contract purchased under paragraph (1) shall in-
clude such terms and conditions as the Executive
Director requires for the protection of the annuitant.
‘‘(4) BONDING.—The Executive Director shall
require, from each entity from which an annuity
contract is purchased under paragraph (1), a bond
or proof of financial responsibility sufficient to pro-
tect the annuitant.
‘‘(e) EXEMPTION
FROM
LOCAL
TAXATION
OF
AMOUNTS PAID TO PURCHASE ANNUITIES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No tax, fee, or other mone-
tary payment may be imposed or collected by any
State, or by any political subdivision or other gov-
ernmental authority thereof, on, or with respect to,
any amount paid to purchase an annuity contract
under this section.
‘‘(2) TAXATION OF ISSUER PERMITTED.—Para-
graph (1) shall not be construed to exempt any com-
pany or other entity issuing an annuity contract
under this section from the imposition, payment, or
collection of a tax, fee, or other monetary payment
on the net income or profit accruing to or realized
by that entity from the sale of an annuity contract
under this section if that tax, fee, or payment is ap-
plicable to a broad range of business activity.
‘‘PROTECTIONS FOR SPOUSES AND FORMER SPOUSES
‘‘SEC. 258. (a) REQUIREMENT OF SPOUSAL CON-
SENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—A married account holder
may make an election under subsection (b)(3) or
(b)(4) of section 256 or change an election pre-
viously made under subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of
such section only if the account holder and the ac-
count holder’s spouse jointly waive, by written elec-
tion, any right which the spouse may have to a sur-
vivor annuity with respect to such account holder
under section 257 or subsection (b).
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not
apply to an election or change of election by an ac-
count holder who establishes to the satisfaction of
the Executive Director (at the time of the election
or change and in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Executive Director)—
‘‘(A) that the spouse’s whereabouts cannot
be determined; or
‘‘(B) 
that, 
due 
to 
exceptional 
cir-
cumstances, requiring the spouse’s waiver would
otherwise be inappropriate.
‘‘(b) JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY FORM APPLIES
UNLESS OTHERWISE ELECTED.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any elec-
tion under subsection (b) of section 257, the method
described in subsection (a)(2)(B) of such section (or,
if more than one form of such method is available,
the form which the Board determines to be the one
which provides for a surviving spouse a survivor an-
nuity most closely approximating the annuity of a
surviving spouse under section 8442 of title 5, Unit-
ed States Code) shall be deemed the applicable
method under such subsection (b) in the case of an
account holder who is married on the date on which
an annuity contract is purchased to provide for the
account holder’s annuity under this part.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Paragraph (1) shall not
apply if—
‘‘(A) a joint waiver of such method is
made, in writing, by the account holder and the
spouse; or
‘‘(B) the account holder waives such meth-
od, in writing, after establishing to the satisfac-
tion of the Executive Director that cir-
cumstances described under subsection (a)(2)
(A) or (B) make the requirement of a joint
waiver inappropriate.
‘‘(c) ELECTIONS AND OTHER CHANGES SUBJECT TO
COURT ORDERS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An election, change of elec-
tion, or modification of the commencement date of
a deferred annuity shall not be effective under this
part to the extent that the election, change, modi-
fication, or transfer conflicts with any court decree,
order, or agreement described in paragraph (2).
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A court decree, order,
or agreement referred to in paragraph (1) is, with
respect to an account holder, a court decree of di-
vorce, annulment, or legal separation issued in the
case of such account holder and any former spouse
of the account holder or any court order or court-
approved property settlement agreement incident to
such decree if—
‘‘(A) the decree, order, or agreement ex-
pressly relates to any portion of the balance in
the account holder’s investment account; and
‘‘(B) notice of the decree, order, or agree-
ment was received by the Executive Director be-
fore—
‘‘(i) the date on which payment is
made, or
‘‘(ii) in the case of an annuity, the
date on which an annuity contract is pur-
chased to provide for the annuity,
in accordance with the election, change, modi-
fication, or contribution referred to in para-
graph (1).
‘‘(3) TREATMENT OF 2 OR MORE COURT OR-
DERS.—The Executive Director shall prescribe regu-
lations under which this subsection shall be applied
in any case in which the Executive Director receives
two or more decrees, orders, or agreements referred
to in paragraph (1).
‘‘(d) RIGHTS OF FORMER SPOUSES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2)
through (7), a former spouse of a deceased account
holder who died as a fully insured individual is enti-
tled to a survivor annuity under this subsection if
and to the extent that—
‘‘(A) 
an 
election 
under 
section
257(a)(2)(E), or
‘‘(B) any court decree, order, or agreement
(described in subsection (c)(2), without regard
to subparagraph (B) of such subsection) which
relates to such deceased account holder and
such former spouse,
expressly provides for such survivor annuity.
‘‘(2) WRITTEN NOTICE REQUIRED.—Paragraph
(1) shall apply only to payments made by the Execu-
tive Director after the date on which the Executive
Director receives written notice of the election, de-
cree, order, or agreement, and such additional infor-
mation and documentation as the Executive Director
may require.
‘‘(3) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.—The amount of
the survivor annuity payable from the Trust Fund
to a former spouse of a deceased account holder
under this section may not exceed the excess, if any,
of—
‘‘(A) the amount of the survivor annuity
determined for a surviving spouse of the de-
ceased account holder under the method de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1), over
‘‘(B) the total amount of all other survivor
annuities payable under part to other former
spouses of such deceased account holder based
on the order of precedence provided in para-
graph (4).
‘‘(4) ORDER OF PRECEDENCE.—If more than
one former spouse of a deceased account holder is
entitled to a survivor annuity pursuant to this sub-
section, the amount of each such survivor annuity
shall be limited appropriately to carry out paragraph
(3) in the order of precedence established for the en-
titlements by the chronological order of the dates on
which elections are properly made pursuant to sec-
tion 257(a)(2)(E) and the dates on which the court
decrees, orders, or agreements applicable to the enti-
tlement were issued, as the case may be.
‘‘(5) RULES FOR COMMENCEMENT AND TERMI-
NATION
UNDER
COURT
ORDERS.—The commence-
ment and termination of an annuity payable under
this section shall be governed by the terms of the ap-
plicable order, decree, agreement, or election, as the
case may be, except that any such annuity—
‘‘(A) shall not commence before—
‘‘(i) the day after the account holder
dies; or
‘‘(ii) the first day of the second month
beginning after the date on which the Ex-
ecutive Director receives written notice of
the order, decree, agreement, or election,
as the case may be, together with such ad-
ditional information or documentation as
the Executive Director may prescribe;
whichever is later; and
‘‘(B) shall terminate no later than the last
day of the month before the former spouse re-
marries before becoming 55 years of age or
dies.
‘‘(6) RESTRICTION
ON
MODIFICATIONS.—For
purposes of this part, a modification in a decree,
order, agreement, or election referred to in this sec-
tion shall not be effective—
‘‘(A) if such modification is made after the
retirement or death of the account holder or an-
nuitant concerned; and
‘‘(B) to the extent that such modification
involves an annuity under this part.
‘‘(7) COURT
ORDERS
SUBJECT
TO
PREVIOUS
JOINT WAIVERS.—For the purposes of this section,
a court decree, order, or agreement or an election re-
ferred to in subsection (a) of this section shall not
be effective, in the case of a former spouse, to the
extent that the election is inconsistent with any joint
waiver previously executed with respect to such
former spouse under subsection (a)(2) or (b)(2).
‘‘(8) EXCLUSIVE
RECOVERY.—Any payment
under this subsection to any individual bars recovery
by any other individual.
‘‘(f) WAIVERS
AND MODIFICATIONS SUBJECT
TO
PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES.—Waivers and notifications
required by this section and waivers of the requirements
for such waivers and notifications (as authorized by this
section) may be made only in accordance with procedures
prescribed by the Executive Director.
‘‘(g) INAPPLICABILITY TO MINIMAL ACCOUNT BAL-
ANCES.—None of the provisions of this section requiring
notification to, or the consent or waiver of, a spouse or
former spouse of an account holder shall apply in any case
in which the balance in the account holder’s investment
account is $3,500 or less.
‘‘(h) APPLICABLE COURT ORDERS.—The protections
provided by this section are in addition to the protections
provided by section 263.
‘‘ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
‘‘SEC. 259. (a) PAYMENTS AND TRANSFERS IN AC-
CORDANCE WITH ELECTION.—The Executive Director
shall make or provide for payments and transfers in ac-
cordance with an election of an account holder under sec-
tion 256 or 257(b) or, if applicable, in accordance with
section 258.
‘‘(b) ELECTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS OF DEFERRED
COMMENCEMENT DATES
IN WRITING.—Any election,
change of election, or modification of a deferred annuity
commencement date made under this part shall be in writ-
ing and shall be filed with the Executive Director in ac-
cordance with regulations prescribed by the Executive Di-
rector.
‘‘SOCIAL SECURITY INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
‘‘SEC. 260. (a) IN GENERAL.—There is established
in the Treasury of the United States a Social Security In-
vestment Trust Fund.
‘‘(b) AMOUNT COMPRISING THE TRUST FUND.—The
Trust Fund consists of the sum of all amounts contributed
under sections 252(a) and 253, increased by the total net
earnings from investments of sums in the Trust Fund
under section 254 or reduced by the total net losses from
investments of the Trust Fund under such section, and
reduced by the total amount of payments made from the
Trust Fund (including payments for administrative ex-
penses).
‘‘(c) APPROPRIATION OF TRUST FUND AMOUNTS.—
The sums in the Trust Fund are appropriated and shall
remain available without fiscal year limitation—
‘‘(1) to invest under section 254;
‘‘(2) to make distributions or purchase annuity
contracts under this part;
‘‘(3) to pay the administrative expenses in-
curred in carrying out this part under subsection
(d); and
‘‘(4) to purchase insurance as provided in sub-
section (h)(3)(B).
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Administrative
expenses incurred to carry out this part shall be paid out
of net earnings in the Trust Fund.
‘‘(e) ASSIGNMENT OR ALIENATION AND RELATED
MATTERS.—
‘‘(1) EXCLUSIVE
BENEFIT
OF
THE
ACCOUNT
HOLDER.—Subject to subsection (d) and paragraphs
(2) and (3), sums in the Trust Fund credited to the
account of any account holder may not be used for,
or diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive
benefit of the account holder or other persons to
whom distributions are made under section 255.
‘‘(2) IMMUNITY
FROM
ASSIGNMENT, ALIEN-
ATION, AND CERTAIN OTHER LEGAL PROCESS.—Ex-
cept as provided in paragraph (3), sums in the
Trust Fund may not be assigned or alienated and
are not subject to execution, levy, attachment, gar-
nishment, or other legal process. For the purposes of
this paragraph, a loan made from the Trust Fund
to an account holder shall not be considered to be
an assignment or alienation.
‘‘(3) EXCEPTIONS.—Moneys due or payable
from the Trust Fund to any person and, in the case
of an account holder, the balance in the individual
account of the account holder, shall be subject to
legal process for the enforcement of the legal obliga-
tions of such person or account holder to provide
child support or make alimony payments as provided
in section 459 or relating to the enforcement of a
judgment for physically, sexually, or emotionally
abusing a child as provided under section 263.
‘‘(f) EXCLUSIVE APPROPRIATION.—The sums in the
Trust Fund shall not be appropriated for any purpose
other than the purposes specified in this section and may
not be used for any other purpose.
‘‘(g) CONTRIBUTIONS
AND
EARNINGS
HELD
IN
TRUST FOR ACCOUNT HOLDERS.—All sums contributed
to the Trust Fund by an account holder and all net earn-
ings in the Trust Fund attributable to investment of such
sums are held in the Trust Fund in trust for such account
holder.
‘‘(h) FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES; ENFORCEMENT
UNDER THE SECRETARY OF LABOR.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Under regulations of the
Secretary of Labor, the provisions of sections 8477
and 8478 of title 5, United States Code, shall apply
in connection with the Trust Fund in the same man-
ner and to the same extent as such provisions apply
in connection with the Thrift Savings Fund.
‘‘(2) INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY.—Any author-
ity available to the Secretary of Labor under section
504 of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974 is hereby made available to the Sec-
retary of Labor, and any officer designated by the
Secretary of Labor, to determine whether any person
has violated, or is about to violate, any provision ap-
plicable under paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) EXCULPATORY PROVISIONS; INSURANCE.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Any provision in an
agreement or instrument which purports to re-
lieve a fiduciary from responsibility or liability
for any responsibility, obligation, or duty under
this part shall be void.
‘‘(B) INSURANCE.—The Trust Fund shall
be available and may be used at the discretion
of the Executive Director to purchase insurance
to cover potential liability of persons who serve
in a fiduciary capacity with respect to the Trust
Fund, without regard to whether a policy of in-
surance permits recourse by the insurer against
the fiduciary in the case of a breach of a fidu-
ciary obligation.
‘‘WAIVER, ALLOTMENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF PAYMENTS
‘‘SEC. 261. (a) WAIVER OF ENTITLEMENT.—An indi-
vidual entitled to an annuity or other payment payable
from the Trust Fund may decline to accept all or any part
of the amount of the payment by a waiver signed and filed
with the Executive Director. The waiver may be revoked
in writing at any time. Payment of the annuity waived
may not be made for the period during which the waiver
is in effect.
‘‘(b) ALLOTMENTS OR ASSIGNMENTS.—An individual
entitled to an annuity or other payment payable from the
Trust Fund may make allotments or assignments of
amounts from the annuity or other payment for such pur-
poses as the Executive Director considers appropriate.
‘‘APPLICATION FOR ANNUITY OR OTHER PAYMENTS
‘‘SEC. 262. (a) APPLICATIONS REQUIRED.—No pay-
ment of an annuity or other payment from the Social Se-
curity Investment Trust Fund under this part may be
made unless an application for payment of the annuity or
other payment is received by the Executive Director before
the one hundred and fifteenth anniversary of the birth of
the account holder.
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS WITH RESPECT TO DECEASED
ACCOUNT HOLDERS.—Notwithstanding subsection (a),
after the death of an account holder, a payment of the
annuity or other payment shall not be paid unless an ap-
plication therefor is received by the Executive Director
within 30 years after the death or other event which estab-
lishes the entitlement to the annuity or other payment.
‘‘(c) PAYMENTS DUE TO MINORS.—Payment due a
minor, or an individual mentally incompetent or under
other legal disability, may be made to the person who is
constituted guardian or other fiduciary by the law of the
State of residence of the claimant or is otherwise legally
vested with the care of the claimant or his estate. An elec-
tion to be made by a minor, or an individual mentally in-
competent or under other legal disability, may be made
by the person who is constituted guardian or other fidu-
ciary by the law of the State of residence of the individual
or is otherwise legally vested with the care of the individ-
ual or his estate. In any case in which a guardian or other
fiduciary of the individual under legal disability has not
been appointed under the law of the State of residence
of the individual, if any other person, in the judgment of
the Executive Director, is responsible for the care of such
individual, any payment which is otherwise payable to
such individual may be made to such person, and any elec-
tion under this part which may otherwise be made by such
individual may be made by such person, and the payment
of an annuity payment to such person bars recovery by
any other person.
‘‘COURT ORDERS
‘‘SEC. 263. (a) ALTERNATIVE
PAYEES
UNDER
COURT ORDERS.—Payments under this part which would
otherwise be made to an account holder or an annuitant
shall be paid (in whole or in part) by the Executive Direc-
tor to another person if and to the extent expressly pro-
vided for in the terms of—
‘‘(1) any court decree of divorce, annulment, or
legal separation, or the terms of any court order or
court-approved property settlement agreement inci-
dent to any court decree of divorce, annulment, or
legal separation; or
‘‘(2) any court order or other similar process in
the nature of garnishment for the enforcement of a
judgment rendered against such account holder or
annuitant, for physically, sexually, or emotionally
abusing a child.
In the event that the Executive Director, as the case may
be, is served with more than 1 decree, order, or other legal
process with respect to the same moneys due or payable
to any individual, such moneys shall be available to satisfy
such processes on a first-come, first-served basis, with any
such process being satisfied out of such moneys as remain
after the satisfaction of all such processes which have been
previously served.
‘‘(b) 
WRITTEN
NOTICE
REQUIREMENTS.—Sub-
section (a) shall apply only to payments made by the Exec-
utive Director under this part after the date on which the
Executive Director receives written notice of such decree,
order, other legal process, or agreement, and such addi-
tional information and documentation as the Executive
Director may require.
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—For the purpose of this sec-
tion—
‘‘(1) the term ‘judgment rendered for phys-
ically, sexually, or emotionally abusing a child’
means any legal claim perfected through a final en-
forceable judgment, which claim is based in whole or
in part upon the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
of a child, whether or not that abuse is accompanied
by other actionable wrongdoing, such as sexual ex-
ploitation or gross negligence; and
‘‘(2) the term ‘child’ means an individual under
18 years of age.
‘‘WITHHOLDING OF STATE INCOME TAXES
‘‘SEC. 264. (a) WITHHOLDING AGREEMENTS.—The
Executive Director shall, in accordance with this section,
enter into an agreement with any State within 120 days
of a request for agreement from the proper State official.
The agreement shall provide that the Executive Director
shall withhold State income tax in the case of the monthly
annuity of any annuitant who voluntarily requests, in writ-
ing, such withholding. The amounts withheld during any
calendar quarter shall be held in the Trust Fund and dis-
bursed to the States during the month following that cal-
endar quarter.
‘‘(b) NO MULTIPLE REQUESTS.—An annuitant may
have in effect at any time only one request for withholding
under this section, and an annuitant may not have more
than two such requests in effect during any one calendar
year.
‘‘(c) CHANGES AND REVOCATIONS.—Subject to sub-
section (b), an annuitant may change the State designated
by that annuitant for purposes of having withholdings
made, and may request that the withholdings be remitted
in accordance with such change. An annuitant also may
revoke any request of that annuitant for withholding. Any
change in the State designated or revocation is effective
on the first day of the month after the month in which
the request or the revocation is processed by the Executive
Director, but in no event later than on the first day of
the second month beginning after the day on which such
request or revocation is received by the Executive Direc-
tor.
‘‘(d) RESERVATIONS TO THE UNITED STATES; RE-
PAYMENTS OF ERRONEOUS WITHHOLDINGS.—This sec-
tion does not give the consent of the United States to the
application of a statute which imposes more burdensome
requirements on the United States than on employers gen-
erally, or which subjects the United States or any annu-
itant to a penalty or liability because of this section. The
Executive Director may not accept pay from a State for
services performed in withholding State income taxes from
annuities. Any amount erroneously withheld from an an-
nuity and paid to a State by the Executive Director shall
be repaid by the State in accordance with regulations is-
sued by the Executive Director.
‘‘(e) DEFINITION.—For the purpose of this section,
the term ‘annuitant’ includes a survivor who is receiving
an annuity from the Trust Fund.
‘‘TAX TREATMENT OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY
INVESTMENT TRUST FUND
‘‘SEC. 265. The Trust Fund shall be exempt from
taxation under subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
‘‘ADMINISTRATION
‘‘SEC. 266. (a) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Federal Retirement
Thrift Investment Board established by section
8472(a) of title 5, United States Code, shall also
serve as the Board of Trustees of the Social Security
Investment Trust Fund.
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—It shall be the duty of the
Board to—
‘‘(A) hold the Trust Fund;
‘‘(B) report to the Congress not later than
the first day of April of each year on the oper-
ation and status of the Trust Fund during the
preceding fiscal year and on its expected oper-
ation and status during the next ensuing 5 fis-
cal years;
‘‘(C) develop investment policies which pro-
vide for—
‘‘(i) prudent investments suitable for
accumulating funds for payment of retire-
ment income, and
‘‘(ii) low administrative costs;
‘‘(D) recommend improvements in adminis-
trative procedures and policies designed to ef-
fectuate the proper coordination of the program
established under this part with the old-age,
survivors, and disability insurance program es-
tablished under part A; and
‘‘(E) review the general policies followed in
managing the Trust Fund and recommend
changes in such policies, including necessary
changes in the provisions of the law which gov-
ern the way in which the Trust Funds are to
be managed and invested.
‘‘(b) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Executive Director ap-
pointed under section 8474(a) of title 5, United
States Code, shall also serve as Executive Director
under this part.
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The Executive Director shall—
‘‘(A) carry out the policies established by
the Board under this part;
‘‘(B) invest and manage the Trust Fund in
accordance with the investment policies and
other policies established by the Board under
this part;
‘‘(C) purchase annuity contracts and pro-
vide for the payment of other benefits under
this part;
‘‘(D) administer the provisions of this part;
and
‘‘(E) prescribe such regulations (other
than regulations relating to fiduciary respon-
sibilities) as may be necessary for the adminis-
tration of this part.
‘‘(3) AUTHORIZED FUNCTIONS.—The Executive
Director may—
‘‘(A) prescribe such regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the
Executive Director under this part, other than
regulations relating to fiduciary responsibilities;
‘‘(B) appoint such personnel as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this
part;
‘‘(C) subject to approval by the Board,
procure the services of experts and consultants
under section 3109 of title 5, United States
Code;
‘‘(D) secure directly from other agencies
and instrumentalities of the Federal Govern-
ment any information necessary to carry out
the provisions of this part and policies of the
Board under this part;
‘‘(E) make such payments out of sums in
the Trust Fund as the Executive Director de-
termines are necessary to carry out the provi-
sions of this part and the policies of the Board
under this part;
‘‘(F) pay the compensation, per diem, and
travel expenses of individuals appointed under
subparagraphs (B), (C), and (G) from the
Trust Fund;
‘‘(G) accept and use the services of individ-
uals employed intermittently in the Government
service and reimburse such individuals for trav-
el expenses, as authorized by section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code, including per diem
as authorized by section 5702 of such title;
‘‘(H) except as otherwise expressly prohib-
ited by law or the policies of the Board, dele-
gate any of the Executive Director’s functions
to such employees under the Board as the Ex-
ecutive Director may designate and authorize
such successive redelegations of such functions
to such employees under the Board as the Ex-
ecutive Director may consider to be necessary
or appropriate; and
‘‘(I) take such other actions as are appro-
priate to carry out the functions of the Execu-
tive Director.
‘‘(c) SOURCE OF COMPENSATION.—Notwithstanding
paragraph (3) of section 8476(d) of title 5, United States
Code, basic pay paid for any fiscal year as compensation
to each member of the Board (and each officer and em-
ployee of the Board) shall be paid from the Trust Fund
(in lieu of the Thrift Savings Fund) in an amount which
bears the same ratio to the total amount of basic pay paid
to such member (or officer or employee) for such fiscal
year as the balance in the Trust Fund as of the beginning
of such fiscal year bears to the total amount of such bal-
ance and the balance in the Thrift Savings Fund as of
the beginning of such fiscal year.
‘‘FINANCING OF GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS
‘‘SEC. 267. (a) AVAILABILITY OF RECEIPTS FROM
ASSET SALES.—
‘‘(1) DEPOSIT
OF
FEDERAL
SHARE
OF
RE-
CEIPTS.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Federal share of receipts received by the United
States pursuant to a payment law that, but for this
subsection, would be covered into miscellaneous re-
ceipts in the Treasury without restrictions, shall be
available for each fiscal year solely for purposes of
making initial contributions to investment accounts
pursuant to section 252(b).
‘‘(2) REVERSION OF EXCESS RECEIPTS.—Any
amounts made available for any fiscal year for the
purposes described in paragraph (2) which remain
available as of the end of such fiscal year shall re-
vert to the general fund of the Treasury as mis-
cellaneous receipts.
‘‘(3) PAYMENT LAW DEFINED.—For the pur-
poses of paragraph (1), the term ‘payment law’ has
the meaning given such term by section 6903(1) of
title 31, United States Code.
‘‘(b) CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION
OF PRESI-
DENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL ASSET
SALES.—
‘‘(1) PRESIDENTIAL
FINDINGS.—As soon as
practicable after the date of the enactment of the
Retirement Security Act of 1996, the President shall
make findings regarding the extent to which addi-
tional funds are or will be required to make initial
contributions to the Social Security Investment
Trust Fund pursuant to section 252(b) and shall
recommend what additional sales of Federal assets
should be undertaken to obtain such additional
funds.
‘‘(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The President shall
make specific recommendations to the Congress
regarding the President’s findings under para-
graph (1) not later than January 1, 1997, and
from time to time thereafter as the President
deems appropriate. The President shall include
with such recommendations legislative language
necessary for carrying out such recommenda-
tions. The President shall actively consult with
the appropriate Committees of each House of
the Congress, the Comptroller General of the
United States, and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget in compiling such leg-
islative language. The President shall promptly
provide, upon request, to any Member of Con-
gress a description of any information used by
the President in making such recommendations.
‘‘(B) ACCOMPANYING REPORT BY CBO.—
The Comptroller General of the United States
shall provide appropriate assistance to the
President in the preparation of the President’s
report and shall transmit to each House of the
Congress at the time of the President’s trans-
mittal a report containing a detailed analysis of
the President’s recommendations.
‘‘(3) INTRODUCTION OF RECOMMENDATIONS.—
The legislative language transmitted pursuant to
paragraph (2) with the recommendations of the
President shall be in the form of a joint resolution.
Such joint resolution may be introduced in either
House of the Congress by any member thereof.
‘‘(4) TERMS OF THE RESOLUTION.—For pur-
poses of this subsection, the term ‘joint resolution’
means a joint resolution that—
‘‘(A) does not have a preamble;
‘‘(B) sets forth after the resolving clause
only the legislative language contained in the
report from the President; and
‘‘(C) is entitled a ‘Joint resolution approv-
ing the recommendations of the President re-
garding additional Federal asset sales for pur-
poses of part B of title II of the Social Security
Act.’.
‘‘(5) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE.—
‘‘(A) REFERRAL.—A joint resolution that
is introduced in the House of Representatives
shall be referred to the Committee on Resources
of the House of Representatives. A joint resolu-
tion that is introduced in the Senate shall be
referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works of the Senate.
‘‘(B) DISCHARGE.—If the committee to
which a joint resolution is referred has not re-
ported the resolution (or an identical resolution)
by the end of the 90-day period beginning on
the date on which the President transmits the
report to the Congress, such committee shall, at
the end of that period, be discharged from fur-
ther consideration of the resolution, and the
resolution shall be placed on the appropriate
calendar of the House of Representatives or the
Senate, as the case may be.
‘‘(C) CONSIDERATION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—On or after the
first day after the date on which the com-
mittee to which a joint resolution is re-
ferred has reported, or has been discharged
(under subparagraph (B)) from further
consideration of, such a resolution, it is in
order (even though a previous motion to
the same effect has been disagreed to) for
any member of the House of Representa-
tives or the Senate, respectively, to move to
proceed to the consideration of the resolu-
tion (but only on the date after the cal-
endar day on which the member announces
to the House concerned the member’s in-
tention to do so).
‘‘(ii) POINTS OF ORDER WAIVED.—All
points of order against a joint resolution
(and against consideration of the resolu-
tion) are waived.
‘‘(iii) MOTION TO PROCEED.—A mo-
tion to proceed to the consideration of a
joint resolution is highly privileged in the
House of Representatives and is privileged
in the Senate and is not debatable. The
motion is not subject to amendment, to a
motion to postpone consideration of the
resolution, or to a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business. A motion
to reconsider the vote by which the motion
to proceed is agreed to or not agreed to
shall not be in order. If the motion to pro-
ceed is agreed to, the House of Represent-
atives or the Senate, as the case may be,
shall immediately proceed to consideration
of the joint resolution without intervening
motion, order, or other business, and the
resolution shall remain the unfinished busi-
ness of the House of Representatives or
the Senate, as the case may be, until dis-
posed of.
‘‘(iv) LIMITED DEBATE.—Debate on a
joint resolution and on all debatable mo-
tions and appeals in connection therewith
shall be limited to not more than 5 hours,
which shall be divided equally between
those favoring and those opposing the reso-
lution. A motion further to limit debate on
a joint resolution is in order and not de-
batable.
‘‘(v) AMENDMENTS NOT IN ORDER.—
An amendment to a joint resolution is not
in order.
‘‘(vi) 
OTHER
MOTIONS
NOT
IN
ORDER.—A motion to postpone consider-
ation of a joint resolution, a motion to pro-
ceed to the consideration of other business,
or a motion to recommit the resolution is
not in order. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which a joint resolution is agreed
to or not agreed to is not in order.
‘‘(vii) VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE.—Im-
mediately following the conclusion of the
debate on a joint resolution and a single
quorum call at the conclusion of the debate
if requested in accordance with the rules of
the House of Representatives or the Sen-
ate, as the case may be, the vote on final
passage of the resolution shall occur.
‘‘(viii) APPEALS.—Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the appli-
cation of the rules of the House of Rep-
resentatives or of the Senate, as the case
may be, to the procedure relating to a joint
resolution shall be decided without debate.
‘‘(D) 
CONSIDERATION
BY
OTHER
HOUSE.—If, before the passage by one House
of a joint resolution that was introduced in such
House, such House receives from the other
House a joint resolution as passed by such
other House—
‘‘(i) the resolution of the other House
shall not be referred to a committee and
may not be considered in the House that
receives it otherwise than on final passage
under subparagraph (C);
‘‘(ii) the procedure in the House in re-
ceipt of the resolution of the other House,
with respect to the joint resolution that
was introduced in the House in receipt of
the resolution of the other House, shall be
the same as if no resolution had been re-
ceived from the other House; and
‘‘(iii) notwithstanding clause (ii), the
vote on final passage shall be on the reso-
lution of the other House.
Upon disposition of a joint resolution that is re-
ceived by one House from the other House, it
shall no longer be in order to consider the joint
resolution that was introduced in the receiving
House.
‘‘(E) DATE CERTAIN.—If the Senate and
the House of Representatives have not acted
upon the joint resolution by the 120-day period
beginning on the date on which the President
transmits the report to the Congress, then on
that day or the next day of session thereafter
the joint resolution shall be called up by the
Presiding Officer of each House upon convening
and a roll call vote shall be conducted on pas-
sage. If the joint resolution passes one House
a vote on final passage shall be immediately
conducted in the other House.
‘‘(F) RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.—This subsection is en-
acted by Congress—
‘‘(i) as an exercise of the rulemaking
power of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives, respectively, and is deemed to
be part of the rules of each House, respec-
tively, but applicable only with respect to
the procedure to be followed in that House
in the case of a joint resolution, and it su-
persedes other rules only to the extent that
it is inconsistent with such rules; and
‘‘(ii) with full recognition of the con-
stitutional right of either House to change
the rules (so far as they relate to the pro-
cedure of that House) at any time, in the
same manner, and to the same extent as in
the case of any other rule of that House.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 201(h) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 401(h)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘All other’’ in the second sen-
tence and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in section
255, all other’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new sen-
tence: ‘‘Any reference in this part to benefits under
this title shall be deemed a reference to benefits en-
titlement to which arises under this part.’’.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply with respect to payments of old-
age insurance benefits for months after December 1997.
SEC. 3. TAX TREATMENT OF AMOUNTS CONTRIBUTED TO,
AND DISTRIBUTIONS FROM, PERSONAL SO-
CIAL SECURITY INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Part VII of subchapter B of chap-
ter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to
additional itemized deductions for individuals) is amended
by redesignating section 221 as section 222 and by insert-
ing after section 220 the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 221. PERSONAL SOCIAL SECURITY INVESTMENT AC-
COUNTS.
‘‘(a) ALLOWANCE OF DEDUCTION.—In the case of an
individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the
taxable year an amount equal to the amount contributed
in cash for such taxable year to the personal social security
investment account of any eligible individual.
‘‘(b) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF DEDUCTION.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The amount allowable as a
deduction under subsection (a) for any taxable year
for contributions to the personal social security in-
vestment account of an eligible individual shall not
exceed $2,000.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE.—If the account holder of
any personal social security investment account
makes a contribution to such account for any tax-
able year, no other taxpayer shall be allowed a de-
duction for any amount contributed to such account
for such taxable year.
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section—
‘‘(1) PERSONAL SOCIAL SECURITY INVESTMENT
ACCOUNT.—The term ‘personal social security in-
vestment account’ means an account established
under section 251 of the Social Security Act.
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL.—The term ‘eligible
individual’ means, with respect to the taxpayer—
‘‘(A) the taxpayer,
‘‘(B) the taxpayer’s spouse, and
‘‘(C) any individual with respect to whom
a deduction under section 151(c) is allowed to
the taxpayer.
Subparagraph (B) shall not apply unless the taxpayer files
a joint return for the taxable year.
‘‘(d) TAX TREATMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro-
vided in this subsection, any amount paid or distrib-
uted out of a personal social security investment ac-
count shall be included in gross income by the payee
or distributee, as the case may be, in the manner
provided under section 72.
‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULES FOR APPLYING SECTION
72.—For purposes of applying section 72 to any
amount described in paragraph (1)—
‘‘(A) all personal social security investment
accounts of the same individual shall be treated
as 1 contract,
‘‘(B) all distributions during any taxable
year shall be treated as 1 distribution, and
‘‘(C) the value of the contract, income on
the contract, and investment in the contract
shall be computed as of the close of the cal-
endar year in which the taxable year begins.
For purposes of subparagraph (C), the value of the
contract shall be increased by the amount of any dis-
tributions during the calendar year.
‘‘(3) TREATMENT
OF
DISTRIBUTIONS
OF
SO-
CIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding para-
graph (1), the amount of any benefit distribu-
tion described in section 255(b) of the Social
Security Act shall be included in gross income
to the extent provided in section 86.
‘‘(B) ALLOCATION OF INVESTMENT IN THE
CONTRACT.—For purposes of section 72, the
portion of the account which the Executive Di-
rector (as defined in section 251 of the Social
Security Act) determines is necessary to fund
the benefit distributions referred to in subpara-
graph (A) for the taxable year and all succeed-
ing taxable years shall be treated as a separate
contract with respect to which no premium or
other consideration was paid.
‘‘(4) CROSS REFERENCE.—
‘‘For excise tax on certain distributions, see sec-
tion 72(t).
‘‘(e) SPECIAL RULES.—
‘‘(1) TIME
WHEN
CONTRIBUTIONS
DEEMED
MADE.—For purposes of this section, a taxpayer
shall be deemed to have made a contribution to a
personal social security investment account on the
last day of the preceding taxable year if the con-
tribution is made on account of such taxable year
and is made not later than the time prescribed by
law for filing the return for such taxable year (not
including extensions thereof).
‘‘(2) BENEFICIARY
MUST
BE
UNDER
AGE
701⁄2.—No deduction shall be allowed under this sec-
tion with respect to any contribution to personal so-
cial security investment account if the account hold-
er has attained age 701⁄2 before the close of such
holder’s taxable year for which the contribution was
made.’’
(b) DEDUCTION ALLOWED WHETHER OR NOT TAX-
PAYER ITEMIZES OTHER DEDUCTIONS.—Subsection (a)
of section 62 of such Code is amended by inserting after
paragraph (15) the following new paragraph:
‘‘(16) PERSONAL
SOCIAL
SECURITY
INVEST-
MENT
ACCOUNT
CONTRIBUTIONS.—The deduction
allowed by section 221.’’.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO MEET MINIMUM
DISTRIBUTION
REQUIREMENT.—Subsection (c) of
section 4974 of such Code is amended by striking
‘‘or’’ at the end of paragraph (4), by striking the pe-
riod at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ‘‘,
or’’, and by inserting after paragraph (5) the follow-
ing new paragraph:
‘‘(6) any personal social security investment ac-
count (as defined in section 221(c)).’’.
(2) TAX
ON
EXCESS
DISTRIBUTIONS
FROM
QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS TO APPLY.—
(A) 
Subparagraph 
(A) 
of 
section
4980A(d)(3) of such Code is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘and individual retirement plans’’ and in-
serting ‘‘, individual retirement plans, and per-
sonal social security investment accounts (as
defined in section 221(c))’’.
(B) Paragraph (1) of section 4980A(e) of
such Code is amended by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period
at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘,
and’’, and by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
‘‘(C) any personal social security invest-
ment account (as defined in section 221(c)).’’.
(3) TREATMENT LIKE INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT
PLAN UNDER EXCISE TAX ON CERTAIN PREMATURE
DISTRIBUTIONS.—Subparagraph (A) of section 72(t)
of such Code is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘or from a personal social secu-
rity investment account (as defined in section
221(c))’’ before the period at the end, and
(2) by inserting ‘‘OR FROM PERSONAL SOCIAL
SECURITY INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS’’ after ‘‘PLANS’’
in the subparagraph heading.
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of such Code
is amended by striking the last item and inserting the fol-
lowing new items:
‘‘Sec. 221. Personal social security investment accounts.
‘‘Sec. 222. Cross reference.’’.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after
December 31, 1997.
Æ