To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that, in determining whether an individual applying for or receiving benefits based on disability is engaging in substantial gainful activity, a portion of the cost of acquiring a van which is specially equipped for the individual's disability and which the individual needs for transportation to work shall be excluded from amounts treated as such individual's earnings, and to make conforming changes in title XVI.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 27, 1993

Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide that, in determining an individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of the individual's earnings, for purposes relating to disability benefits, there shall be excluded from such individual's earnings the costs of modifying a van which the individual needs for transportation to work to specially equip it for the individual's disability, plus the lesser of 50 percent of the remaining cost of the van or $12,000. Amends SSA title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) to make conforming changes.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Jacobs, Andrew, Jr. [D-IN-10] · D–IN

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Feb 1, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Feb 1, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Jan 27, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 27, 1993
Introduced in House
Jan 27, 1993
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 27, 1993 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: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.648 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.648, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that, in determining whether an individual applying for or receiving benefits based on disability is engaging in substantial gainful activity, a portion of the cost of acquiring a van which is specially equipped for the individual's disability and which the individual needs for transportation to work shall be excluded from amounts treated as such individual's earnings, and to make conforming changes in title XVI.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/648

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr648/BILLS-103hr648ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:22:56Z. 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.648 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.648 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.648, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that, in determining whether an individual applying for or receiving benefits based on disability is engaging in substantial gainful activity, a portion of the cost of acquiring a van which is specially equipped for the individual's disability and which the individual needs for transportation to work shall be excluded from amounts treated as such individual's earnings, and to make conforming changes in title XVI.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/648

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr648/BILLS-103hr648ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:22:56Z. 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.648 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.648 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.648, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that, in determining whether an individual applying for or receiving benefits based on disability is engaging in substantial gainful activity, a portion of the cost of acquiring a van which is specially equipped for the individual's disability and which the individual needs for transportation to work shall be excluded from amounts treated as such individual's earnings, and to make conforming changes in title XVI.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/648

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr648/BILLS-103hr648ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:22:56Z. 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.648 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.648 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.648, 103rd Congress: To amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide that, in determining whether an individual applying for or receiving benefits based on disability is engaging in substantial gainful activity, a portion of the cost of acquiring a van which is specially equipped for the individual's disability and which the individual needs for transportation to work shall be excluded from amounts treated as such individual's earnings, and to make conforming changes in title XVI.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/648

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-01-27.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hr648/BILLS-103hr648ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:22:56Z. 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.648 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.