Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)
Protecting Retirement and Health Benefits for Families Act
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protecting Retirement and Health Benefits for Families Act" requires several federal agencies to certify that major changes will not hurt service delivery. These agencies include Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, the IRS, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development. Agencies must prove that planned staffing cuts or office closures won't reduce benefits, increase delays, or limit outreach. They must also submit a report explaining how they will shift resources to prevent problems like longer wait times or staffing shortages. An Inspector General will study these activities to ensure service levels are maintained. If the study finds that services were negatively impacted, the agency must reverse the action, such as by rehiring staff or reopening offices.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill safeguards Social Security and Medicare services from potential staffing cuts.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill protects the delivery of crucial financial assistance and benefits.
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill ensures that VA services and benefits are protected during agency restructuring.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Benefits and Assistance: The bill prevents agency actions from reducing the receipt of benefits or financial assistance for eligible individuals (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Reduced Service Delays: It aims to prevent increases in delays for receiving benefits or responding to inquiries from eligible individuals (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Maintenance of Outreach Efforts: The law seeks to ensure that agency staff can still conduct outreach to help people receive their benefits (Section 2(a)(3)).
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Prevention of Staffing and Wait Time Issues: Agencies must plan to avoid staffing shortages that could slow down benefit claims or increase phone and walk-in wait times (Section 2(b)(1)-(2)).
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Safeguarding Public Protections: The bill requires agencies to maintain their ability to conduct regulatory, investigatory, and enforcement functions to protect the public and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse (Section 2(b)(4)).
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Accountability through Reversal: If an Inspector General finds that a service was harmed, the agency is required to reverse its action, which can include reinstating laid-off staff or reopening field offices (Section 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts for people are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill protects the delivery of crucial financial assistance and benefits. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill protects the continuity of Social Security and Medicare benefits. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill safeguards Social Security and Medicare services from potential staffing cuts. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill ensures that VA services and benefits are protected during agency restructuring. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill protects the stability of Social Security and IRS administration. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Protecting agency service levels helps ensure consistent support for those relying on federal benefits. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill protects the existence of regional field offices which are vital for rural access.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill protects HUD services to ensure housing assistance remains available and accessible. Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill requires certifications to ensure Social Security benefits and service delivery are not negatively impacted. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By protecting benefit delivery, the bill helps mitigate the impact of service disruptions on low-income populations. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — Protecting HUD operations supports the administration of housing assistance programs.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill mandates protections to ensure veteran health care services are not disrupted by staffing cuts. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill aims to prevent delays and service reductions in healthcare-related agencies. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill protects the delivery of Medicaid services during staffing or office closures. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill protects the delivery of Medicare services during staffing or office closures.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency by requiring agencies to report their resource-shifting plans to Congress. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill protects the due process of benefit recipients by preventing delays and service reductions. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill increases federal oversight by requiring agency heads to certify actions to Congress.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill enhances oversight to prevent fraud and protect the public during agency restructuring.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill ensures that staffing cuts at the VA do not negatively affect benefit distribution.
- 6/6/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
- 5/15/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Veterans' Affairs, and Financial Services, 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.
- Introduced in House