Jason Smith

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act introduced by the Committee on Ways and Means Health Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Buchanan, and Congressman Dwight Evans. I think one of the healthcare-related conversations that frustrates a lot of us around here is the typical year-end healthcare policy extender mess. The legislation in front of us takes the successful hospital at home program and removes it from that chaos by providing it with a renewed 5-year authorization so more Americans can receive care in the comfort and convenience of their own home. Hospital at home has become embedded in the fabric of our healthcare system. More than 400 hospitals in nearly 40 States have participated in the program, which has built a track record of improved patient outcomes. In Health Subcommittee Chairman Buchanan's home State of Florida alone, there are 23 hospitals participating in this program. Hospital care provided at home cuts mortality rates, reduces the risk of falls and infections, and lowers recovery times. It also can save costs versus expensive in-person hospital visits. It is no wonder that 99 percent of patients said they were satisfied with the program. At a Ways and Means Committee hearing, we heard the incredible story of a hospital at home patient from North Carolina named Roy who was diagnosed with sepsis and initially treated in a hospital. There, he was disturbed by beeping sounds, uncomfortable in the hospital gown, and alone with no one able to visit him. His recovery was much better at home. He was able to sleep in his own bed and visit with friends and family. He also continued to receive the same level of care he would have otherwise received at the hospital. His recovery at home was rapid, complete, and without any infections. Mr. Speaker, I represent one of the most rural districts in America. The long drives to a hospital faced by people living in small towns in remote areas can make seeking care prohibitive. Hospital at home shrinks the physical distance stopping rural patients from getting care. Hospital at home has been a proven success for getting more Americans the healthcare that they need. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to approve this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5284) to require the Social Security Administration to make changes to the social security terminology used in the rules, regulation, guidance, or other materials of the Administration, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Claiming Age Clarity Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by my Ways and Means colleagues, Representative 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. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, no American entering retirement should lose out on their hard-earned Social Security benefits because the Social Security Administration failed to provide information in clear and understandable terms. We need to make it easier and not harder for individuals to plan for retirement in this country. The Claiming Age Clarity Act is a positive step in the right direction. Representatives Smucker and Beyer are to be commended for forging this bipartisan consensus on a policy that will improve retirement security and ensure the bureaucracy here in Washington better serves American seniors. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5345) to amend title VII of the Social Security Act to provide for a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration for individuals who are victims of identity theft, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the theft and misuse of Social Security numbers has become a very serious problem in our country. In 2024 alone, there were over 3,000 reported data breaches, and over half of them included compromised Social Security numbers. For victims, the fallout can be overwhelming. Instead of finding clear guidance at the Social Security Administration to deal with this stressful situation, too many folks are bounced from one office to another. They receive conflicting instructions and spend months trying to resolve what should be a straightforward issue. During a previous Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security hearing, we heard directly from a mother about how a single point of contact at the Social Security office would have been beneficial in helping her deal with the fallout from her daughter's Social Security number being compromised. Protecting Americans from identity theft is not a partisan issue. This bill provides a simple and commonsense fix to provide victims of identity theft with a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration when their number is lost or compromised. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman David Kustoff for his leadership on this bill. Thanks to his work, victims of identity theft whose Social Security numbers have been compromised will get the help that they so need. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, identity theft has become a major issue in our country. One of the main ways that bad actors exploit victims is through the misuse of their Social Security number. Unfortunately, when people contact the Social Security Administration for help with a stolen or missing Social Security number, they are often met with red tape, waiting for callbacks, confusion, and conflicting information. Callers will get bounced around to multiple SSA employees or have go through different processes just to get the help that they need. This bill sponsored by Representative Kustoff will make it easier for Americans to resolve issues with stolen or missing Social Security numbers by providing them with a single point of contact at the SSA. I, once again, want to thank Representative Kustoff for his great leadership on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'', and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5348) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to provide for the reissuance of social security account numbers to young children in cases where confidentiality has been compromised, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, a lost or stolen Social Security number can cause a lifetime of harm to American children. Every year, more than a million children become victims of identity fraud. Current Social Security Administration policy makes it extremely difficult for families to get a new Social Security number for a child, even when families know the original number was compromised through no fault of their own. Previously, the Ways and Means Committee heard direct testimony from a mother who had to battle with the Social Security Administration when her 1-month-old child's Social Security number was compromised, and she was denied a new number. This bill, the Social Security Child Protection Act of 2025, sponsored by Representative Smucker, will help families when their child's Social Security number is lost or stolen. It requires the SSA to issue a new number to children under the age of 14 when the child's card has been compromised versus sitting around and waiting for a malicious act to take place. This is a straightforward solution that will help protect children and families from fraud. I urge my colleagues to support this so we can continue to stand together to better safeguard the identities of American kids. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker).

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. A mother testifying before the Ways and Means Committee told us how it took ``hours of effort over months'' to protect her daughter from identity theft and that ``the threat will never completely go away unless she is assigned a new Social Security number.'' This mother had to battle with the SSA after her infant daughter's Social Security number was compromised. Unfortunately, the story is all too common for millions of Americans who have had their Social Security numbers stolen or misused each year. By taking swift action today, we can prevent a lifetime of financial harm to American children across the country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5346) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform certain penalty and interest provisions, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Fair and Accountable IRS Reviews Act introduced by our colleague, Representative Glenn Grothman. While not a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, I know Representative Grothman to be a tireless advocate for American taxpayers, as represented by this important piece of legislation that will go a very long way toward protecting their rights. The legislation ensures that rogue IRS employees are not able to unfairly impose penalties and fines on taxpayers without going through proper channels of authorization and doing so in a timely manner. Right now, an IRS agent can impose a penalty on an American taxpayer before obtaining a supervisor's approval. Moreover, they can shop around for any other employee at the agency that they wish to seek permission from since current law does not require approval from a direct supervisor. These loopholes undermine the no-signature, no-penalty principle. Representative Grothman's bill received unanimous support at the Committee on Ways and Means. It is an important policy reform that will reinforce fair treatment of taxpayers at the IRS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).