The Social Security Fairness Act
Gains Overwhelming Bipartisan Support with 325 Cosponsors
The Social Security Fairness Act, a bill pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, would correct injustices by repealing both the WEP and GPO, ensuring that teachers, park rangers, and other public sector workers receive the full Social Security benefits they are entitled to.
Under current law, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces the Social Security benefits of individuals who received a pension from government employment. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduces benefits for those whose spouses received a government pension. Combined, these provisions have unfairly penalized retirees, denying them the full benefits they have earned over their careers. In 2023 alone, the WEP affected approximately 2.1 million retirees, while the GPO impacted around 750,000 spouses, widows, and widowers.
The bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to eliminate the WEP and GPO, has the support of 325 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. This exceeds the 218 signatures needed for a discharge petition to compel House Leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.
While the Social Security Fairness Act has broad bipartisan support, it has opposition from Republican leadership, who have introduced proposals to make cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, they propose to raise the Social Security retirement age, further affecting retirees' financial security.
The Social Security Fairness Act was reintroduced at the start of the 118th Congress in 2023 by Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA). They have urged the House Ways and Means Committee to hold hearings and advance the bill through the legislative process. Despite their efforts and broad bipartisan support, the bill has faced delays, largely due to the Republican leadership's stance.
The Social Security Fairness Act represents a crucial effort to rectify inequities that have persisted for decades, affecting millions of Americans dedicated to public service. The bill's proponents argue that eliminating the WEP and GPO is not only a matter of fairness but also a necessary step to uphold the promises made to public servants who have worked tirelessly for the public good and deserve the same retirement security as every other American who has paid into the Social Security system.
Article by AFT Maryland staff
2024-08-30