Legislation Search

H.R. 1876: Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act

This bill, titled the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act, aims to prevent the closure or consolidation of Social Security field offices, hearing offices, and resident stations. Here are the key components:

Moratorium on Closures

The bill establishes a moratorium that prohibits the Commissioner of Social Security from taking any action to close or consolidate offices or impose new access limitations. This moratorium would remain in place until specific conditions are met.

Exceptions

Emergency Closures: The Commissioner can close or limit access to offices temporarily in response to emergencies.
Termination of Moratorium: The moratorium will end 180 days after the Commissioner submits a required report to Congress.

Required Report

The bill requires the Commissioner to submit a report no earlier than January 21, 2029, detailing the criteria and justification for any proposed closures or access limitations. This report must include:

An analysis of how offices were chosen for closure or limitation.
Consideration of factors affecting service accessibility, especially for elderly and disabled individuals.
Details on cost-benefit analysis regarding anticipated savings and potential losses of services.

Future Closures and Access Limitations

In the event that future closures or consolidations are considered post-moratorium, the following requirements must be met:

Public Notice: At least 120 days before a closure, the Commissioner must notify affected individuals through various means, including direct mail and community outreach.
Public Hearings: The Commissioner is required to hold at least two public hearings to justify the closures and to collect community feedback.
Detailed Reports: A final report justifying the closure or limitation must also be submitted to Congress, along with any findings from the public hearings.

Hearing Opportunity

Individuals affected by proposed closures or limitations will have the opportunity to request a hearing regarding these actions. The criteria for such hearings include the determination that the Commissioner's decision was arbitrary or not in accordance with legal procedures.

Safeguards on Office Numbers

Lastly, the bill stipulates that the total number of field and hearing offices must not fall below the number that existed on January 20, 2025, ensuring that access remains available to the public.