The following press release was issued by the PBPA announcing that the U.S. House passed HR 82. This is the bill to repeal the WEP & GPO which reduces our Social Security benefits. It now goes to the U.S. Senate. Whichever state you live in, call your respective U. S. Senators urging the Senate to call the House bill for a vote.

H.R. 82 Passed in the U.S. House

pbpacontact posted on November 13, 2024 15:28

On November 12, 2024, H.R. 82-The Social Security Fairness Act was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The “Social Security Fairness Act” would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the “Social Security Act” that unfairly reduces benefits for more than 2 million Americans who have devoted much or all of their careers to public service.

Currently, 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 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 for enough quarters to receive benefits. Likewise, the GPO affects the spousal benefits of people 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 reduces by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension — often offsetting benefits entirely.

The bill will move to the U.S. Senate and if passed, will be sent to President Biden to sign into law.

The PBPA of Illinois would like to thank the Illinois Congressional Representatives who voted “YEA” in support of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82):

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D)-1st District

Rep. Robin Kelly (D)-2nd District

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D)-3rd District

Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D)-4th District

Rep. Michael Quigley (D)-5th District

Rep. Sean Casten (D)-6th District

Rep. Danny Davis (D)-7th District

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)-8th District

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D)-9th District

Rep. Brad Schneider (D)-10th District

Rep. Bill Foster (D)-11th District

Rep. Mike Bost (R)-12th District

Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D)-13th District

Rep. Lauren Underwood (D)-14th District

Rep. Eric Sorenson (D)-17th District

These Illinois Congressional Representatives voted “NAY”:

Rep. Mary Miller (R)-15th District

Rep. Darin LaHood (R)-16th District