{"bill":{"id":"119-hr-227","congress":119,"type":"HR","number":227,"title":"Clergy Act","originChamber":"House","introducedDate":"2025-01-07","sponsors":[{"bioguideId":"F000480","fullName":"Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20]","party":"R","state":"CA","district":20}],"cosponsorsCount":21,"latestAction":{"actionDate":"2026-04-28","text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance."},"policyArea":"Social Welfare","subjects":["Congressional oversight","Income tax exclusion","Religion","Social security and elderly assistance","Tax administration and collection, taxpayers"],"actions":[{"date":"2026-04-28","text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Senate","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 350 - 5 (Roll no. 139). (text: CR H3115-3116)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":true},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 350 - 5 (Roll no. 139). (text: CR H3115-3116)","type":"Floor","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":true},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3118-3119)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 227.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3115-3116)","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-04-27","text":"Mr. Carey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.","type":"Floor","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-01-07","text":"Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 370.","type":"Calendars","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-01-07","text":"Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-425.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2026-01-07","text":"Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 119-425.","type":"Committee","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-12-10","text":"Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-12-10","text":"Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held","type":"Committee","chamber":"House committee actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-01-07","text":"Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"House floor actions","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-01-07","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false},{"date":"2025-01-07","text":"Introduced in House","type":"IntroReferral","chamber":"Library of Congress","hasVote":false}],"summary":"<p><strong>Clergy Act</strong></p><p>This bill establishes a two-year window for certain members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners to revoke their exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes on ministerial earnings. Under current law, such individuals who object to participation in public insurance programs on religious or conscientious grounds may apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an irrevocable exemption and will not receive Social Security or Medicare benefits in retirement unless they have qualifying credits from other employment.</p><p>The IRS must develop a plan to inform members of the clergy and Christian Science practitioners of their eligibility to revoke prior exemptions, pursuant to the bill's changes.</p>","updateDate":"2026-07-18T00:02:53Z"},"markets":[],"stateBills":[],"meta":{"sources":["congress.gov"],"latencyMs":521,"ts":"2026-08-28T10:45:19.396Z"},"nextActions":{"inspect":[],"related":[{"description":"Search related legislation","method":"GET","url":"https://simplefunctions.dev/api/public/query-gov?q=Clergy%20Act"}]}}