SOS Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Feenstra, Randy [R-IA-4]
- Committees
- Budget Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 29, 2025
Bottom line
This bill requires the CBO to visually compare Social Security and Disability Insurance payments under current law versus a scenario where payments are limited to dedicated funding, aiming to highlight potential future shortfalls.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to mandate that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) include a specific graphical comparison in its reports on the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund. The CBO will be required to show the difference between assumed payments under current law and outlays if payments were limited strictly to amounts available from dedicated funding sources.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue this bill increases transparency regarding the financial health and long-term sustainability of the Social Security and Disability Insurance trust funds. They believe providing a clear, visual comparison of payment scenarios is crucial for Congress and the public to understand the challenges and make informed decisions about necessary reforms to ensure these vital programs' future.
Opponents contend
Critics might contend that while transparency is valuable, this specific graphical comparison could be misleading or alarmist, potentially overemphasizing a hypothetical scenario where benefits are limited to dedicated funding rather than reflecting current legal obligations. They may argue it could be used to prematurely advocate for benefit cuts instead of considering a broader range of solutions for solvency.
The bill is extremely short and can be read in under a minute, making its direct provisions highly accessible for any reader.
Section 2
CBO Reporting Requirement for OASI and DI Trust Funds
This section amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to include a new graphical comparison in its regular reports on the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund. The graph must compare the amount of payments assumed under existing law with the outlays that would occur if payments were strictly limited to the amounts available from dedicated funding sources, as defined by section 257(b)(1) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this provision is essential for fiscal transparency, providing a clear, visual representation of the long-term financial challenges facing the OASI and DI Trust Funds. They believe this data will help policymakers and the public understand the need for reforms to ensure the sustainability of these vital programs.
Critics contend
Opponents might contend that while transparency is generally good, presenting this specific comparison in a graph format could be interpreted as advocating for a particular policy outcome (e.g., benefit cuts) by highlighting a 'payments consistent with dedicated funding' scenario, potentially creating undue alarm or misrepresenting the current legal obligations of the trust funds.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the desire for increased transparency regarding the financial status of Social Security and Disability Insurance with concerns about how such specific data presentation might influence public perception and policy debates, potentially pushing towards certain reform approaches over others.