{"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":"2026-01-07","text":"Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 370."},"policyArea":"Social Welfare","subjects":["Congressional oversight","Income tax exclusion","Religion","Social security and elderly assistance","Tax administration and collection, taxpayers"],"actions":[{"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":"2026-02-27T19:20:22Z"},"markets":[],"stateBills":[],"meta":{"sources":["congress.gov"],"latencyMs":365,"ts":"2026-04-15T12:49:18.012Z"},"nextActions":{"inspect":[],"related":[{"description":"Search related legislation","method":"GET","url":"/api/public/query-gov?q=Clergy%20Act"}]}}