Biden once introduced bill to 'sunset' federal programs similar to one for which he criticized GOP

President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address Tuesday night accused Republicans of supporting a sunset provision for federal programs, despite him having introduced similar if not more austere legislation as a senator.

During his first term in the Senate, in 1975, Biden introduced legislation that would have limited budget authority for all federal programs to between four and six years, which experts say would have required new legislation to fund Medicare, Social Security and other federal programs, according to The Hill newspaper.  

On Tuesday night, Biden said, "Some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset," in likely reference to a bill introduced by Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott in 2021 titled, "Federal Agency Sunset Commission Act."

Texas GOP Rep. Michael Cloud introduced a related bill in the House that year.

"I’ve never advocated cutting Social Security or Medicare and never would," Scott tweeted in defense of his legislation. He also said: "I don't have a bill to sunset Medicare and Social Security, but @JoeBiden did."

Scott's legislation would create a "Federal Agency Sunset Commission to submit to Congress a schedule for review and abolishment of each agency," according to a summary of the bill. "Each agency shall be abolished unless reauthorized by Congress."

It is unclear whether Congress would need to vote to reauthorize the Social Security Administration or the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees medicare.