I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5952 
To improve the retirement security of American families by strengthening 
Social Security. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2016 
Ms. LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of California (for herself, Mr. HONDA, Mr. SMITH 
of Washington, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ELLISON, 
Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. LYNCH, 
Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. POCAN, Mr. TED 
LIEU of California, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. JEFFRIES, Mr. HASTINGS, 
Mrs. LAWRENCE, Ms. LEE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. KAPTUR, Mrs. WAT-
SON COLEMAN, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. KEATING, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. 
TAKANO, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. MCNER-
NEY, Ms. MAXINE WATERS of California, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. LARSON of 
Connecticut, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. JOHNSON 
of Georgia, Ms. BASS, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. 
SERRANO, Mr. YARMUTH, and Mr. PAYNE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To improve the retirement security of American families by 
strengthening Social Security. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Social 
Security Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF TAXABLE WAGES AND SELF- 
EMPLOYMENT INCOME ABOVE CONTRIBU-
TION AND BENEFIT BASE AFTER 2016. 
(a) DETERMINATION OF TAXABLE WAGES ABOVE 
CONTRIBUTION AND BENEFIT BASE AFTER 2016.— 
(1) AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE 
CODE OF 1986.—Section 3121 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ‘‘the 
applicable percentage (determined under sub-
section (c)(1)) of’’ before ‘‘that part of the re-
muneration’’; and 
(B) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘(c) IN-
CLUDED AND EXCLUDED SERVICE.—For pur-
poses of this chapter, if’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULES
FOR WAGES
AND EMPLOY-
MENT.— 
‘‘(1) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE OF REMUNERA-
TION IN DETERMINING TAXABLE WAGES.—For pur-
poses of subsection (a)(1), the applicable percentage 
for a calendar year shall be equal to— 
‘‘(A) for 2017, 80 percent; 
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‘‘(B) for 2018 through 2020, the applica-
ble percentage under this paragraph for the 
previous year, decreased by 20 percentage 
points; and 
‘‘(C) for 2021 and each year thereafter, 0 
percent. 
‘‘(2) INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED SERVICE.—For 
purposes of this chapter, if’’. 
(2) AMENDMENTS
TO
THE
SOCIAL
SECURITY 
ACT.—Section 209 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 409) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)(1)(I)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘and before 2017’’ 
after ‘‘1974’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon; 
(B) in subsection (a)(1), by adding at the 
end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(J) The applicable percentage (deter-
mined under subsection (l)) of that part of re-
muneration which, after remuneration (other 
than remuneration referred to in the succeeding 
subsections of this section) equal to the con-
tribution and benefit base (determined under 
section 230) with respect to employment has 
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been paid to an individual during any calendar 
year after 2016 with respect to which such con-
tribution and benefit base is effective, is paid to 
such individual during such calendar year;’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(l) For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(J), the applica-
ble percentage for a calendar year shall be equal to— 
‘‘(1) for 2017, 80 percent; 
‘‘(2) for 2018 through 2020, the applicable per-
centage under this subsection for the previous year, 
decreased by 20 percentage points; and 
‘‘(3) for 2021 and each year thereafter, 0 per-
cent.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to remu-
neration paid in calendar years after 2016. 
(b) DETERMINATION OF TAXABLE SELF-EMPLOY-
MENT INCOME ABOVE CONTRIBUTION
AND BENEFIT 
BASE AFTER 2016.— 
(1) AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE 
CODE OF 1986.—Section 1402 of the Internal Rev-
enue Code of 1986 is amended— 
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(A) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘that 
part of the net earnings’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘minus’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘an amount equal to the applicable percentage 
(as determined under subsection (d)(2)) of that 
part of the net earnings from self-employment 
which is in excess of the difference (not to be 
less than zero) between (i) an amount equal to 
the contribution and benefit base (as deter-
mined under section 230 of the Social Security 
Act) which is effective for the calendar year in 
which such taxable year begins, and’’; and 
(B) in subsection (d)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘(d) EMPLOYEE AND 
WAGES.—The term’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(d) RULES AND DEFINITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) EMPLOYEE AND WAGES.—The term’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE OF NET EARN-
INGS
FROM
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
IN
DETERMINING 
TAXABLE
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
INCOME.—For pur-
poses of subsection (b)(1), the applicable percentage 
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for a taxable year beginning in any calendar year re-
ferred to in such paragraph shall be equal to— 
‘‘(A) for 2017, 80 percent; 
‘‘(B) for 2018 through 2020, the applica-
ble percentage under this paragraph for the 
previous year, decreased by 20 percentage 
points; and 
‘‘(C) for 2021 and each year thereafter, 0 
percent.’’. 
(2) AMENDMENTS
TO
THE
SOCIAL
SECURITY 
ACT.—Section 211 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 411) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (b)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)(I)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the 
semicolon; and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘and before 
2017’’ after ‘‘1974’’; 
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (2) as 
paragraph (3); and 
(iii) by inserting after paragraph (1) 
the following: 
‘‘(2) For any taxable year beginning in any cal-
endar year after 2016, an amount equal to the appli-
cable percentage (as determined under subsection 
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(l)) of that part of net earnings from self-employ-
ment which is in excess of the difference (not to be 
less than zero) between— 
‘‘(A) an amount equal to the contribution 
and benefit base (as determined under section 
230) that is effective for such calendar year, 
and 
‘‘(B) the amount of the wages paid to such 
individual during such taxable year; or’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) For purposes of subsection (b)(2), the applicable 
percentage for a taxable year beginning in any calendar 
year referred to in such paragraph shall be equal to— 
‘‘(1) for 2017, 80 percent; 
‘‘(2) for 2018 through 2020, the applicable per-
centage under this subsection for the previous year, 
decreased by 20 percentage points; and 
‘‘(3) for 2021 and each year thereafter, 0 per-
cent.’’. 
(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 
by this subsection shall apply with respect to taxable 
years beginning during or after calendar year 2017. 
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SEC. 3. ADJUSTMENTS TO BEND POINTS IN DETERMINING 
PRIMARY INSURANCE AMOUNT AND INCLU-
SION OF SURPLUS EARNINGS FOR BENEFIT 
DETERMINATIONS. 
(a) INCREASE IN FIRST BEND POINT FACTOR.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 215(a)(1)(A)(i) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(A)(i)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘90 percent’’ and inserting 
‘‘95 percent’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE; APPLICATION
RULE.— 
The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply 
with respect to computations or recomputations of 
primary insurance amounts made on or after Janu-
ary 1, 2021, except that section 215(a)(1)(A)(i) of 
the Social Security Act shall be applied by making 
the following substitutions for ‘‘95 percent’’ for com-
putations and recomputations made in the following 
calendar years: 
(A) For calendar year 2021, by sub-
stituting ‘‘91 percent’’. 
(B) For calendar year 2022, by sub-
stituting ‘‘92 percent’’. 
(C) For calendar year 2023, by sub-
stituting ‘‘93 percent’’. 
(D) For calendar year 2024, by sub-
stituting ‘‘94 percent’’. 
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(b) INCLUSION
OF SURPLUS AVERAGE INDEXED 
MONTHLY EARNINGS IN DETERMINATION OF PRIMARY 
INSURANCE AMOUNTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 215(a)(1)(A) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(A)) is 
amended— 
(A) in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), by insert-
ing ‘‘basic’’ before ‘‘average indexed monthly 
earnings’’ each place it appears; 
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(C) in clause (iii), by adding ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; and 
(D) by inserting after clause (iii) the fol-
lowing new clause: 
‘‘(iv) 5 percent of the individual’s surplus aver-
age indexed monthly earnings,’’. 
(2) 
BEND
POINT
ADJUSTMENT.—Section 
215(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(1)(B)) 
is amended— 
(A) by redesignating clause (iii) as clause 
(iv); and 
(B) by inserting after clause (ii) the fol-
lowing new clause: 
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(2) SURPLUS AIME.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 215(b)(1) of 
such Act (as amended by paragraph (1)) is 
amended— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respec-
tively; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(b)(1)’’; 
and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B)(i) An individual’s surplus average indexed 
monthly earnings shall be equal to the quotient obtained 
by dividing— 
‘‘(I) the total (after adjustment under para-
graph (3)(B)) of such individual’s surplus earnings 
(determined under clause (ii)) for such individual’s 
benefit computation years (determined under para-
graph (2)), by 
‘‘(II) the number of months in those years. 
‘‘(ii) For purposes of clause (i) and paragraph (3)(B), 
an individual’s surplus earnings for a benefit computation 
year are the total of such individual’s wages paid in and 
self-employment income credited to such benefit computa-
tion year, to the extent such total (before adjustment 
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under paragraph (3)(B)) exceeds the contribution and 
benefit base for such year.’’. 
(B) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—The 
heading for section 215(b) of such Act is 
amended by striking ‘‘Average Indexed Monthly 
Earnings’’ and inserting ‘‘Basic Average In-
dexed Monthly Earnings; Surplus Average In-
dexed Monthly Earnings’’. 
(3) ADJUSTMENT OF SURPLUS EARNINGS FOR 
PURPOSES OF DETERMINING SURPLUS AIME.—Sec-
tion 215(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(b)(3)) is 
amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘sub-
paragraph (B)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph 
(C)’’ and by inserting ‘‘and determination of 
basic average indexed monthly income’’ after 
‘‘paragraph (2)’’; 
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
subparagraph (C); and 
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) For purposes of determining under paragraph 
(1)(B) an individual’s surplus average indexed monthly 
earnings, the individual’s surplus earnings (described in 
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paragraph (2)(B)(ii)) for a benefit computation year shall 
be deemed to be equal to the product of— 
‘‘(i) the individual’s surplus earnings for such 
year (as determined without regard to this subpara-
graph), and 
‘‘(ii) the quotient described in subparagraph 
(A)(ii).’’. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsections (b) and (c) shall apply with respect to individ-
uals who initially become eligible (within the meaning of 
section 215(a)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act) for old- 
age or disability insurance benefits under title II of the 
Social Security Act, or who die (before becoming eligible 
for such benefits), in any calendar year after 2021. 
SEC. 4. CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ELDERLY CON-
SUMERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau of Labor Statistics 
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 early retirement age (as defined under section 
216(l)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 416(l)(2)) 
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for purposes of an old-age, wife’s, or husband’s insurance 
benefit). 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Subsection (a) shall apply 
with respect to calendar months ending on or after June 
30 of the calendar year in which this Act is enacted. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out the provisions of this section. 
SEC. 5. COMPUTATION OF COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES FOR 
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 215(i) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)(G), by inserting before the 
period the following: ‘‘, and, with respect to any 
monthly insurance benefit payable under this title, 
effective for adjustments under this subsection to 
the primary insurance amount on which such benefit 
is based (or to any such benefit under section 227 
or 228), the applicable Consumer Price Index shall 
be deemed to be the Consumer Price Index for El-
derly Consumers and such primary insurance 
amount shall be deemed adjusted under this sub-
section using such Index’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘and by sec-
tion 9001’’ and inserting ‘‘, by section 9001’’, and 
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by inserting after ‘‘1986,’’ the following: ‘‘and by 
section 5(a) of the Strengthening Social Security Act 
of 2016,’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
IN
APPLICABLE 
FORMER LAW.—Section 215(i)(1)(C) of the Social Secu-
rity Act, as in effect in December 1978 and applied in 
certain cases under the provisions of such Act in effect 
after December 1978, is amended by inserting before the 
period the following: ‘‘, and, with respect to any monthly 
insurance benefit payable under this title, effective for ad-
justments under this subsection to the primary insurance 
amount on which such benefit is based (or to any such 
benefit under section 227 or 228), the applicable Con-
sumer Price Index shall be deemed to be the Consumer 
Price Index for Elderly Consumers and such primary in-
surance amount shall be deemed adjusted under this sub-
section using such Index’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to determinations made by the 
Commissioner of Social Security under section 215(i)(2) 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)) with re-
spect to cost-of-living computation quarters ending on or 
after September 30, 2016. 
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SEC. 6. IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR WID-
OWS AND WIDOWERS IN TWO-INCOME HOUSE-
HOLDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) WIDOWS.—Section 202(e) of the Social Se-
curity Act (42 U.S.C. 402(e)) is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in subparagraph (B), by inserting 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)(iii), by strik-
ing ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(iii) by striking subparagraph (D); 
(iv) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(E) and (F) as subparagraphs (D) and 
(E), respectively; and 
(v) in the flush matter following sub-
paragraph (E)(ii), as so redesignated, by 
striking ‘‘or becomes entitled to an old-age 
insurance benefit’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘such deceased individual,’’; 
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) in para-
graph (2) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subsection 
(k)(5), subsection (q), and subparagraph (D) of this 
paragraph, such widow’s insurance benefit for each 
month shall be equal to the greater of— 
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‘‘(i) subject to paragraph (9), the primary 
insurance amount (as determined for purposes 
of this subsection after application of subpara-
graphs (B) and (C)) of such deceased indi-
vidual; or 
‘‘(ii) subject to paragraphs (9) and (10), in 
the case of a fully insured widow or surviving 
divorced wife, 75 percent of the sum of any old- 
age or disability insurance benefit for which the 
widow or the surviving divorced wife is entitled 
for such month and the primary insurance 
amount (as determined for purposes of this 
subsection after application of subparagraphs 
(B) and (C)) of such deceased individual.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (5)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (1)(F)’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graph (1)(E)’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘paragraph 
(1)(F)(i)’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘paragraph (1)(E)(i)’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(9) For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of 
paragraph (2)(A), in the case of a surviving divorced 
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wife, the amount determined under either such 
clause (and, for purposes of clause (ii) of paragraph 
(2)(A), as determined after application of paragraph 
(10)) shall be equal to the applicable percentage (as 
determined under section 202(b)(2)(B)) of such 
amount (as determined before application of this 
paragraph but after application of subsection 
(k)(3)). 
‘‘(10) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the 
amount determined under such paragraph shall not 
exceed the primary insurance amount for such 
month of a hypothetical individual— 
‘‘(A) who became entitled to old-age insur-
ance benefits upon attaining early retirement 
age during the month in which the deceased in-
dividual referred to in paragraph (1) became 
entitled to old-age or disability insurance bene-
fits, or died (before becoming entitled to such 
benefits); and 
‘‘(B) to whom wages and self-employment 
income were credited in each of such hypo-
thetical individual’s elapsed years (within the 
meaning of section 215(b)(2)(B)(iii)) in an 
amount equal to the national average wage 
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‘‘(9) For purposes of clauses (i) and (ii) of 
paragraph (2)(A), in the case of a surviving divorced 
husband, the amount determined under either such 
clause (and, for purposes of clause (ii) of paragraph 
(2)(A), as determined after application of paragraph 
(10)) shall be equal to the applicable percentage (as 
determined under section 202(c)(2)(B)) of such 
amount (as determined before application of this 
paragraph but after application of subsection 
(k)(3)). 
‘‘(10) For purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(ii), the 
amount determined under such paragraph shall not 
exceed the primary insurance amount for such 
month of a hypothetical individual— 
‘‘(A) who became entitled to old-age insur-
ance benefits upon attaining early retirement 
age during the month in which the deceased in-
dividual referred to in paragraph (1) became 
entitled to old-age or disability insurance bene-
fits, or died (before becoming entitled to such 
benefits); and 
‘‘(B) to whom wages and self-employment 
income were credited in each of such hypo-
thetical individual’s elapsed years (within the 
meaning of section 215(b)(2)(B)(iii)) in an 
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amount equal to the national average wage 
index (as described in section 209(k)(1)) for 
each such year.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to widow’s and wid-
ower’s insurance benefits payable for months after Decem-
ber 2016. 
SEC. 7. HOLDING SSI BENEFICIARIES HARMLESS. 
For purposes of determining the income of an indi-
vidual to establish eligibility for, and the amount of, bene-
fits payable under title XVI of the Social Security Act, 
the amount of any benefit to which the individual is enti-
tled under title II of such Act shall be deemed not to ex-
ceed the amount of the benefit that would be determined 
for such individual under such title as in effect on the day 
before the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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