Social Security Legislation and Congressional Affairs

For a complete summary of all Legislation of the 108th Congress with provisions affecting Social Security see Legislation of the 108th Congress.

Legislative Archives From Previous Sessions of Congress:

• Legislation of the 107th Congress


• Legislation of the 106th Congress

Testimony and other communications to Congress by SSA officials before the 108th Congress.

Testimony Archives From Previous Sessions of Congress:

• SSA Testimony Before the 107th Congress
• SSA Testimony Before the 106th Congress

• 2004 Social Security/SSI Factsheet
• 2003 Social Security/SSI Factsheet
• 2003 SSA/SSI Statistics by Congressional District

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SSA publishes the Congressional Inquiries Guide (Guide) to assist congressional offices with Social Security-related issues. The Guide contains an overview of SSA, descriptions of various aspects of the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs and useful SSA points of contact. It is available in printed and compact disk versions. If your congressional office does not have a copy, or you need an additional copy of the Guide, you may use our Request for the Social Security Congressional Inquiries Guide.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173) expanded the SSA requirements in Section 1144 of the Social Security Act to include outreach to low-income Medicare beneficiaries about subsidized Medicare-approved prescription drug cards and subsidized Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Information on SSA’s activities relative to this legislation is available through this link.

The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-173) provides a special enrollment period in Medicare Part B for TRICARE beneficiaries. The provision also reimburses TRICARE beneficiaries who paid late Medicare enrollment premium surcharges in 2004. General information about the enrollment period and reimbursements for TRICARE beneficiaries is available here.

Additional Information About the TRICARE Provision:

• How Will SSA Assist TRICARE Beneficiaries?
• State-by-State Estimated Numbers of Affected Beneficiaries
• Examples of Beneficiary Notices
• Automatic Enrollment Letter
• Premium Waiver Letter
• Questions and Answers on the TRICARE Provision