Vote Descriptions

The National Committee legislative staff has identified votes in the 117th Congress (2021-2022) on issues it believes to be of importance to seniors as well as all Americans. This list is not intended to be a complete account of all the votes and activities of U.S. Representatives and Senators, but we feel it is instructive with regard to earned benefits.

House 2021 (First Session)

1. Americans Rescue Plan Act. (H.R. 1319) On passage of the bill: Made all U.S. residents with adjusted gross income (AGI) up to $75,000 ($112,000 married), including Social Security beneficiaries, eligible for rebate payment up to $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 for married couples.
Preserved and restored the pensions of more than one million retirees and workers in an estimated 200-225 severely underfunded multiemployer pension plans. Appropriated additional funds for COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and safer nursing home care. Included $12.6 billion in additional federal Medicaid payments for states to expand home and community-based services (HCBS). Provided $1.434 billion for Older Americans Act nutrition services, supportive services (to include COVID-19 vaccination outreach and transportation to vaccination sites) and activities to prevent and mitigate social isolation related to COVID-19, family caregiver services, disease prevention, grants for tribal organizations, and the long-term care ombudsman program. House Roll Call #72, March 10, 2021. Passed: 220-211. National Committee position: Yes.

2. Protect Older Workers Against Age Discrimination Act. (H.R. 2062) On passage of the bill: Would restore the standard of proof in age discrimination cases to treat age discrimination as just as wrong as other forms of employment discrimination. House Role Call #180, June 23, 2021. Passed: 247-178. National Committee position: Yes.

3. Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Seven-Bill Appropriations Package. (H.R. 4502) On passage of the bill: Provided $14.1 billion to fund the Social Security Administration in FY 2022, a $1.1 billion increase above the FY 2021 enacted level. Provided increased funding levels for Older Americans Act programs, including $1.387 billion for nutrition programs, a $336 million or 41 percent increase over the FY 2021 enacted level; and $550.5 million for support services, a $158 million increase over the FY 2021 enacted level. House Roll Call #247, July 29, 2021. Passed: 219-208. National Committee position: Yes.

House 2022 (Second Session)

4. Inflation Reduction Act. (H.R. 5376) On passage of the bill: Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices for certain high-cost drugs with pharmaceutical manufacturers on behalf of Medicare. Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay a rebate to the federal government for the amount by which drugs used under Medicare Parts B and D rise faster than inflation. Establishes a $2,000 per year beneficiary out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug spending under Medicare Part D. House Roll Call #420, August 12, 2022. Passed: 220-207. National Committee position: Yes.

Senate 2021 (First Session)

5. Americans Rescue Plan Act. (H.R. 1319) On passage of the bill: Made all U.S. residents with adjusted gross income (AGI) up to $75,000 ($112,000 married), including Social Security beneficiaries, eligible for rebate payment up to $1,400 for individuals or $2,800 for married couples. Preserved and restored the pensions of more than one million retirees and workers in an estimated 200-225 severely underfunded multiemployer pension plans. Appropriated additional funds for COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and safer nursing home care. Included $12.6 billion in additional federal Medicaid payments for states to expand home and community-based services (HCBS). Provided $1.434 billion for Older Americans Act nutrition services, supportive services (to include COVID-19 vaccination outreach and transportation to vaccination sites) and activities to prevent and mitigate social isolation related to COVID-19, family caregiver services, disease prevention, grants for tribal organizations, and the long-term care ombudsman program. Senate Roll Call #110, March 6, 2021. Passed: 50-49. National Committee position: Yes.

6. Fiscal Year 2022 Short-Term and Supplemental Appropriations. (H.R. 5305) On passage of the bill: Extended funding for government operations, including the Social Security Administration and Older Americans Act programs, through December 3, 2021. Suspended the limit on the nation’s debt through December 16, 2022 to prevent a government default and ensure that 65 million Americans continued to receive benefits through
the Social Security program. Provided needed federal disaster relief funds. Senate Roll Call #397, September 30, 2021. Passed: 65–35. National Committee position: Yes.

7. Debt Limit Increase. (S. 1301) On passage of the bill: Increased the debt limit by $480 billion which prevented a government default and ensured that 65 million Americans continued to receive benefits through the Social Security program. Senate Roll Call #412, October 7, 2021. Passed: 50–48. National Committee position: Yes.

Senate 2022 (Second Session)

8. Inflation Reduction Act. (H.R. 5376) On passage of the bill: Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices for certain high-cost drugs with pharmaceutical manufacturers on behalf of Medicare. Requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay a rebate to the federal government for the amount by which drugs used under Medicare Parts B and D rise faster than inflation. Establishes a $2,000 per year beneficiary out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug spending under Medicare Part D. Senate Roll Call #325, August 7, 2022. Passed: 51-50. National Committeeposition: Yes.