118 STAT. 512 PUBLIC LAW 108–203—MAR. 2, 2004 SEC. 205. REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS CLAIM ANT REPRESENTATIVES. Section 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1)) is amended by inserting after the second sentence the following: ‘‘Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, the Commissioner, after due notice and opportunity for hearing, (A) may refuse to recognize as a representative, and may disqualify a representative already recognized, any attorney who has been disbarred or suspended from any court or bar to which he or she was previously admitted to practice or who has been disqualified from participating in or appearing before any Federal program or agency, and (B) may refuse to recognize, and may disqualify, as a non attorney represent ative any attorney who has been disbarred or suspended from any court or bar to which he or she was previously admitted to practice. A representative who has been disqualified or sus pended pursuant to this section from appearing before the Social Security Administration as a result of collecting or receiving a fee in excess of the amount authorized shall be barred from appearing before the Social Security Administration as a representa tive until full restitution is made to the claimant and, thereafter, may be considered for reinstatement only under such rules as the Commissioner may prescribe.’’. SEC. 206. CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR CORRUPT OR FORCIBLE INTER FERENCE WITH ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACT. Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1129A the following: ‘‘ATTEMPTS TO INTERFERE WITH ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY ACT ‘‘SEC. 1129B. Whoever corruptly or by force or threats of force (including any threatening letter or communication) attempts to intimidate or impede any officer, employee, or contractor of the Social Security Administration (including any State employee of a disability determination service or any other individual designated by the Commissioner of Social Security) acting in an official capacity to carry out a duty under this Act, or in any other way corruptly or by force or threats of force (including any threatening letter or communication) obstructs or impedes, or attempts to obstruct or impede, the due administration of this Act, shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both, except that if the offense is committed only by threats of force, the person shall be fined not more than $3,000, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. In this subsection, the term ‘threats of force’ means threats of harm to the officer or employee of the United States or to a contractor of the Social Security Administra tion, or to a member of the family of such an officer or employee or contractor.’’. SEC. 207. USE OF SYMBOLS, EMBLEMS, OR NAMES IN REFERENCE TO SOCIAL SECURITY OR MEDICARE. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1140(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–10(a)(1)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘ ‘Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’,’’ after ‘‘ ‘Health Care Financing Adminis tration’,’’, by striking ‘‘or ‘Medicaid’, ’’ and inserting ‘‘ ‘Medicaid’, 42 USC 1320a–8b.
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