WEP, GOP Repeal Passes House, Federal Groups Urge Senate Action
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation repealing the longstanding Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce the amount of Social Security benefits that some public employees like law enforcement and educators receive.
The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) passed the House by a vote of 327-75.
It was brought to the House floor after its two sponsors, Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), secured 218 signatures to file a discharge position and force a floor vote.
WEP, which impacts about two million Social Security beneficiaries, reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.
The GPO, which affects about 800,000 retirees, reduces the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension by two-thirds.
“By passing the Social Security Fairness Act, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives showed up for the millions of Americans — police officers, teachers, firefighters, and other local and state public servants — who worked a second job to make ends meet or began a second career to support their families after retiring from public service. A bipartisan majority of the U.S. House voted to provide a secure retirement to the hundreds of thousands of spouses, widows, and widowers who are denied their spouses’ Social Security benefits simply because they chose careers of service,” said Representatives Spanberger and Graves in a statement.
Senate Up Next
The legislation heads to the Senate where 62 Senators have already signed on as cosponsors.
“We encourage Senate leadership to build upon this clear momentum, bring our bipartisan effort up for a vote and deliver retirement security to Americans who have earned it,” said Representatives Spanberger and Graves.
Federal labor groups and public employee organizations around the nation urged quick action in the Senate, noting that a discharge position is not available in the upper chamber.
“In the Senate, we have the votes to defeat a filibuster, but it has to be brought to a vote,” National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) staff vice president of policy and programs John Hatton told Federal News Network. “But somebody may object to proceeding, which could cause a two-week or so delay in getting it through.”
Hatton noted that a big challenge will be convincing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that the legislation is a priority, given that the Senate also must work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and other pending bills.
Still, federal groups are hopeful.
“For 40 years, millions of public servants have seen their benefits stolen by a grossly unfair system. Now that the Social Security Fairness Act has passed the House, we are one step closer to fully repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Make no mistake, this is a remarkable occasion,” said Patrick Yoes, National President, National Fraternal Order of Police.