S. 657: Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025
A Senate bill (S.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Senate bill (S.) |
| Originating chamber | Senate |
| Introduced | 2025-02-20 |
| Sponsor | Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] |
| Policy area | Science, Technology, Communications |
| Cosponsors | 4 |
| Latest action | 2025-02-20 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. |
| Last updated | 2025-08-04 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in Senate, 2025-02-20):
Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025
This bill permits individuals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad to collect Social Security benefits based on average national wages for months in which they were held hostage or detained.
Specifically, for purposes of determining Social Security benefits based on an individual’s wages or self-employment income, the bill directs the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deem qualifying individuals to have been paid a monthly portion of the national average wage index for any month during which the individual was held hostage or unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad. (The national average wage index is determined annually by the SSA.) Deemed wages must apply for any affected month before the individual reaches the statutory retirement age (generally between ages 65 and 67).
A qualifying individual is a U.S. national (1) determined by the Department of State to have been unlawfully or wrongfully detained abroad, or (2) determined by the interagency Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell to have been taken hostage abroad.
A qualifying individual or an individual entitled to benefits on the basis of a qualifying individual’s wages and income must apply to the SSA in order to receive deemed wages for affected months. These provisions do not apply if a larger benefit would be available without the application of deemed wages.
Cosponsors (4)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Bill Cassidy | R LA (original cosponsor) 2025-02-20 |
| Tim Kaine | D VA (original cosponsor) 2025-02-20 |
| Susan M. Collins | R ME (original cosponsor) 2025-02-20 |
| Ron Wyden | D OR (original cosponsor) 2025-02-20 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for S. 657 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
Frequently asked questions
What is S. 657?
S. 657 is a Senate bill (S.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the Senate. Official title: Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025.
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for S. 657 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).