August 6, 2026
Mr. Cassidy (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance
Establishing a process to assure the long-term fiscal stability of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund.
Section 1. Establishment of process to assure Social Security Solvency
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Long-term solvency
The term long-term solvency means the financial ability of the Trust Funds to pay 100 percent of scheduled benefits for a period of at least 50 years that begins on the date of adoption of this resolution.
(2) Social security bill
The term Social Security bill means a bill introduced pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A)(i) or subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).
(3) Trust Funds
The term Trust Funds means the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.).
(b) Bipartisan working group
(1) In general
Not later than August 10, 2026, the Majority Leader of the Senate shall establish a bipartisan working group (in this section, referred to as the working group) that shall develop recommendations and legislative language to achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds. Such legislative language shall not include provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(2) Composition
(A) In general
The working group shall consist of—
(i)
3 Senators from the Committee on Finance of the Senate, appointed by the Chairman of the Committee;
(ii)
3 Senators from the Committee on Finance of the Senate, appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee;
(iii)
3 Senators appointed by the Majority Leader of the Senate; and
(iv)
3 Senators appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.
(B) Discretionary House participation
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives may each appoint 4 members to the working group.
(C) Chairpersons
Not later than 14 calendar days after the appointment of all members under subparagraph (A), the Majority Leader of the Senate and Minority Leader of the Senate shall select co-chairs of the working group from members of the working group.
(3) Request for information
The working group shall, for the purpose of carrying out this section, issue a request for information to the public regarding ways to achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds.
(4) Public listening sessions
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the working group shall, for the purpose of carrying out this subsection, hold such public listening sessions, sit and act at such times and places, request attendance of stakeholders and production of books, papers, and documents, take such testimony, receive such evidence, and administer oaths as the working group considers advisable.
(B) Procedures
(i) Announcement
The working group shall make a public announcement of the date, place, time, and subject matter of any public listening session to be conducted under this subparagraph not later than 7 calendar days before the date of the public listening session, unless either co-chair of the working group determines that there is good cause to begin such public listening session on an earlier date.
(ii) Written statement
The working group shall request that each stakeholder appearing before the working group file a written statement of the proposed testimony of the stakeholder not later than 2 calendar days before the date of the appearance of the stakeholder.
(5) Technical assistance and consultation
Either co-chair of the working group may request that the head of any Federal agency provide technical assistance to, and consult with, the working group in order for the working group to carry out its duties under this subsection, and the head of any Federal agency is requested to comply with any such request.
(6) Assistance from the Architect of the Capitol
Either co-chair of the working group may request that the Architect of the Capitol provide suitable space to house the operations of the working group, and the Architect of the Capitol is requested to comply with any such request.
(7) Report
(A) In general
Not later than October 1, 2026, the working group shall submit to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and make available to any Member of Congress upon request, a report that contains detailed recommendations and proposed legislative language that meets the requirements described in paragraph (1).
(B) Alternative proposals
As part of the report described in subparagraph (A), the working group shall include not less than 2 separate legislative proposals that meet the requirements described in paragraph (1).
(c) Consideration of a Social Security bill
(1) Introduction
(A) Introduction of Social Security bill
(i) Working group legislative language
One of the legislative proposals contained in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (b), upon receipt by the Senate, shall (by request) be introduced not later than November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, by the Majority Leader of the Senate, for himself, or any Member of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader. If the Social Security bill is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence, then any Member of the Senate may introduce the Social Security bill on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the Social Security bill shall be referred to the Committee on Finance of the Senate under subparagraph (B).
(ii) Members of Congress legislative language
(I) In general
In the case that the working group does not submit proposed legislative language pursuant to subsection (b), not later than November 9, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, the Majority Leader of the Senate, for himself, or any Member of the Senate designated by the Majority Leader shall (by request) introduce legislative language subject to subclause (II). If legislative language is not introduced in accordance with the preceding sentence, then any Member of the Senate may introduce legislative language subject to subclause (II) on any day thereafter. Upon introduction, the legislative language shall be referred to the Committee on Finance of the Senate in accordance with subparagraph (B).
(II) Requirements
Such legislative language shall—
(aa)
achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds, as certified by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration);
(bb)
be introduced by at least 1 Member associating with the majority party and at least 1 Member associating with the minority party; and
(cc)
not include provisions that do not include changes to the outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(B) Committee consideration
(i) In general
A Social Security bill introduced in the Senate shall be referred to the Committee on Finance (in this clause, referred to as the Committee
).
(ii) Amendments
It shall be in order for the Committee to consider and adopt amendments to the Social Security bill. It shall not be in order for the Committee to consider or adopt any amendment to the Social Security bill that causes the bill to not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds or that includes provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(iii) Reporting
The Committee shall report the bill on November 18, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session. If the Committee fails to report the bill within that period, the Committee shall be automatically discharged from consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the appropriate calendar.
(2) Filing deadline and certification
(A) Filing deadline
Not later than November 18, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, Members may file substitute amendments, and amendments shall be printed in the Congressional Record on the day such amendments are filed.
(B) Certification
Not later than November 30, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration and the Parliamentarian of the Senate) shall certify whether the complete substitute amendments filed under subparagraph (A) meet the criteria described in items (aa) and (bb) of paragraph (3)(A)(iii)(II) and print the list of certified amendments in the Congressional Record.
(3) Procedures
(A) Consideration in Senate
(i) In general
Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than November 30, 2026, or the first day thereafter on which the Senate is in session, for the Majority Leader of the Senate or the Majority Leader’s designee to move to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill. It shall also be in order for any Member of the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill at any time after that period. A motion to proceed is in order even though a previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. All points of order, including budgetary points of order, against the motion to proceed to the Social Security bill are waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the Social Security bill is agreed to, the Social Security bill shall remain the unfinished business until disposed of.
(ii) Consideration
All points of order, including budgetary points of order, against the Social Security bill and against consideration of the Social Security bill are waived. Consideration of the Social Security bill and of all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall not exceed a total of 30 hours. Debate shall be divided equally between the Majority Leader and Minority Leader or their designees. A motion to further limit debate on the Social Security bill is in order, shall require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members duly chosen and sworn, and is not debatable. Any debatable motion or appeal is debatable for a period not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between the Majority Leader and Minority Leader. All time used for consideration of the Social Security bill, including time used for quorum calls and voting, shall be counted against the total 30 hours of consideration.
(iii) Restriction on amendments and motions
(I) In general
Except as provided in subclause (II), an amendment to the Social Security bill, or a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the Social Security bill is not in order. All points of order, including budgetary points of order, against the consideration of substitute amendments to the Social Security bill are waived.
(II) Substitute amendments
(aa) In general
It shall be in order in the Senate to consider any substitute amendment to the Social Security bill that, as determined by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance (in consultation with the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration), achieves long-term solvency for the Trust Funds, with such determination to be submitted by the Chairman and Ranking Member for printing in the Congressional Record. It shall be in order in the Senate for the sponsor of a substitute amendment to make minor or technical modifications to such amendment.
(bb) Extraneous provisions
It shall not be in order in the Senate to consider any substitute amendment to the Social Security bill that—
(AA)
does not achieve long-term solvency for the Trust Funds; or
(BB)
includes provisions that do not change outlays, revenues, or financing with respect to the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program established under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.), the supplemental security income program under title XVI of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.), or provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that could be altered to help achieve long-term solvency.
(cc) Limit on debate
Consideration of any amendment described in this subclause and any debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall be limited to 2 hours, equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader. Adoption of a substitute amendment shall require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An amendment described in this subclause is not divisible and no amendment to a substitute amendment shall be in order. All time used for consideration of any amendments described in this subclause shall come from the 30 hours of consideration described in clause (ii).
(iv) Adoption of amendments
If more than one of the amendments described in clause (iii)(II) is adopted, then only the one receiving the greater number of affirmative votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of the Senate. In the case of a tie for the greater number of affirmative votes, then only the last amendment to receive that number of affirmative votes shall be engrossed as an amendment of the Senate. Action on all other amendments shall be vitiated.
(v) Vote on passage
The vote on passage shall occur immediately following the conclusion of consideration of a Social Security bill, and a single quorum call at the conclusion of the debate if requested. Passage shall require an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members, duly chosen and sworn. If the Social Security bill is passed, the Secretary of the Senate shall cause the bill to be transmitted to House of Representatives before the close of the next day of session of the Senate.
(vi) Rulings of the Chair on procedure
Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to a Social Security bill shall be debatable for a period not to exceed 1 hour, to be divided equally between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader.
(B) Receipt of the House of Representatives measures
(i) Identical bill
If the Senate receives from the House of Representatives a bill that is identical to the Social Security bill pending in or passed by the Senate, the bill so received shall not be referred to committee, shall be placed on the calendar, and shall not be debatable, and the vote on passage of the Social Security bill in the Senate, whether occurring before or after such receipt, shall be considered to be the vote on passage of the bill received from the House of Representatives.
(ii) Vetoes
If the President vetoes the Social Security bill, consideration of the veto message in the Senate under this section shall be limited to 1 hour, equally divided between the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader or their designees.
(4) Suspension
No motion to suspend the application of this subsection shall be in order in the Senate.
(5) Rule of construction
If the House of Representatives passes a Social Security bill that is different from such a bill passed in the Senate, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the House of Representatives and Senate from resolving such differences through a conference committee.