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Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act
3/12/2025, 12:53 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1221
One key provision of the bill is the suspension of investment of the funds held in these accounts until legislation is enacted that allows for the investment of the Trust Funds in investment vehicles other than US government obligations. This means that the surplus funds would not be invested until alternative forms of investment are approved by Congress.
Additionally, the bill proposes the establishment of a Social Security and Medicare Part A Investment Commission. This commission would be responsible for making recommendations on alternative forms of investment for the surplus funds in Social Security and Medicare. This would allow for a more diverse and potentially higher-yielding investment strategy for these important programs. Overall, Bill 119 hr 1221 seeks to protect the surplus funds in Social Security and Medicare, while also exploring new investment opportunities to ensure the long-term sustainability of these programs.
Congressional Summary of HR 1221
Social Security and Medicare Lock-Box Act
This bill establishes (1) in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, a Social Security Surplus Protection Account; and (2) in the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, a Medicare Surplus Protection Account.
The Managing Trustee of each trust fund (in both cases, the Secretary of the Treasury) (1) must transfer the annual surplus of the trust fund to its respective account; and (2) may not invest the balance in the account until a law takes effect that authorizes, for amounts in the trust fund, an investment vehicle other than U.S. obligations.
The bill establishes in the executive branch a commission to study the most effective vehicles for investment of the trust funds, other than investments in the form of U.S. obligations.
