Text of Senate Amendment 3360

On 2024-12-20, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 3360" in the Senate. The speech addressed the economy and also covered taxes, foreign policy. It referenced legislation including HR82, S7344, S7345.

Text of Senate Amendment 3360

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 190 (Friday, December 20, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 190 (Friday, December 20, 2024)] [Senate] [Pages S7344-S7345] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 3360. Mr. CRUZ proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 82, to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions; as follows: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION WITH A FORMULA EQUALIZING BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH NONCOVERED EMPLOYMENT. (a) In General.--Section 215(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)) is amended by inserting after paragraph (7) the following: ``(8)(A) In the case of an individual whose primary insurance amount would be computed under paragraph (1) of this subsection-- ``(i) who first becomes eligible for an old-age or disability insurance benefit after 2067, ``(ii) who subsequently becomes entitled to such benefit, and ``(iii) who has earnings derived from noncovered service performed in a year after 1977, the primary insurance amount of such individual shall be the amount computed or recomputed under this paragraph. [[Page S7345]] ``(B) The primary insurance amount of an individual described in subparagraph (A), as computed or recomputed under this paragraph, shall be the product derived by multiplying-- ``(i) the individual's primary insurance amount, as determined under paragraph (1) of this subsection and subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, by ``(ii) a fraction-- ``(I) the numerator of which is the individual's average indexed monthly earnings (determined without regard to subparagraph (C)), and ``(II) the denominator of which is an amount equal to the individual's average indexed monthly earnings (as determined under subparagraph (C)), rounded, if not a multiple of $0.10, to the next lower multiple of $0.10. ``(C)(i) For purposes of determining an individual's primary insurance amount pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii)(II) of subparagraph (B), the individual's average indexed monthly earnings shall be determined by treating all recorded noncovered earnings (as defined in clause (ii)(I)) derived by the individual from noncovered service performed in each year after 1977 as `wages' (as defined in section 209 for purposes of this title), which shall be treated as included in the individual's adjusted total covered earnings (as defined in clause (ii)(II)) for such calendar year together with amounts consisting of `wages' (as so defined without regard to this subparagraph) paid during such calendar year and self- employment income (as defined in section 211(b)) for taxable years ending with or during such calendar year. ``(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph: ``(I) The term `recorded noncovered earnings' means earnings derived from noncovered service (other than noncovered service as a member of a uniformed service (as defined in section 210(m)) for which satisfactory evidence is determined by the Commissioner to be available in the records of the Commissioner. ``(II) The term `adjusted total covered earnings' means, in connection with an individual for any calendar year, the sum of the wages paid to the individual during such calendar year (as adjusted under subsection (b)(3)) plus the self- employment income derived by the individual during any taxable year ending with or during such calendar year (as adjusted under subsection (b)(3)). ``(iii) The Commissioner of Social Security shall provide by regulation or other public guidance for methods for determining whether satisfactory evidence is available in the records of the Commissioner for earnings for noncovered service (other than noncovered service as a member of a uniformed service (as defined in section 210(m))) to be treated as recorded noncovered earnings. Such methods shall provide for reliance on earnings information which is provided to the Commissioner by employers and which, as determined by the Commissioner, constitute a reasonable basis for treatment of earnings for noncovered service as recorded noncovered earnings. In making determinations under this clause, the Commissioner shall also take into account any documentary or other evidence of earnings derived from noncovered service by an individual which is provided by the individual to the Commissioner and which the Commissioner considers appropriate as a reasonable basis for treatment of such earnings as recorded noncovered earnings. ``(D) Upon the death of an individual whose primary insurance amount is computed or recomputed under this paragraph, such primary insurance amount shall be computed or recomputed under paragraph (1) of this subsection. ``(E) In the case of any individual whose primary insurance amount would be computed under this paragraph who first becomes entitled after 1985 to a monthly periodic payment made by a foreign employer or foreign country that is based in whole or in part upon noncovered service, the primary insurance amount of such individual shall be computed or recomputed under paragraph (7) or paragraph (1), as applicable, for months beginning with the first month of the individual's initial entitlement to such monthly periodic payment.''. (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 215(a)(7)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(7)(A)) is amended-- (1) in clause (i)-- (A) by striking ``after 1985'' and inserting ``after 1985 and before 2068''; and (B) by striking ``or'' at the end; (2) in clause (ii)-- (A) by striking ``after 1985'' each place it appears and inserting ``after 1985 and before 2068''; and (B) by adding ``or'' at the end; (3) by inserting after clause (ii) the following: ``(iii) is an individual described in paragraph (8)(E),''; and (4) by striking ``hereafter in this paragraph and in subsection (d)(3)'' and inserting ``in this paragraph, paragraphs (8) and (9), and subsection (d)(3)''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to monthly insurance benefits payable on or after January 1, 2025. SEC. 3. BENEFIT CALCULATION DURING TRANSITION PERIOD. (a) In General.--Section 215(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)), as amended by section 2, is further amended by inserting after paragraph (8) the following: ``(9) In the case of an individual whose primary insurance amount would be computed under paragraph (1) of this subsection-- ``(A) who first becomes eligible for an old-age or disability insurance benefit after 2024 and before 2068, ``(B) who subsequently becomes entitled to such benefit, and ``(C) who has earnings derived from noncovered service performed in a year after 1977, the primary insurance amount of such individual shall be the higher of the amount computed or recomputed under paragraph (7) without regard to this paragraph or the amount that would be computed or recomputed under paragraph (8) if the individual were an individual described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph.''. (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 215(a)(7)(A) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)(7)(A)), as amended by section 2(b), is further amended by striking ``shall be computed or recomputed'' and inserting ``shall, subject to paragraph (9), be computed or recomputed''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to monthly insurance benefits payable on or after January 1, 2025. SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL MONTHLY PAYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE BENEFIT AMOUNT IS REDUCED BY THE WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION. (a) In General.--Section 215(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(a)), as amended by sections 2 and 3, is further amended by adding at the end the following: ``(10)(A) For any month beginning at least 270 days after the date of enactment of the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2024, the Commissioner of Social Security shall, subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), make an additional monthly payment of $100 to each individual who is an eligible individual for such month, and an additional monthly payment of $50 to each individual (other than an eligible individual) who is entitled to a benefit under section 202 for such month on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such eligible individual. ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `eligible individual' for a month means an individual who-- ``(i)(I) first becomes eligible for an old-age or disability insurance benefit under this title before 2025, or ``(II) is an individual described in paragraph (8)(E), and ``(ii) is entitled to an old-age or disability insurance benefit under this title for such month based on a primary insurance amount that was computed or recomputed under paragraph (7) (and not subsequently recomputed under any other paragraph of this subsection). ``(C) In any case in which this title provides that no monthly benefit under section 202 or 223 shall be paid to an individual for a month, no additional monthly payment shall be paid to the individual for such month. This subparagraph shall not apply in the case of an individual whose monthly benefit under section 202 or 223 is reduced, regardless of the amount of the reduction, based on the individual's receipt of other income or benefits for such month or the application of section 203(a) or due to the adjustment or recovery of an overpayment under section 204. ``(D)(i) An individual is not entitled to receive more than one additional monthly payment for a month under this paragraph. ``(ii) An eligible individual who is entitled to a benefit under section 202 on the basis of the wages and self- employment income of another eligible individual for a month shall receive an additional monthly payment under this paragraph in the amount of $100 for such month. ``(E) Except for purposes of adjustment or recovery of an o