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An Act to amend the Social Security Act to expedite the holding of hearings under titles II, XVI, and XVIII by establishing uniform review procedures under such titles, and for other purposes.

Public Law 94-202 · H.R. 10727 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jan 2, 1976 · Social Welfare

Sponsor: Rep. James Burke (D-MA-11)

Cosponsors (12): Rep. Joseph Waggonner,

Passage votes

  • HouseMethod not stated
  • SenateMethod not stated
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.

(House agreed to certain Senate amendments with an amendment)

Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make findings of fact and decisions as to the rights of any individual applying for payment under title XVI of the Social Security Act (Supplemental Security Income). Directs him to provide notice and opportunity for a hearing to eligible individuals under such title who disagree with a decision of the Secretary as to eligibility.

Authorizes Supplemental Security Income hearing examiners to serve as hearing examiners under titles II, XVI, and XVIII, until December 31, 1978, if the Secretary finds such action will promote the objectives of such titles.

Allows 60 days for an individual to request review of a decision regarding his social security or medicare eligibility.

Authorizes modification of an agreement with West Virginia to permit policemen and firemen of such State to be covered by title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefits).

Combined Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance-Income Tax Reporting Amendments - Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to make available information returns filed by employers pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code (reporting wages paid subject to social security taxes) to the Secretary for the purposes of titles II and XI of the Social Security Act. Authorizes the two Secretaries to enter into an agreement for the processing by the Secretary of such information returns.

Authorizes payments out of the Trust Fund under title II to the Secretary for such processing purposes.

Authorizes appropriation out of the appropriate Trust Funds of such amounts as the Congress deems necessary to pay the costs of administration of titles II, XVI, and XVIII for which the Secretary is responsible and for carrying out his functions relating to the administration of the Internal Revenue Code.

Provides that the determination of cost-of-living increases in annual income exempt from social security taxes and of the amount of annual income allowed a beneficiary (before deductions from benefits occur) shall be computed with reference to the average annual wages of all employees.

Provides that periodic payments received pursuant to a State program established prior to July 1, 1973, shall not be considered income for purposes of Social Security Insurance or Old Age Assistance if such payments are made by the State of which the individual receiving such payments is a resident, and if eligibility of any individual for such payments is not based on need and is based solely on attainment of age 65 and duration of residence in such State by such individual.

Authorizes the quarterly payment to the Government of the Virgin Islands of amounts equal to Internal Revenue collections made with respect to articles produced in the Virgin Islands and transported to the United States.

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. 20 actions.

  1. Jan 2, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public law 94-202.
  3. Dec 22, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Dec 19, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate receded from certain of its amendments.
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to certain House amendments to certain Senate amendments.
  8. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments with an amendment.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House disagreed to certain Senate amendments.
  10. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to certain Senate amendments.
  11. Dec 17, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
  12. FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
  13. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
  14. Dec 12, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Finance Committee
  15. Dec 2, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Finance Committee
  16. Dec 1, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #722 (370-0).House roll call 722
  17. FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
  18. Nov 20, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
  19. Nov 13, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
  20. 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.