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Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Hearing on Due Process and Administrative Law Judges
Record date · January 1, 2016
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What This Bill Does
This Senate subcommittee hearing examined the role, independence, and hiring process of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) within the federal government, specifically focusing on the Social Security Administration. The discussion addressed concerns regarding the agency's ability to hire enough judges to manage the growing backlog of disability claims.
The hearing addresses the efficiency and fairness of the federal disability claims process, which directly impacts the timeline and quality of decisions for citizens seeking Social Security benefits.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Disability claimants
The speed and fairness of their benefit determinations depend on the availability and independence of ALJs.
Administrative Law Judges
Their hiring process, independence, and workload are the primary subjects of the subcommittee's oversight.
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on May 12, 2016, by the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management.
- Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are executive branch employees tasked with presiding over formal administrative adjudications.
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is responsible for reviewing qualifications and hiring ALJs for the federal government.
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) employs the largest number of federal ALJs.
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- Congress appropriated significant resources over the four years preceding 2016 to help the SSA hire more ALJs.
- The SSA has faced challenges in hiring a sufficient number of ALJs to address the backlog of disability claims despite increased funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Administrative Law Judge?
Why is the Social Security Administration mentioned so frequently?
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News Coverage
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Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Hiring Bottleneck
Despite increased congressional funding, the SSA was unable to convert those resources into a sufficient increase in ALJ staffing.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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