Summaries of Legislation of the 112th Congress with provisions affecting Social Security:

  • On January 10, 2013, President Obama signed H.R. 4053, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012. The bill passed the Senate on December 20, 2012. Previous Action 12/20/12; 12/14/12; 08/03/12. Became Public Law 112-248.

  • On December 19, 2012, the House passed H.R. 6016, the Government Employee Accountability Act, by a vote of 402-2.  The bill would allow Federal agencies to use “investigative leave” to discipline career appointees (executives) in the Senior Executive Service (SES). 

  • On December 20, 2012, the House passed H.R. 1509, the Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2012, by voice vote. The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Social Security Administration, to implement cost-effective procedures to ensure that Social Security numbers are not displayed, coded or embedded on Medicare cards.  

  • On October 5, 2012, the President signed S. 300, the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012. The Senate agreed to the House amendment on September 22, 2012 by unanimous consent.  The House passed the bill on August 1, 2012.  The bill codifies a number of reporting and program integrity policies for government purchase and travel charge card programs. Previous Action 09/25/12. Became Public Law 112-194.

  • On September 28, 2012, the President signed S. 3245, Reauthorizing Certain Visa Programs. The House of Representatives passed the bill without amendment on September 13, 2012 by a vote of 412 to 3.  The Senate passed the bill on August 2, 2012.  The bill temporarily reauthorizes the E-Verify program along with a number of visa programs for a period of three years, until September 30, 2015.
    Previous Actions 09/14/12; 08/02/12. Became Public Law 112-176. 

  • On September 29, 2012, the President signed S. 3625, a bill to amend the Stop Trading On Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012.  In general, the law makes December 8, 2012, the date by which certain Executive Branch public financial disclosure forms must be available on the internet. The bill passed the House by unanimous consent on September 28, 1012.  It had passed the Senate by unanimous consent on September 22, 2012. Became Public Law 112-178.

  • On September 11, 2012, the House passed H.R. 4631, Government Spending Accountability Act (GSA) of 2012, by voice vote.  The bill sets new limits for Federal agency spending on travel and conferences, and requires quarterly reports on agency conferences and meetings. 

  • On September 11, 2012, the House passed H.R. 538, the Government Customer Service Improvement Act, by voice vote. The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget to develop performance measures and standards to determine whether Federal agencies are providing high-quality customer service and improving service delivery to agency customers.

  • On August 7, 2012, the President signed H.R. 5872, the Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012. The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on July 25, 2012.  It had passed the House of Representatives (on a motion to suspend the rules) by a vote of 414-2. Became Public Law 112-155.  

  • On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law H.R. 4348, theMoving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act or MAP-21. Although, the Act is primarily known for authorizing funding for the nation’s highways and for extending low interest rates for Federal student loans, it also includes numerous changes related to the governance of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and a package of pension provisions, which were largely included in the bill as revenue raisers. The bill also includes a provision for the phased retirement of Federal employees. Became Public Law 112-141.

  • On April 26, 2012, the Senate passed S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012, by a vote of 62 – 37. The bill is intended to improve, sustain, and transform the United States Postal Service.

  • On April 18, 2012, the House Ways and Means Committee approved three legislative proposals that would make changes to subsidized health care and child tax credit programs, and repeal the Social Services Block Grant.

  • On April 4, 2012, the President signed S. 2038, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 or Stock Act.  Previous action 03/23/12. Became Public Law 112-105.
  • On February 1, 2012, the House passed H.R. 1173, the Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2012, by a vote of 267-159.  The bill would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act created under Title VIII of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”  Under the law, benefits paid under the CLASS Act would be excluded from being used to determine eligibility under any Federal, State, or locally funded assistance program.