WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following remarks during debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on H.R. 5284, the Claiming Age Clarity Act.

As prepared for delivery.

“I rise in support of the Claiming Age Clarity Act – bipartisan legislation introduced by my Ways and Means colleagues Representatives Lloyd Smucker and Don Beyer. 

“Planning for one’s retirement can be stressful enough without having to interpret needlessly complicated terminology. Unfortunately, millions of Americans claiming Social Security today often face confusing and misleading terms used by the agency that make it that much harder to make informed decisions about one’s financial future. 

“Under the legislation before us, the Social Security Administration will be required to update the agency’s language to make it clearer and more straightforward. This will help ensure that Americans do not accidentally claim benefits earlier than they should, are completely informed, and don’t potentially miss out on substantial income during their retirement years. 

“This is critical for the nearly 100,000 citizens living in Representative Smucker’s district and the over 80,000 in Representative Beyer’s district who are nearing retirement age today. It is why organizations like the AARP, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Association of Mature American Citizens have come out in support of this bill – which received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Ways and Means Committee.”