Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026
Protects Social Security payments from being offset to collect defaulted federal student loans.
In the Senate Finance Committee since Sept. 22, 2026, 16 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 22, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal student loan debt can be collected from borrowers who fall behind. The bill would protect Social Security payments from being offset to collect a defaulted federal student loan. The protection would cover loans made, insured, or guaranteed under the Higher Education Act.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Protect Social Security payments
Would bar the Secretary of Education from offsetting payments due to an individual under the Social Security Act to collect a defaulted federal student loan.
The practical stakes are whether people who owe defaulted federal student loans can keep their Social Security payments intact, or whether the government can use those payments to collect the debt.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 22, 2026SENATESEP 22, 2026By Sen. Sanders with 9 original cosponsorsReferred to Finance
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 22, 2026FINANCE NOWSEP 22, 2026In committee for 16 daysNo hearing yet
- 16 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 222026SEP 22, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- SEP 222026SEP 22, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 16, this bill is already older than 5% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
A coalition from 7 states
Plus the sponsor, an independent. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, an independent. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Sanders’s record: sponsored 56 bills this Congress. 0 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Richard BlumenthalD-CTORIGINAL
- Kirsten E. GillibrandD-NYORIGINAL
- Mazie K. HironoD-HIORIGINAL
- Ed MarkeyD-MAORIGINAL
- Jeff MerkleyD-ORORIGINAL
- Alex PadillaD-CAORIGINAL
- Jack ReedD-RIORIGINAL
- Elizabeth WarrenD-MAORIGINAL
- Ron WydenD-ORORIGINAL
Coverage at a glance
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