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H.R. 227: Clergy Act

119th Congress · introduced 2025-01-07 · Social Welfare · Latest: Became Public Law No: 119-125.

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Official title

Clergy Act

Plain summary

Clergy Act This act establishes a two-year window for members of the clergy who have opted out of Social Security and Medicare taxes (and are thus ineligible for benefits under those programs) to opt back in. Under current law, certain ministers, members of religious orders, and Christian Science practitioners who object to participation in public insurance programs on religious or conscientious grounds may apply to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes on ministerial earnings. Individuals who are approved for the exemption do not receive Social Security or Medicare benefits in retirement unless they have qualifying credits from other employment. The exemption is irrevocable. Under the act, clergy members may choose to revoke their exemption by filing an application with the IRS by the due date of their federal income tax return for the second taxable year after December 31, 2028 (i.e., April 15, 2031, unless an individual obtains an extension to file their taxes). A clergy member may choose for the revocation to take effect in taxable year 2029 or taxable year 2030. A revocation under the act is permanent. Clergy members who opt back in will generally need 10 years of covered employment (40 credits) to be eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits, as is currently required for these programs. The IRS must develop a plan to inform clergy members of their eligibility to revoke prior exemptions, pursuant to the act's changes.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

The strongest published arguments

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20] · 21 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 227, Clergy Act (2026-02-27)

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Rudy Yakym III (R-IN), Ron Estes (R-KS), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Mike Carey (R-OH), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Gregory F. Murphy (R-NC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Fong, Vince [R-CA-20] reported raising $2.4 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

• House roll call 139 (2026): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H R 227 (2026-04-27): Passed

Sources

• Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
• Congress.gov
• Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr227.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr227 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills