# 119-s-657: Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025

119-s-657, Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-657
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-657
- Congress: 119
- Title: Retirement Security for American Hostages Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-20
- Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**This bill would let U.S. nationals held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad be credited with a set amount of** **deemed national average wages** for each month they were detained so Social Security benefits and lump-sum death payments can be calculated as if they had earned those wages. - Eligible detained individuals would be treated as having been paid each qualifying month an amount equal to 1/12 of the national average wage index for the second calendar year before the month in question. This applies only to months before the person's statutory retirement age. - A qualifying individual or anyone claiming benefits on that person's record must apply to the Social Security Administration and provide federal documentation of the detention or hostage period. Deemed wages are not used if a larger benefit is already available without them. - The Social Security Administration would need to issue implementing regulations within 1 year and the rule would take effect 24 months after enactment.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (R-LA), 2025-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA), 2025-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] (R-ME), 2025-02-20T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2025-02-20T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Deemed Social Security wages for hostages: benefit, high. If enacted, this bill would treat each month you were held hostage abroad as if you earned 1/12 of the national average wage index for the year two years before that month. That deemed wage would be used to decide whether you or your survivors qualify for monthly Social Security benefits and to com…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act
- 119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former United States Senator for the State of Kansas.
- 119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewellyn Kyl, former Senator for the State of Arizona.
- 119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham, a Senator from the State of South Carolina.
- 119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for the State of Michigan.
- 119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for the State of California.

## Sources
- [119-s-657 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/657)

## Related
- [119-s-1032: Major Richard Star Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1032)
- [119-sres-913: A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Nancy Kassebaum, former Uni…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-913)
- [119-sres-897: A resolution honoring the life, service, and legacy of the Honorable Jon Llewel…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-897)
- [119-sres-801: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the Honorable Lindsey Olin Graham,…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-801)
- [119-sres-755: A resolution honoring the life of the Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former S…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-755)
- [119-sres-739: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of John Seymour, the late Senator for…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-sres-739)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-657 (as of 2025-12-21).