Senate Passes Fong’s Clergy Act to Support Faith Leaders, Heads to President’s Desk

Image October 1, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed H.R. 227 , the Clergy Act. The Clergy Act, led by Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) in the U.S. Senate, marks a major step forward in giving pastors and clergy members greater retirement security. The Clergy Act establishes a one-time re-enrollment window for pastors and other clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security to voluntarily opt back in and begin contributing to their financial future. Some pastors opted out decades ago, often due to inaccurate advice, only to later face significant financial hardship. Under current law, this opt-out is permanent. For clergy who have spent their lives serving their communities and congregations, this legislation restores the freedom to secure basic financial protection in retirement. "Our faith leaders give everything to their communities in the Central Valley and across our nation. They deserve financial security in return," said Congressman Fong. "The Clergy Act gives clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security the opportunity to re-enroll and take control of their financial future. I am incredibly proud this legislation passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law. Thank you to Senator Britt for getting this across the finish line. It’s a monumental step towards taking care of the people who take care of our communities." "I'm thrilled that this bipartisan legislation passed the Senate unanimously. Members of the clergy are pillars of so many communities across our nation. They should have the opportunity to enroll back in Social Security, and now they will. I'm thankful for Senator Hassan's partnership in getting this legislation across the finish line in the Senate, as well as Congressman Vince Fong for leading this bill successfully through the House. I look forward to President Trump signing it into law," said Senator Britt. “Members of the clergy offer hope and guidance to Americans and their families every day – including no doubt many of the 70 million Americans who receive a monthly Social Security benefit,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith . “By providing a one-time window of opportunity for clergy – who opted out of Social Security but wish to rejoin – to restore their participation in the system, the Clergy Act will help them achieve a more secure retirement. I appreciate Representative Fong’s hard work on behalf of the faith leaders in his state of California and across this country who support communities with their wise and compassionate counsel.” “By giving clergy who previously opted out of Social Security an opportunity to opt back in, the Clergy Act will create a pathway to a stronger financial foundation in retirement for those who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities,” said Church Alliance Executive Director Christopher Wells. “The Church Alliance expresses its deepest gratitude to Reps. Fong and Thompson and Sens. Britt and Hassan for their leadership, and to all members and staff in the House and Senate who contributed to the passage of this impactful piece of legislation.” “I applaud the sponsors of the Clergy Act for shepherding this bill to final passage. This is an exciting moment for many pastors who may feel trapped by a decision they did not fully understand as they began their pastoral work,” said Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) President & CEO Michael Martin. “The temporary window this bipartisan bill opens for those ministers to re-enter the Social Security system is a reasonable allowance. Moreover, it will truly be a welcome breath of fresh air for these servant leaders.” “AARP is pleased to endorse this bipartisan and common-sense legislation to allow clergy members to opt back into earning Social Security and Medicare benefits for retirement,” said Jennifer Jones, Vice President, Financial Security and Livable Communities, AARP. “We are grateful to Congressman Vince Fong for his strong leadership in advancing the Clergy Act. This legislation provides many eligible ministers an opportunity to strengthen their financial security and resilience as they prepare for retirement. Congressman Fong's efforts will benefit pastors and ministry families for years to come," said Dr. D. Hance Dilbeck Jr., President and CEO of GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. “Many pastors will be helped and blessed by this legislation. We are thankful to Congressman Fong and others who have worked diligently to make this possible,” said Dr. Paul Chappell, Pastor, Lancaster Baptist Church. “Southern Baptists care deeply about ensuring that our ministers and their families are cared for in retirement after their years of devoting themselves to God’s call to ministry. We are grateful to House and Senate leadership, Sen. Katie Britt, Rep. Vince Fong, and coalition partners, for their tremendous efforts in moving this legislation forward. The ERLC encourages President Trump to swiftly sign the Clergy Act into law and reopen the pathway for ministers to plan for their retirement through Social Security, if they so choose,” said President Dr. Evan Lenow, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention Background on the Clergy Act The Clergy Act creates a two-year window – covering taxable years beginning January 1, 2029, and January 1, 2030 – for eligible clergy members who previously opted out of Social Security to revoke their exemption and begin contributing. Importantly, this legislation does not modify existing Social Security regulations. Eligible clergy must still meet the standard 10-year contribution requirement to earn full retired-worker benefits, receiving benefits proportional to their contributions. The bill also requires the Internal Revenue System (IRS) and Social Security Administration to submit a plan to Congress outlining their strategy to inform clergy members of their eligibility to re-enroll. Historically, Congress has approved limited re-enrollment windows, including in 1999 under the Ticket to Work Act. The legislation was co-led in the House by Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-04). It passed the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously, with a vote of 40-0. In April, it overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support 350-5. The bill now moves to President Trump’s desk. Issues : Congress Economy