Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told federal workers and lawmakers gathering on Capitol Hill last week that he will call for a vote on a bill that would repeal two controversial rules that have caused public servants to lose two-thirds or even the entire amount of their Social Security benefits.
“I’m here to tell you that the Senate is going to take action on the Social Security Fairness Act,” Schumer told the rally organized by labor unions and lawmakers. “You’re going to find out which senators are with you, and which are against you. I’ve got all of my Democrats lined up to support it. What’s happening to you is unfair, it’s un-American and I will fight it all the way.”
The House last month voted 327-75 to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) through the Social Security Fairness Act. The bill, H.R. 82, was co-sponsored by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garrett Graves, R-La., who filed a discharge petition to force a floor vote on the bill.
The congressional session ends on Jan. 3. AFGE and allies urge the Senate to follow in the House’s footsteps and pass the bill.
AFGE supports the repeal because GPO penalizes our nation's fire fighters, teachers, police officers, postal workers, and other dedicated public servants who receive a government pension and are also eligible for Social Security benefits of their spouse. This provision reduces survivors’ benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers.
WEP penalizes those who have paid into Social Security at work but also receive a pension or a disability benefit from a prior employer that did not withhold Social Security payroll taxes, such as older federal retirees working under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), state and local government employees including teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers.
AFGE President Everett Kelley said over two thirds of people impacted by the GPO lost their entire Social Security benefits. Over half a million Americans didn’t get a penny of their earned Social Security benefits.
“What do you think about that?” Kelley asked the crowd, who responded “No!”. “This is not right, right? What we’re asking someone to do today is to repeal this deal…AFGE represents thousands of federal retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System, and I’m one of them. I’m here with you today to let you know that I’m going to stand with you. We’re gonna stand together until this deal gets done!”
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