Sánchez introduces bill to strengthen Social Security, help retirees with rising costs

June 11, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON – Ways and Means Committee member Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the Strengthening Social Security Act , a bill to increase Social Security benefits, ensure cost-of-living adjustments accurately reflect the real expenses seniors face and improve the long-term financial condition of the trust fund. The Social Security Administration released its 2026 Trustees’ Report this week warning the trust fund could reach depletion by 2032, one quarter earlier than previously projected, due in part to President Trump's tax law passed by Republicans last year. The bill would prevent that by phasing out the income tax cap to protect the benefits that retirees have earned. “Seniors paid into Social Security their whole lives on the promise it would be there when they needed it,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “That promise is now at risk when too many retirees are already struggling to afford groceries, medicine and housing. The trust fund is heading toward insolvency and we must act. The single most important thing we can do to protect Social Security’s future is phase out the income cap so the wealthy finally pay their fair share. That alone would dramatically extend the life of the program. Our bill will also fix the cost-of-living formula so benefits actually keep up with what seniors spend.” The Strengthening Social Security Act would: Increase monthly benefits for current and future retirees. Replace the consumer price index from CPI-W (Wage Earners) with CPI-E (Elderly) for calculating cost-of-living adjustments to better reflect the financial needs of retirees. Phase out the taxable cap of $184,500 to ensure wealthy individuals pay their fair share into the program. Increase widow and widower benefits to the greater of 75 percent of combined benefits or the Primary Insurance Amount. Through these changes, the nearly 75 million Americans who rely on Social Security can expect higher benefits and cost-of-living adjustments that more accurately reflect their real expenses. While more work remains to preserve and protect Social Security for future generations, these changes are an important first step toward giving retirees the financial security they have earned. In addition to Representative Sánchez, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Janice Schawkowsky (D-Ill.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The bill is endorsed by the National Education Association and Alliance for Retired Americans. ### Issues : Seniors Tax Policy