S 657

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 20, 2025

Mr. Coons (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To amend the Social Security Act to provide retirement security to United States nationals who were unlawfully or wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. DEEMED WAGES FOR HOSTAGES AND INDIVIDUALS WRONGFULLY DETAINED ABROAD.

(a) In General.—Title II of the Social Security Act is amended by adding after section 234 (42 U.S.C. 434) the following new section:

“deemed wages for hostages and individuals wrongfully detained abroad

“Sec. 235. (a) Definitions.—For purposes of this section—

“(1) Qualifying month.—

“(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the term ‘qualifying month’ means, in connection with an individual, any month—

“(i) beginning before, on, or after the date of enactment of this section, and

“(ii) during which such individual was—

“(I) unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad; or

“(II) held hostage abroad.

“(B) Exception.—The term ‘qualifying month’ does not include any month ending after the date on which such individual attains retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)).

“(2) Qualifying individual.—The term ‘qualifying individual’ means an individual who is—

“(A) a United States national unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, as determined under section 302 of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 1741); or

“(B) a United States national taken hostage abroad, as determined pursuant to the findings of the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (as described in section 304 of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 1741b)).

“(b) Deemed Wages.—

“(1) In general.—For purposes of determining entitlement to and the amount of any monthly benefit for any month, or entitlement to and the amount of any lump-sum death payment in the case of a death, payable under this title on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of any qualifying individual, such individual shall be deemed to have been paid during each qualifying month at an amount per month equal to \1/12\ \th\ of the national average wage index (as defined in section 209(k)(1)) for the second calendar year preceding the calendar year in which such month occurs.

“(2) Exception.—Paragraph (1) shall not be applicable in the case of any monthly benefit or lump-sum death payment if a larger such benefit or payment, as the case may be, would be payable without its application.

“(c) Rules and Regulations.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Commissioner of Social Security shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section, including regulations establishing procedures for the application and certification requirements described in paragraph (2).

“(2) Application and certification requirements.—A qualifying month shall not be taken into account under this section with respect to an individual unless the individual (or any other individual entitled to any benefit or payment payable under this title on the basis of the wages and self-employment income of such individual) submits to the Commissioner of Social Security an application for benefits under this section that includes—

“(A) documentation of a determination made by a Federal agency that the individual satisfies the requirements under subsection (a)(2) with respect to a qualifying individual, including the period during which the individual was—

“(i) unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad; or

“(ii) held hostage abroad; and

“(B) such other information as the Commissioner may require.”.

(b) Conforming Amendment.—Section 209(k)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 409(k)(1)) is amended—

(1) by striking “and” before “230(b)(2)” the first time it appears; and

(2) by inserting “and 235(b)(1),” after “1977),”.

(c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date which is 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act. <all>