Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, by a vote of 327 to 75.
H.R. 82 has been a top priority for the IAFF. The bill eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), provisions that unfairly punish retired fire fighters, police officers, teachers, and other public servants.
“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,” said General President Edward A. Kelly. “While we’re proud of the work our team did to get this bill through the House, this is only half the battle. Now it’s time for Senators to step up and send this bill to the President’s desk.”
The vote on the House floor was the culmination of a multi-year effort by the IAFF, which worked closely with lawmakers and their staff to stress the impact these unfair penalties have on fire fighters and emergency medical workers.
Despite H.R. 82 being one of the most bipartisan bills introduced in the 118th Congress, the bill has been stalled in the powerful House Ways and Means Committee for nearly two years. Many believed that the bill’s detractors would successfully prevent it from coming up for a vote of the whole House.
In September, the IAFF, along with Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-V.A.) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-L.A.) – the bill’s leading sponsors – led a successful discharge petition on H.R. 82. Discharge efforts give lawmakers a chance to bypass the committee of jurisdiction and send a bill directly to the House floor. While discharge petitions are rarely successful, 171 Democrats and 47 Republicans agreed to discharge the Social Security Fairness Act.
While we’re proud of the work our team did to get this bill through the House, this is only half the battle. Now it’s time for Senators to step up and send this bill to the President’s desk.
General President Edward Kelly
Now that H.R. 82 has passed the House, the bill moves to the Senate.
Unlike the House, where the majority party can move legislation through the body relatively quickly if they have the votes, the Senate gives each Senator unique powers to slow down the legislative process. These powers include the right to offer amendments to legislation, and the right to speak on a bill. Because of this, the Senate must vote to end debate on a bill before it can be finally voted on and passed. This process, known as invoking cloture, requires a 60-vote threshold.
Currently, the Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act has 62 co-sponsors, meaning if all those who have co-sponsored the bill vote to invoke cloture, a vote on final passage would be guaranteed.
The IAFF is asking all members to join the fight to pass WEP/GPO repeal. Senators need to hear directly from those most impacted by these unfair penalties.
“Now is the time to make our voices heard to the Senate,” said Kelly. “Our fire fighters, emergency medical workers, and other dedicated public servants deserve to retire with dignity. Repealing the WEP/GPO helps ensure that.”
Contact your Senators through the IAFF’s Advocacy Center and tell them to support the Social Security Fairness Act.
