WHAT THEY SAY: National groups applaud the U.S. Senate’s passage of the Spanberger Social Security Fairness Act to repeal WEP and GPO and provide long-overdue justice for police officers, firefighters and government workers

Congresswomen’s bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act would repeal two provisions of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce earned retirement benefits for nearly 2.5 million Americans, including more than 50,000 Virginia residents

WASHINGTON, D.C – After the U.S. Senate late night passed U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s bipartisan bill to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), several organizations representing the interests of America’s public servants celebrated , this final step in passing this legislation to the President’s desk for his signature.

The non-partisan Social Security Equity Act is led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Spanberger and U.S. Representative Garret Graves (R-LA-06) and in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Once signed into law by President Biden, this legislation will eliminate both the WEP and the GPO, two provisions of Social Security that unfairly reduce or eliminate earned retirement benefits more than 50,000 Virginians – and more than 2.4 million Americans across the United States. Affected retirees dedicated much of their careers to public service – including police officers, firefighters, educators and federal, state and local government employees.

After the passage of the US Senate Social Security Equity Actthe National Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, the American Federation of Government Employees, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, the National Education Association and Peace Officers Research Association of California welcomed this bill presented to the President to address this fundamental equity issue.

“Today’s vote is the result of hard work by many people who have advocated for Social Security justice for years, and without that truly bipartisan effort we would not have gotten this through Congress.” said Patrick Yoes, national president of the National Fraternal Order of Police. “The FOP and its members are forever grateful to Representatives Graves and Spanberger, who guided us through the House with such success, and to Senators Brown, Collins and Schumer, who kept their promise to hold this historic vote today. “

“The Social Security Equity Act gives retired firefighters and millions of other dedicated public servants the benefits they earned and paid for.” said Edward A. Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. “The IAFF commends Congress for ending this theft and we thank Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Garret Graves and Senators Sherrod Brown and Susan Collins for championing this bipartisan legislation.”

“Since these two unfair penalties went into effect, NARFE has opposed WEP and GPO for unfairly punishing hard-working public servants through reduced Social Security benefits. We would not have reached this point without the dedication and persistence of grassroots activists who have consistently advocated for the repeal of these unfair penalties. Now millions will be relieved of these regulations and can enjoy a more secure retirement.” said William “Bill” Shackelford, national president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. “Thank you to our support in the House of Representatives that got us here this year, especially Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA, who built and maintained support in the House and led the dismissal petition to get a vote on force. Without their leadership, we would not have achieved this victory.”

“With the passage of the Social Security Equity Act“Americans will no longer have to watch as the Social Security benefits they have worked for and earned are taken away by the WEP and GPO.” said Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees. “We applaud the strong bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate that supported this long-overdue solution and call on President Biden to quickly sign the bill into law.”

“This historic victory for public workers is the result of continued advocacy and perseverance. For years, AFSCME members have been sounding the alarm about GPO-WEP, which denies some public workers their Social Security benefits simply because they pursue careers that help others.” said Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees. “Thanks to Senator Sherrod Brown, who has advocated for repeal of GPO-WEP for over a decade, and the support of a broad coalition of union members who have organized tirelessly, over two million public workers will finally have access to Social Security benefits. “ They spent their careers paying money for it. Many will finally be able to enjoy retirement after a lifetime of service. We applaud the Senate for passing this legislation and urge President Biden to sign the bill as quickly as possible.”

“On behalf of the NRLCA, I applaud the Senate for passing H.R. 82 to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Both WEP and GPO unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits that rural letter carriers and other federal and postal workers receive by reducing their hard-earned retirement benefits. “Retirees should not be penalized for choosing a career in public service,” said Don Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association. “With the passage of H.R. 82, retirees affected by these two unfair provisions will receive the retirement benefits they deserve. I want to thank Representatives Graves and Spanberger for their leadership in the House and Senator Brown, Senator Collins and Majority Leader Schumer for their leadership in the Senate.

“This historic victory will improve the lives of educators, first responders, postal workers and others who dedicate their lives to public service in their communities. NEA members fought endlessly to repeal these discriminatory and punitive laws that have harmed educators and their families – and have harmed the education profession, making it more difficult to attract and retain educators.” said Rebecca Pringle, president of the National Education Association. “Public workers have been waiting for this injustice to be righted for 40 years, and we are grateful that members of Congress, both in the House and now in the Senate, put their partisan politics aside to come together and pass the bill Social Security Equity Act.”

“Everyone knows a teacher, a firefighter, a police officer, a nurse or a public servant who pays into Social Security year after year, only to be cut in retirement by the Windfall Elimination Provision and the state pension equalization. Now, with the passage of Congress Social Security Equity Act“We are one step away from these penalties being consigned to the dustbin of history where they belong.” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “By ensuring a fair and secure retirement, we respect the workers who support our communities. And this is how we recruit and retain the next generation to help our country succeed. We are so grateful to Rep. Spanberger for her leadership and unwavering commitment to restoring justice for our retirees.”

“After decades of advocacy, we are incredibly proud to see this bill finally reach the President’s desk – repealing GPO/WEP will transform the lives of peace officers and civil servants across the country.” said Brian R. Marvel, president of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC). “It wasn’t an easy task. On behalf of the rank-and-file public servants here in California and across the country who risk their lives every day to protect and serve, I want to express our gratitude to the bill authors, co-sponsors and the broad coalition of advocacy partners, and every elected official, who voted for the bill, for helping to achieve this. Together, we have restored justice and dignity in retirement for civil servants who have paid into Social Security throughout their careers.”

BACKGROUND

Spanberger worked tirelessly to get her legislation through Congress. Last month — after Spanberger and U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA-06) received the necessary 218 signatures on their dismissal petition to force a vote on it Social Security Equity ActA bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the bill and send it to the U.S. Senate.

Spanberger and Graves reintroduced this Social Security Equity Act in January 2023 at the start of the 118th Congress. In November 2023, Spanberger and Graves urged the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee to hold a hearing on reforms to the WEP and GPO – and a hearing was held later that month. In March 2024, lawmakers asked the committee to take the next step toward repealing WEP and GPO by imposing a surcharge on their bipartisan lines Social Security Equity 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 state pension from a job not covered by Social Security. For example, public school teachers who do not receive Social Security but work part-time or in the summer in jobs that require Social Security receive lower benefits, even though they pay enough quarters into the system to receive benefits. Likewise, the GPO affects the spousal benefits of individuals 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 cuts the benefits received by surviving spouses who also receive a state pension by two-thirds – and often offsets the benefits entirely.

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