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An Act to provide a 7-percent increase in social security benefits beginning with March 1974 and an additional 4-percent increase beginning with June 1974, to provide increases in supplemental security income benefits, and for other purposes.

Public Law 93-233 · H.R. 11333 · 93rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Richard Nixon (R) on Dec 31, 1973 · Social Welfare

Major law

Sponsor: Rep. Albert Ullman (D-OR-2)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 301 yea, 13 nay301–13
  • SenateRecorded vote: 66 yea, 0 nay66–0
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Provides for an 11-percent cost-of-living increase in title II (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act. Provides for a 7-percent increase effective March, April, and May 1974 and starting with June 1974 a 4-percent increase.

Modifies the increase in the cost of living from the first quarter of one year to the first quarter of the following year, with the automatic cost-of-living increase effective beginning with June of the latter year.

Increases the wages taxable under social security from $12,600 in 1974 to $13,200.

Increases benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which becomes effective in January 1974.

Suspends food stamp eligibility for SSI recipients to allow a six month period for further study of the problems involved.

Limits entitlement to title II benefits for disability to persons who had received Aid to the Disabled before July 1973 and who are on the rolls in December 1973.

Suspends the HEW regulations relating to the social security service program until December 31, 1974.

Makes Federal matching available for Medicaid benefits for any new SSI recipients. Makes Medicaid coverage mandatory for those persons who receive a mandatory State supplemental payment in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 93-66. Provides that, for other persons receiving a State supplemental payment only, coverage would be optional, depending upon the State's decision, but that a State must make eligibility determinations based upon some rational classifications of recipients.

Provides that the Federal SSI payment will be reduced dollar-for-dollar for any State supplemental payment which is made for care provided to institutionalized individuals if this care could be provided under the State's Medicaid program.

Limits Medicare reimbursement to the lesser of an institution's costs or charges to the general public.

Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to undertake a study covering all aspects related to payment for professional services in medical schools and teaching hospital settings; the extent to which funds expended under Medicare and Medicaid are supporting the training of medical specialties which are in excess supply; how such funds could be expended in ways which support more national distribution of physician manpower both geographically and by specialty; the extent to which such funds support or encourage teaching programs which tend to disproportionately attract foreign medical graduates; and the existing and appropriate role that part of such funds which are expended to meet in whole or in part the cost of salaries of interns and residents in teaching programs approved as specified in Medicare.

Permits Federal matching of unemployment extended benefits for a 90 day period in any State whose insured unemployment rate exceeds 4 percent without regard to the 120 percent requirement.

Makes clerical and conforming amendments to correct errors in previous social security amendments.

Prohibits the payment of the special benefits payable to people over age 72 who are not insured for regular benefits and who are eligible for SSI payments.

Provides that in fiscal year 1974, States will be guaranteed that State supplementary costs under the SSI program shall not exceed an amount equal to one-half of their calendar 1972 costs.

Repeals the existing programs of aid to the aged, blind, and disabled at the same time that the new SSI program is commenced January 1, 1974. Authorizes the Secretary of HEW to continue to make payments to the States under the repealed programs for two purposes: (1) to meet the Federal matching obligation based on State expenditures prior to the repeal date, and (2) to match State expenditures after the repeal date in connection with closing out the old programs.

Provides that Medicare Part A coverage of hospitalization in connection with dental services is available only in behalf of an individual for whom a physician or dentist certifies that his underlying medical condition and clinical status require hospitalization in connection with the provision of such dental services.

Requires the disclosure of the names of those who own obligations secured by the assets of an intermediate care facility as well as the names of those who are owners of the facility.

Requires States to provide Medicaid coverage for an additional 4-month period to persons who lose their eligibility for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) cash assistance and Medicaid because of increased income.

Provides that 90 percent Federal matching for family planning provisions are available for the cost of providing family planning services.

Extends to disabled persons eligible for Medicare the provisions of law that provides that Federal matching will not be available under Medicaid for amounts expended for medical assistance with respect to individuals 65 or over which would not have been so expended if the individuals involved had been enrolled in Part B of Medicare.

Eliminates the requirement in Medicaid that the review of institutional care may not be performed by an employee of a hospital.

Deletes the regulations for active treatment under Medicare and grants the Secretary authority under Medicaid to establish such regulations.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 93rd Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 301 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

301 yea13 nay124 present or did not vote

Dimension 2
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(178)

  • Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-7
  • Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-9
  • Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
  • Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
  • Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
  • Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
  • Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
  • Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
  • Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
  • Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
  • Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-21
  • Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
  • Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
  • Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
  • Rep. Jerome WaldieD-CA-14
  • Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
  • Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
  • Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
  • Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
  • Rep. William FordD-MI-15
  • Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
  • Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
  • Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
  • Rep. George BrownD-CA-38
  • Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
  • Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
  • Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
  • Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
  • Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
  • Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
  • Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
  • Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
  • Rep. William BarrettD-PA-1
  • Rep. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
  • Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
  • Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
  • Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
  • Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
  • Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
  • Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
  • Rep. Dante FascellD-FL-15
  • Rep. Robert TiernanD-RI-2
  • Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
  • Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
  • Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
  • Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
  • Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
  • Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
  • Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
  • Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
  • Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
  • Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
  • Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-26
  • Rep. Chester HolifieldD-CA-19
  • Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
  • Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
  • Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
  • Rep. Frank DenholmD-SD-1
  • Rep. Kenneth GrayD-IL-24
  • Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
  • Rep. John BlatnikD-MN-8
  • Rep. William GreenD-PA-3
  • Rep. Frank BrascoD-NY-11
  • Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
  • Rep. Mike McCormackD-WA-4
  • Rep. Richard HannaD-CA-34
  • Rep. Douglas OwensD-UT-2
  • Rep. John PatmanD-TX-1
  • Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-2
  • Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
  • Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
  • Rep. John McFallD-CA-15
  • Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
  • Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
  • Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
  • Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
  • Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
  • Rep. Peter KyrosD-ME-1
  • Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
  • Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
  • Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
  • Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
  • Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
  • Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
  • Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
  • Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
  • Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
  • Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
  • Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
  • Rep. Hugh CareyD-NY-15
  • Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
  • Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
  • Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
  • Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
  • Rep. Harold DonohueD-MA-3
  • Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
  • Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
  • Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
  • Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
  • Rep. Torbert MacdonaldD-MA-7
  • Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
  • Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
  • Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
  • Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
  • Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
  • Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
  • Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
  • Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
  • Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
  • Rep. Frank ClarkD-PA-25
  • Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
  • Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
  • Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
  • Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
  • Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
  • Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
  • Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
  • Rep. Ella GrassoD-CT-6
  • Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
  • Rep. John CulverD-IA-2
  • Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
  • Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
  • Rep. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
  • Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
  • Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
  • Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
  • Rep. Clem McSpaddenD-OK-2
  • Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
  • Rep. George ShipleyD-IL-22
  • Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
  • Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
  • Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
  • Rep. John DavisD-GA-7
  • Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
  • Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
  • Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
  • Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
  • Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
  • Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
  • Rep. William RoyD-KS-2
  • Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
  • Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
  • Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
  • Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
  • Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
  • Rep. Robert CaseyD-TX-22
  • Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
  • Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
  • Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
  • Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
  • Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
  • Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
  • Rep. Bill GunterD-FL-5
  • Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
  • Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
  • Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
  • Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
  • Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
  • Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
  • Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
  • Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
  • Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
  • Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
  • Rep. William DornD-SC-3
  • Rep. Edith GreenD-OR-3
  • Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
  • Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
  • Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
  • Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
  • Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
  • Rep. James MannD-SC-4
  • Rep. Dale MilfordD-TX-24
  • Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
  • Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
  • Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
  • Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
  • Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
  • Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5

Republicans who voted yea(122)

  • Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
  • Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
  • Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
  • Rep. Robert SteeleR-CT-2
  • Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
  • Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
  • Rep. Paul CroninR-MA-5
  • Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
  • Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
  • Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-17
  • Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
  • Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
  • Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
  • Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
  • Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
  • Rep. William WidnallR-NJ-7
  • Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
  • Rep. Wendell WyattR-OR-1
  • Rep. Bob MathiasR-CA-18
  • Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
  • Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
  • Rep. Charles SandmanR-NJ-2
  • Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
  • Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
  • Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-1
  • Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
  • Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
  • Rep. Donald BrotzmanR-CO-2
  • Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
  • Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
  • Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
  • Rep. Joseph MarazitiR-NJ-13
  • Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
  • Rep. Don YoungR-AK
  • Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
  • Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
  • Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
  • Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
  • Rep. Lawrence WilliamsR-PA-7
  • Rep. Orval HansenR-ID-2
  • Rep. Jerry PettisR-CA-33
  • Rep. Vernon ThomsonR-WI-3
  • Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
  • Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
  • Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
  • Rep. Lawrence HoganR-MD-5
  • Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
  • Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
  • Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
  • Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
  • Rep. James HastingsR-NY-39
  • Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
  • Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
  • Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
  • Rep. Edwin EshlemanR-PA-16
  • Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
  • Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
  • Rep. John BuchananR-AL-6
  • Rep. Dan KuykendallR-TN-8
  • Rep. Samuel YoungR-IL-10
  • Rep. Joel BroyhillR-VA-10
  • Rep. David TowellR-NV
  • Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-12
  • Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
  • Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
  • Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
  • Rep. Vinegar Bend MizellR-NC-5
  • Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
  • Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
  • Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
  • Rep. John HuntR-NJ-1
  • Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
  • Rep. William BrayR-IN-6
  • Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
  • Rep. Charles ChamberlainR-MI-6
  • Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
  • Rep. Stanford ParrisR-VA-8
  • Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
  • Rep. Henry SmithR-NY-36
  • Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
  • Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
  • Rep. Roger ZionR-IN-8
  • Rep. Richard MallaryR-VT
  • Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
  • Rep. Charles TeagueR-CA-13
  • Rep. Howard RobisonR-NY-27
  • Rep. Robert HanrahanR-IL-3
  • Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
  • Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
  • Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
  • Rep. Andrew HinshawR-CA-39
  • Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
  • Rep. Earl RuthR-NC-8
  • Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
  • Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
  • Rep. Wiley MayneR-IA-6
  • Rep. Carleton KingR-NY-29
  • Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
  • Rep. William HudnutR-IN-11
  • Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
  • Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
  • Rep. John WareR-PA-5
  • Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
  • Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
  • Rep. LaMar BakerR-TN-3
  • Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
  • Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
  • Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
  • Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
  • Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
  • Rep. William KetchumR-CA-36
  • Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
  • Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
  • Rep. Barber ConableR-NY-35
  • Rep. Walter PowellR-OH-8
  • Rep. Craig HosmerR-CA-32
  • Rep. Robert HuberR-MI-18
  • Rep. Glenn DavisR-WI-9
  • Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-23
  • Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
  • Rep. John ConlanR-AZ-4
  • Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 535 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.

  1. Dec 31, 1973Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public law 93-233.
  3. Dec 22, 1973PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. Dec 21, 1973Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments, roll call #719 (301-13).House roll call 719
  5. FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, roll call #613 (66-0).Senate roll call 613
  6. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: House agreed to Senate amendments, roll call #719 (301-13).House roll call 719
  7. Nov 16, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Finance Committee
  8. Nov 15, 1973FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #592 (391-20).House roll call 592
  9. Nov 9, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
  10. Nov 7, 1973CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
  11. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.