WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: National Groups Applaud Spanberger-Graves Discharge Petition Reaching 218 Signatures, Thank Lawmakers for Work to Force U.S. House Vote on Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate WEP & GPO

The Bipartisan “Social Security Fairness Act” Would Eliminate Two Provisions of the “Social Security Act” That Unfairly Reduce Benefits for Millions of Americans Who Have Devoted Much of Their Careers to Public Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the discharge petition led by U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Garret Graves (R-LA-06) reaching the 218 signatures necessary to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on their bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act to eliminate both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), several organizations representing the interests of America’s public servants celebrated this progress, applauded the lawmakers who led and supported this effort, and urged swift votes in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

Earlier this month, Spanberger and Graves filed a discharge petition to force a vote on their bipartisan legislation that would eliminate both the WEP and GPO. These two provisions unfairly reduce or eliminate earned Social Security benefits for approximately 2.8 million Americans who’ve devoted much of their careers to public service — including police officers, firefighters, educators, and federal, state, and local government employees.

After this major milestone was reached, the National Fraternal Order of Police, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Association of Police Organizations, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, National Treasury Employees Union, Senior Citizens League, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, American Federation of School Administrators, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and California Retired Teachers Association shared their strong support.

“For 40 years, millions of public servants have seen their benefits stolen by a grossly unfair system. Now, the ‘Social Security Fairness Act’ is guaranteed to receive a vote on the floor on the U.S. House of Representatives. If the bill passes, we will be one step closer to the full repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. I want to thank the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Garret N. Graves (R-LA) and Abigail D. Spanberger (D-VA), for their instrumental roles in helping get us to this point. It is a momentous occasion,” said Patrick Yoes, National President, National Fraternal Order of Police. “We need the vote in the House and then we need to get time on the Senate floor.”

“For decades, Social Security benefits have been stolen from retired fire fighters simply because they chose a career in public service. We are excited to see a majority of House Members clearly demand that we stop this shameful denial of benefits. The success of this discharge petition is a historic event and sends the message that our nation values retired fire fighters and fairness,” said Edward A. Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters. “We now turn our focus to the House Floor to demand the passage of H.R. 82. The IAFF also applauds Representatives Spanberger and Graves for their courageous and bipartisan leadership to ensure our retirees have a dignified and secure retirement.”

“For over 40 years, the GPO and WEP have been harming the retirement security of our nation’s public safety officers simply because they chose a public service profession by taking away hard-earned and much needed benefits. NAPO is grateful to every Member of Congress who stood with us and signed the discharge petition to allow the Social Security Fairness Act to finally come to the floor for a vote,” said Mick McHale, President, National Association of Police Organizations. “We also thanks Representatives Graves and Spanberger for their steadfast leadership and advocacy on behalf of our public servants. NAPO and all our 241,000 members stand with them to right this decades-long wrong and preserve and restore the retirement security of those who selflessly serve and protect our communities.”

“WEP and GPO penalize hardworking Americans for serving their communities, states, and country, simply because they earned a pension through that service. With 218 signatures on the discharge petition to bring H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, to the House floor, public servants will finally get the vote they deserve,” said William “Bill” Shackelford, National President, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. “I would like to express heartfelt appreciation to every member of the House who signed the petition. You give voice to the millions to public servants impacted by these penalties. I would also like to thank the legion of grassroots advocates from NARFE and other allied organizations who engaged with their members of Congress to make sure they heard the views of their constituents on this issue. Your efforts made this achievement possible.”

“For too long, countless public service workers and their families have unjustly been denied the Social Security benefits they earned. And too often, they’ve been forced to work well into their golden years to survive,” said Lee Saunders, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “We celebrate the progress made on bringing the Social Security Fairness Act to the front of the agenda, and we urge the House and Senate to move quickly and vote to pass this critical, bipartisan legislation. After a lifetime of strengthening our communities, our nation’s public service workers deserve what they sacrificed for – the freedom to retire with dignity.”

“The National Association of Letter Carriers appreciates Rep. Graves and Rep. Spanberger’s leadership on this issue that affects many retired letter carriers. We are grateful to every single member who signed the discharge petition and look forward to their support when the bill comes to the House floor for a vote,” said Brian Renfroe, President, National Association of Letter Carriers. “For far too long, letter carriers and our fellow retired public servants have been robbed of their hard-earned retirement benefits. We are closer than ever to righting this wrong, and NALC is committed to continuing our advocacy to finally get this bill signed into law.”

“The NRLCA applauds Rep. Graves and Rep. Spanberger for their leadership on repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset,” said Don Maston, President, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association. “We would also like to thank all the Members who signed the discharge petition to end the unjust penalties that impact many of our retirees by reducing their hard-earned retirement benefits.

“NTEU appreciates all of the hard work Reps. Graves and Spanberger have done leading on H.R. 82 and we want to thank every Member of Congress who signed on to the discharge petition,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President, National Treasury Employees Union. “We look forward to seeing the full House finally vote to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.”

“The discharge petition for H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, with the necessary 218 signatures, is applauded by The Senior Citizens League. This bipartisan petition and its signers are helping to restore faith in government among those affected by the WEP and GPO,” said Shannon Benton, Executive Director, The Senior Citizens League. “This effort demonstrates that the government can take meaningful action, cares about its public servants impacted by this issue, and is committed to making a difference. The league looks forward to the bill getting to the House floor for a vote!”

“For far too long educators, school support staff and public employees have seen their Social Security benefits decimated by the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. Yesterday, because of the ceaseless organizing of activists from across the country, 218 members of Congress signed a discharge petition demanding that a bill repealing WEP and GPO be voted on, so hardworking folks and retirees aren’t subject to benefit reductions that impact their ability to afford basic necessities,” said Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers. “This is a historic milestone in the fight for economic dignity in retirement, and it’s time for Congress to get the job done and finally pass the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82).”

“Educators dedicate their lives to public service, but when it’s time to retire, far too many find that they have been stripped of Social Security and retirement benefits due to an unjust and morally wrong penalty. Not only do the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) exclusively punish educators, firefighters, and police officers, but these laws discourage people from pursuing public service careers,” said Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association. “Today marks a major milestone brought forth by the tireless advocacy of educators and other public servants. On behalf of the 3 million members of the National Education Association, I urge Congress to bring up the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act as soon as possible because this bill would help eliminate the unfair penalty for retirement benefits. Record levels of Americans are demanding a change to these archaic and punitive laws. The time to act is now because everyone should be able to retire with dignity and receive the benefits they earned through a lifetime of public service.”

“The American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) fully endorses the Social Security Fairness Act because repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) is essential to restoring fairness for educators and other public employees. For decades, these dedicated workers have been unfairly penalized in retirement. It’s time to eliminate these unjust penalties and restore the retirement security of those who have devoted their careers to serving the public and their communities,” said Len Pugliese, President, American Federation of School Administrators. “The bipartisan support for this legislation shows widespread recognition that public servants have been disproportionately harmed by these provisions. Representatives Spanberger and Graves deserve high praise for their leadership in overturning decades of harmful policy.”

“We are witnessing a historic moment as the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) secures enough signatures on a discharge petition allowing Congress to vote on this issue, which has been debated for more than forty years. As a police officer with 24 years of service, I have seen firsthand how the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) has penalized the retirement security of those dedicated to public service,” said Brian R. Marvel, President, Peace Officers Research Association of California. “These provisions have unjustly slashed benefits of peace officers and public employees they’ve earned simply because they receive a government pension. This landmark achievement brings us closer than ever to restoring fairness and financial stability for our nation’s heroes. I am deeply grateful to Representatives Graves and Spanberger, all those who cosponsored and signed this discharge petition, and our coalition advocates who have fought tirelessly to right this long-standing wrong.”

“As President of the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA), I’m thrilled to announce that the discharge petition for H.R. 82 has reached the 218 signatures needed, marking a significant step in our fight to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Congressman Graves, Congresswoman Spanberger, and all California Congress members who supported HR 82. Some missed the chance to sign today before the petition was locked, but their commitment remains unwavering,” Suzie Dixon, President, California Retired Teachers Association. “This victory is a testament to the relentless efforts of numerous organizations working together non-partisanly. Together, we contacted officials and stood firm in our cause. I am incredibly proud to work such a dedicated group of advocates who have demonstrated the power of unified action in repealing these unjust penalties. THE TIME IS NOW.”

BACKGROUND

Spanberger and Graves reintroduced the Social Security Fairness Act in January 2023 at the start of the 118th Congress. In November 2023, Spanberger and Graves urged the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee to hold a hearing on reforms to the WEP and GPO — and a hearing was held later that month in St. George, Louisiana. In March 2024, the lawmakers urged the Committee to take the next step to eliminate the WEP and GPO by holding a markup on their bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act. Spanberger and Graves have consistently pushed for a vote on the bill.

Currently, the WEP reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. For example, educators who do not earn Social Security in public schools but who work part-time or during the summer in jobs covered by Social Security have reduced benefits, even though they pay into the system just like others. Likewise, the GPO affects the spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees — including police officers, firefighters, and educators — if the job is not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension.

The WEP currently impacts approximately 2 million Social Security beneficiaries, and the GPO impacts nearly 800,000 retirees.

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