I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8044 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the Commissioner 
of Social Security to use the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Con-
sumers for purposes of determining cost-of-living adjustments under titles 
II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 17, 2024 
Mr. GALLEGO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Edu-
cation and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require 
the Commissioner of Social Security to use the Consumer 
Price Index for Elderly Consumers for purposes of deter-
mining cost-of-living adjustments under titles II, VIII, 
and XVI of the Social Security Act, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Boosting Benefits and 
COLAs for Seniors Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. MORE ACCURATE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 215(i)(1)(D) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(1)(D)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘Consumer Price Index’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘such index’’ and inserting 
‘‘Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners 
and Clerical Workers (CPI–W, as published by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of 
Labor) or Consumer Price Index for Elderly Con-
sumers (CPI–E, as published by such Bureau) 
(whichever such index results in the higher percent-
age under this subparagraph) exceeds the same such 
index’’. 
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
215(i)(1)(G) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
415(i)(1)(G)) is amended by inserting ‘‘applicable 
for purposes of subparagraph (D)’’ after ‘‘Consumer 
Price Index’’. 
(b) APPLICATION TO PRE-1979 LAW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 215(i) of the Social 
Security Act as in effect in December 1978, and as 
applied in certain cases under the provisions of such 
Act as in effect after December 1978, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘Con-
sumer Price Index’’ and all that follows through 
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‘‘such Index’’ and inserting ‘‘Consumer Price 
Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical 
Workers (CPI–W, as published by the Bureau 
of Labor Statistics of the Department of 
Labor) or Consumer Price Index for Elderly 
Consumers (CPI–E, as published by such Bu-
reau of such Department) (whichever such 
index results in the higher per centum under 
this subparagraph) exceeds, by not less than 3 
per centum, the same such Index’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by strik-
ing ‘‘Consumer Price Index for such cost- 
of-living computation quarter’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Consumer Price Index applicable for 
such year under paragraph (1)(B)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(i), by strik-
ing ‘‘Consumer Price Index as published 
for any month exceeds by 2.5 percent or 
more the level of such index’’ and inserting 
‘‘Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage 
Earners and Clerical Workers or Consumer 
Price Index for Elderly Consumers as pub-
lished for any month exceeds by 2.5 per-
cent or more the level of such index’’. 
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of the Department of Labor shall prepare and publish an 
index for each calendar month to be known as the ‘‘Con-
sumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers’’ that indicates 
changes over time in expenditures for consumption which 
are typical for individuals in the United States who have 
attained age 62. 
(e) TRANSITION RULE.—Prior to the publication of 
the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers (CPI– 
E) pursuant to subsection (d), the reference to such index 
made in each of the amendments made by subsections (a) 
and (b) shall be deemed to be a reference to the research 
price index prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
of the Department of Labor known as the Consumer Price 
Index for Americans 62 years of age and older (R–CPI– 
E). 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to determinations made with re-
spect to cost-of-living computation quarters (as defined in 
section 215(i)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
415(i)(1)(B))) ending on or after September 30, 2024. 
Æ 
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