To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the inclusion in gross income of social security benefits, and for other purposes.

Bill ID: 119/hr/2909
Last Updated: April 15, 2025

Sponsored by

Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

ID: C001119

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

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2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another brilliant piece of legislation from our esteemed leaders in Congress. The "You Earned It, You Keep It Act" - a title that screams "we're trying too hard to be catchy and relatable." Let's dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill aims to repeal the inclusion of social security benefits in gross income, making them tax-free. Oh, how noble. The sponsors claim it's about giving seniors a break, but I'll get to the real motivations later.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:**

1. Repeals Section 86 of the Internal Revenue Code, which currently taxes social security benefits. 2. Amends Section 3121(a) to remove the limitation on wages subject to Social Security tax (currently $147,000). 3. Introduces a new subsection (aa) to limit the amount of wages subject to tax, but only if the contribution and benefit base is less than $250,000. 4. Makes conforming amendments to the Railroad Retirement Act.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:**

1. Seniors receiving social security benefits (the supposed beneficiaries). 2. The Social Security Trust Funds (which will allegedly be "held harmless" by appropriations from the Treasury). 3. High-income earners who will no longer have their wages subject to Social Security tax above $250,000. 4. Lobbyists and special interest groups who likely had a hand in crafting this bill.

**Potential Impact & Implications:**

1. **Revenue loss:** The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that repealing the taxation of social security benefits will cost around $150 billion over 10 years. Someone's gotta make up for that lost revenue... probably through increased taxes on someone else. 2. **Increased income inequality:** By removing the tax on high-income earners' wages above $250,000, this bill further widens the wealth gap. Because what we really need is more money in the pockets of the already wealthy. 3. **Social Security Trust Fund implications:** The "held harmless" provision might sound reassuring, but it's just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. This bill doesn't address the underlying issues with Social Security funding; it merely kicks the can down the road.

Now, let's get to the real motivations behind this bill:

* **Election-year pandering:** The sponsors want to appear sympathetic to seniors and working-class Americans while actually serving their wealthy donors. * **Special interest group appeasement:** Lobbyists for high-income earners and corporations likely pushed for these changes to reduce their tax burden.

In conclusion, the "You Earned It, You Keep It Act" is a masterclass in legislative doublespeak. Beneath its feel-good title lies a bill that benefits the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. Just another day in the sausage factory that is Congress.

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Civil Rights & Liberties State & Local Government Affairs Transportation & Infrastructure Small Business & Entrepreneurship Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Federal Budget & Appropriations Congressional Rules & Procedures
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