Kings County Times

On May 23, 2024, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) led the Problem Solvers Caucus in endorsing H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. This legislation aims to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act. Currently, public service employees such as police officers, teachers, and firefighters are unable to receive Social Security benefits if they are also receiving other forms of retirement benefits like a pension.

“The WEP and GPO unfairly reduce the benefits of hard-working Americans who had jobs in the public sector,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Social Security Fairness Act will right this wrong and ensure our public servants who have paid into the system receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve. I’m proud to be a co-sponsor and I’m glad the Problem Solvers Caucus is endorsing this bipartisan bill to strengthen social security.”

The Social Security Fairness Act has garnered support from 319 co-sponsors, making it the second-most co-sponsored piece of legislation in the House of Representatives during the 118th Congress. Congressman Valadao has been a co-sponsor of this act in both the 117th and 118th Congresses.

A Senate companion bill, led by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), has more than 50 co-sponsors.

The WEP reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduces benefits for surviving spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own. Together, these provisions affect roughly three million active and retired government employees.

H.R. 82 is endorsed by several organizations representing public sector employees including the National Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Firefighters, the American Postal Workers Union, and the American Federation of Government Employees.