H.R.1956 / 105th Congress

To amend sections 226 and 226A of the Social Security Act to provide for entitlement to Medicare benefits of any divorced individual who otherwise would be so entitled on the basis of the entitlement to wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits but for the failure to meet the 10-year marriage requirement, if such individual has been married to any 2 fully-insured individuals for a total period of 10 years.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 18, 1997

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require treatment as entitled to Medicare benefits any divorced individual who fails to meet entitlement requirements for wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits solely by reason of failure to meet the ten-year marriage requirement, if such individual has been married to any two fully-insured individuals for a total period of ten years. Applies the same treatment to entitlement based on end-stage renal disease.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Sabo, Martin Olav [D-MN-5] · D–MN

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jun 24, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 18, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jun 18, 1997
Introduced in House
Jun 18, 1997
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 18, 1997 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 7, 2024. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1956 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1956, 105th Congress: To amend sections 226 and 226A of the Social Security Act to provide for entitlement to Medicare benefits of any divorced individual who otherwise would be so entitled on the basis of the entitlement to wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits but for the failure to meet the 10-year marriage requirement, if such individual has been married to any 2 fully-insured individuals for a total period of 10 years.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1956

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-06-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1956/BILLS-105hr1956ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T16:40:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.1956 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1956 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1956, 105th Congress: To amend sections 226 and 226A of the Social Security Act to provide for entitlement to Medicare benefits of any divorced individual who otherwise would be so entitled on the basis of the entitlement to wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits but for the failure to meet the 10-year marriage requirement, if such individual has been married to any 2 fully-insured individuals for a total period of 10 years.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1956

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-06-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1956/BILLS-105hr1956ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T16:40:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1956 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1956 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1956, 105th Congress: To amend sections 226 and 226A of the Social Security Act to provide for entitlement to Medicare benefits of any divorced individual who otherwise would be so entitled on the basis of the entitlement to wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits but for the failure to meet the 10-year marriage requirement, if such individual has been married to any 2 fully-insured individuals for a total period of 10 years.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1956

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-06-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1956/BILLS-105hr1956ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T16:40:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1956 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1956 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.1956, 105th Congress: To amend sections 226 and 226A of the Social Security Act to provide for entitlement to Medicare benefits of any divorced individual who otherwise would be so entitled on the basis of the entitlement to wife's, husband's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits but for the failure to meet the 10-year marriage requirement, if such individual has been married to any 2 fully-insured individuals for a total period of 10 years.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1956

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-06-18.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr1956/BILLS-105hr1956ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T16:40:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.1956 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.