Archives of Social Security Legislation of the 108th Congress

Summaries of Legislation of the 108th Congress With Provisions Affecting Social Security:

• P.L. 108-458, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (S. 2845) was signed into law on December 17, 2004. The law provides for reform of the intelligence community, terrorism prevention and prosecution, border security, and international cooperation and coordination.
       Previous actions 11/01/2004; 10/27/04; 09/16/04

• On July 21, 2004, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved H.R. 2971, the Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2004, as amended, by a recorded vote of 33-0. The bill would amend the Social Security Act to enhance Social Security account number privacy protections, to prevent fraudulent misuse of the Social Security account number, and to otherwise enhance protection against identity theft, and for other purposes.

• P.L. 108-275, Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act (H.R. 1731) was signed into law on July 15, 2004. The law provides enhanced penalties for persons who steal identities to commit terrorist acts, immigration violations, firearms offenses, and other serious crimes. The bill also amends current law to impose a higher maximum penalty for identity theft used to facilitate acts of terrorism.
       Previous actions 06/29/04; 06/08/04; 03/26/03

• On June 23, 2004, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 2934, the Terrorist Penalties Enhancement Act of 2003, by voice vote. No further action was taken on this bill in the 108th Congress. The bill would have increased "criminal penalties relating to terrorist murders, deny Federal benefits to terrorists", etc.

• P.L. 108-203, the Social Security Protection Act of 2004,(H.R. 743) was signed into law on March 2, 2004. The law amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide additional safeguards for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries with representative payees, to enhance program protections, etc.
       Previous actions 02/11/04; 12/15/03; 11/14/03; 09/22/03; 04/07/03; 03/17/03

• P.L. 108-173, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (H.R. 1), was signed into law on December 8, 2003. The law amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary prescription drug benefit under the medicare program, etc.
       Previous action 11/26/03

• P.L. 108-156, the Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act of 2003 (S. 1685) was signed into law on December 3, 2003.The law extends and expands the basic pilot program for employment eligibility verification.
       Previous action 11/24/03

• P.L.108-27, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, (H.R.2) was signed into law on May 28, 2003. The law, also known as the "Tax Cut" bill, provides for reconciliation pursuant to section 201 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2004.
       Previous action 05/14/03

• On April 9, 2003, by a vote of 95 to 5, the Senate passed S. 476, the CARE Act of 2003. No further action was taken on this bill in the 108th Congress. This bill would have provided "incentives for charitable contributions by individuals and businesses", etc.

• On April 2, 2003, the Committee on Ways and Means approved and cleared for floor action, H.R. 810, the Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2003. On April 29, 2003, the bill was placed on the Union Calendar and no further action was taken on this bill in the 108th Congress. The bill would have amended title XVIII of the Social Security Act "to provide regulatory relief and contracting flexibility under the Medicare Program".
       Previous action 03/31/03

• On February 13, 2003, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2003, by a vote of 230 to 192. The legislation reauthorizes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and makes a number of revisions in existing child care and child welfare demonstration programs and child support enforcement. H.R. 4 is virtually identical to H.R. 4737, the "Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2002," which passed the House on May 16, 2002. Cloture Motion was considered by the Senate and not invoked on May 1, 2003; there was no further action on the legislation in the 108th Congress.