Protecting Retirement and Health Benefits for Families Act

House Votes

This bill would make certain federal agencies prove to Congress that any planned staff cuts or closing regional field offices will not hurt people’s access to benefits or services. It covers Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), the IRS, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development. Before any cut or closure, the agency must certify it will not reduce benefits, slow payments or responses, or limit outreach that helps eligible people get benefits.

Along with the certification, the agency must send a plan showing how it will move work and resources to avoid problems like too few staff to process claims, longer phone or walk‑in wait times, weaker outreach, harm to anti‑fraud and enforcement work, and other core duties. An Inspector General will check within a year whether the change caused harm. If it did, the agency must undo it—bring back laid‑off workers and reopen closed offices. These rules start one year after the law is enacted.

• Who is affected: People who rely on Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, IRS services, VA benefits, and HUD programs; the agencies must protect service levels.
• What changes: Agencies must certify and report before cuts/closures; Inspectors General review impacts; harmful changes must be reversed.
• When: Takes effect one year after enactment.