The House of Representatives passed the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) on November 13 with a 327 to 75 vote.
According to The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the bill addresses two provisions of Social Security law — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — that reduce Social Security benefits for retired public servants, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers.
IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly remarked: “Today’s vote was a major step toward ensuring fire fighters and other public servants receive the full retirement they’ve earned and paid for.”
The IAFF has prioritized the repeal of WEP and GPO, arguing that these provisions unfairly impact retired firefighters and other essential public workers.
The passage of H.R. 82 marks a significant achievement for IAFF and other organizations advocating for the retirement security of public servants, moving the debate to the Senate.
To overcome years of stalled progress, IAFF collaborated with Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), the bill’s primary sponsors, to introduce a discharge petition in September.
A discharge petition allows members to force a vote on a bill that has been blocked in committee, bypassing the usual legislative hurdles.
In a rare show of bipartisanship, 171 Democrats and 47 Republicans signed the petition, enabling H.R. 82 to reach the House floor despite resistance from within the House Ways and Means Committee.
With bipartisan support, the bill’s proponents successfully navigated a typically difficult process.
The IAFF emphasized that repealing WEP and GPO would provide fair retirement benefits to public workers who have contributed to Social Security.
Now that H.R. 82 has passed in the House, it will advance to the Senate.
The Senate’s unique legislative process, which allows individual senators the right to propose amendments and debate at length, could delay the bill’s progress.
For the bill to proceed to a final vote, the Senate must invoke cloture, which requires a 60-vote majority to end debate.
Currently, the Senate version of the bill has 62 co-sponsors, making it likely that a cloture vote could be reached if all co-sponsors support it.
IAFF representatives are urging members to reach out to senators, emphasizing the importance of repealing WEP and GPO for public service workers’ retirement security.
Kelly added: “Now is the time to make our voices heard to the Senate.
Our fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and other dedicated public servants deserve to retire with dignity.”
As the Senate prepares to review the Social Security Fairness Act, the IAFF is mobilizing its members and supporters to advocate for the bill’s passage.
The IAFF’s Advocacy Center has been set up to facilitate contact between individuals and their senators, enabling supporters to express their views on the necessity of repealing WEP and GPO.
According to Kelly, such advocacy is critical in ensuring that senators recognize the impact of these provisions on public workers’ retirement.
The IAFF highlights the importance of prompt Senate action, underscoring that repealing these provisions would restore fairness to retirement benefits.
IAFF members and other supporters are encouraged to make their voices heard, ensuring that senators understand the importance of WEP and GPO repeal for public sector retirees.
The Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), aimed at repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), passed in the House of Representatives on November 13 with bipartisan support.
This legislation, backed by the IAFF, seeks to restore full Social Security benefits for retired public servants such as firefighters, police officers, and teachers who currently face reduced benefits under WEP and GPO.
The bill, introduced through a discharge petition, moves next to the Senate, where it requires a 60-vote majority for final passage.
With 62 Senate co-sponsors, the bill has significant support but faces procedural requirements for a full Senate vote.
The IAFF has called on its members to contact senators through its Advocacy Center, advocating for fair retirement benefits for public workers.
