Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) joined forces to introduce the Clergy Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at extending Social Security coverage options to clergy members who had previously opted out. The bill, serving as the Senate Companion to H.R.6068, aims to address a longstanding concern among clergy members regarding their retirement benefits.
Under current regulations, certain clergy members have the option to exempt their ministerial earnings from self-employment taxes, thereby forgoing Social Security and Medicare benefits associated with that income. Once this decision is made, it becomes irreversible, leaving many clergy members without crucial retirement benefits.
The Clergy Act seeks to remedy this situation by providing clergy members with a time-limited opportunity to opt back into Social Security coverage. This legislation would grant clergy members a re-enrollment window, allowing them to reverse their previous decision and secure Social Security benefits for their future retirement.
Senator Britt emphasized the importance of supporting faith leaders across the nation, stating, “The Clergy Act is a commonsense measure that would ensure fairness and provide clergy members across our nation with the opportunity to plan for retirement after years of dedicated service to their congregations and communities.”
Senator Hassan echoed these sentiments, highlighting the invaluable contributions of clergy members to their communities and underscoring the need to support them as they approach retirement. “Just as members of the clergy have supported our communities time and again, we must also support members of the clergy as they near retirement,” Senator Hassan remarked.
The Clergy Act, originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20), has garnered bipartisan support and was reported out of the House Committee on Ways and Means by a unanimous vote of 41-0.
Endorsed by the Church Alliance, the Clergy Act aims to rectify a longstanding issue faced by clergy members regarding their Social Security coverage. The legislation also includes provisions requiring the IRS to develop and submit a plan to notify clergy members of their eligibility to request revocations from Social Security participation.
Throughout history, Congress has periodically provided clergy members with opportunities to reconsider their participation in Social Security coverage, acknowledging the importance of ensuring equitable retirement benefits for these community and faith leaders. The Clergy Act represents the latest effort in this ongoing endeavor to support clergy members in securing their financial futures.
For those interested in delving deeper into the details of the bill, the full text can be accessed [here](link to bill text).
The Clergy Act stands as a bipartisan effort to empower clergy members with the ability to make informed decisions about their retirement benefits, reaffirming Congress’s commitment to supporting these dedicated individuals who play vital roles in their communities.
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