To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide an exception to the nine-month duration of marriage requirement for widows and widowers in cases in which the marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 31, 2001

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act with respect to the nine-month minimum duration of a marriage required to qualify a surviving spouse for OASDI benefits. Allows a less than nine-month duration of a marriage in the case of widows or widowers whose marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1] · D–ME

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Feb 9, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Jan 31, 2001
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 31, 2001
Introduced in House
Jan 31, 2001
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 · Jan 31, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.319 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.319, 107th Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide an exception to the nine-month duration of marriage requirement for widows and widowers in cases in which the marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/319

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-01-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr319/BILLS-107hr319ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:40:59Z. 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.319 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.319 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.319, 107th Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide an exception to the nine-month duration of marriage requirement for widows and widowers in cases in which the marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/319

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-01-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr319/BILLS-107hr319ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:40:59Z. 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.319 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.319 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.319, 107th Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide an exception to the nine-month duration of marriage requirement for widows and widowers in cases in which the marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/319

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-01-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr319/BILLS-107hr319ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:40:59Z. 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.319 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.319 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.319, 107th Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide an exception to the nine-month duration of marriage requirement for widows and widowers in cases in which the marriage was postponed by legal impediments to the marriage caused by State restrictions on divorce from a prior spouse institutionalized due to mental incompetence or similar incapacity.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/319

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-01-31.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr319/BILLS-107hr319ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T13:40:59Z. 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.319 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.