Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act
The summary
What this bill does
Health Care Worker and First Responder Fairness Act
This bill exempts from the Social Security Retirement Earnings Test (RET) wages earned through work as a health care professional or first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the RET, benefits are reduced for beneficiaries who are younger than full retirement age if they earn wages in excess of a specified annual limit.
Further, the Social Security Administration may issue waivers to individuals employed as health care professionals or first responders during a declared public health emergency in which there is a shortage of health care workers. Wages earned by individuals granted waivers during a public health emergency are exempt from the RET.
Legislative timeline
From introduction
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced & referred to committee
Congressional support
Sponsors & Cosponsors
U.S. Representative - PA District 15 · R-PA
Roll-call vote
The vote, by member
The vote, by member
VERSION CHANGES
What changed,
and where.
Loading the bill text comparison.
Bill Metadata
| Congress | 119 |
| Bill Type | HR |
| Bill Number | 6543 |
| Origin Chamber | House |
| Current Status | Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. |
| Policy Area | Social Welfare |
| Primary Committee | Not assigned |
| Introduced | December 9, 2025 |
| Latest Action | December 9, 2025 |
| Cosponsors | 2 · House vote — · 1 views |