Securing Medicare and Retirement for Tomorrow Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-107
Sponsor: Rep. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ-6]
Introduced: 2009-01-06 in the House
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Budget deficits and national debt
Employment taxes
Executive agency funding and structure
Financial services and investments
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Income tax exclusion
Medicare
Self-employed
Social security and elderly assistance
Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: 
Securing Medicare and Retirement for Tomorrow Act of 2009 or SMART Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part B (Personal Social Security Savings Program) under which each employer shall establish and maintain for each participating employee a personal Social Security account under a Social Security payroll deduction plan. Provides for the participation by self-employed individuals and the investment of personal Social Security account funds in one qualified Social Security mutual fund designated by the participating individual. 
 
Establishes the Personal Accounts Management and Review Board, and requires it to establish a program for designating qualified Social Security mutual funds.
 
Provides for election of SSA title II part A (Insurance Benefits) in lieu of part B benefits at retirement.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Social Security Escrow Fund and provides for investment of its holdings.
 
Amends SSA title XVIII (Medicare) with respect to personal Social Security accounts.
 
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the failure of Medicare retirees to obtain qualified health insurance coverage.
 
Provides for a reduction in rate of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax on employers if the Fund is ever projected to have excess funds during the ensuing calendar year, and will have no need to borrow funds for the next 10 calendar years.
 
Prohibits collection of the FICA tax with respect to individuals who have attained retirement age.
 
Excludes from an individual's gross income any distributions from a personal Social Security account or any amount received under a qualified Social Security annuity. 
 
Provides for budget reform transfers from the general fund of the Treasury to the Social Security Escrow Fund of any tax revenues in excess of specified target revenue amounts (if any) for the fiscal year.
 
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for dedication of Social Security surpluses to reduction in the public debt.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Rules
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Budget
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, the Budget, Energy and Commerce, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Referred to House Ways and Means
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-06
text: Introduced in House