FMA has worked for years on the effort to repeal or mitigate the GPO and WEP, and Congress is the closest it has ever been to advancing a full repeal. The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), FMA-endorsed legislation sponsored by Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) would eliminate both the GPO and WEP. H.R. 82 now has 303 cosponsors, or nearly 70 percent of the House of Representatives. Because of its strong support, the bill could be considered for a vote on the House floor. House rules allow a member of Congress to file a motion to place their legislation on the Consensus Calendar if it has at least 290 cosponsors for 25 legislative days.

In a press release, Rep. Davis wrote 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 the 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. WEP also affects people who move from a job in which they earn Social Security to a job, such as teaching, in which they do not.

“GPO affects the spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees – including educators, police officers, and firefighters – if the job is not covered by Social Security. GPO reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension. Nine out of 10 public employees affected by GPO lose their entire spousal benefit, even though their spouse paid Social Security taxes for many years.”

In a September 20 letter of support sent to all members of the House, the Federal-Postal Coalition wrote:

“Repeal of these provisions is long overdue. Social Security is a critical source of income for our nation’s retirees, yet we have allowed needless discrimination against retired public servants for far too long. These individuals paid Social Security taxes in connection with covered work (e.g., in the private sector), earning their Social Security benefits. Yet because they chose careers in public service and earned a pension through that service, their earned Social Security benefits are significantly reduced - or even eliminated. These penalties discourage public service and hamper the retirement security of those with long careers benefiting this nation.

The Federal-Postal Coalition is encouraged to see that a bipartisan majority of Representatives support ending these unjust penalties and thank all who have cosponsored the bill. Alongside a broad coalition of workers across the country, these representatives understand that public workers deserve what they have earned. Now it is time for the House to take action to address these longstanding inequities.”

We are currently unsure when H.R. 82 will ultimately be considered on the House floor.