Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-V.A.) wants to hear from you.
In a recent press release, the Virginia Congresswoman announced her office was soliciting feedback from retired fire fighters, police officers, and other public servants impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) penalties.
Spanberger and her Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) co-lead, Rep. Garrett Graves (R-L.A.), hope to use the stories to secure a vote on the House floor for H.R. 82.
“No American should be penalized for a career in public service — and every Virginia federal employee, police officer, firefighter, postal worker, air traffic controller, and local government employee deserves the Social Security benefits they have rightfully earned during their careers,” said Spanberger.
The IAFF-endorsed Social Security Fairness Act is one of the most bipartisan bills introduced in this Congress, with over 300 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and over 60 in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would eliminate the WEP and GPO penalties that reduce monthly Social Security benefits for retirees who also receive a pension earned through their public service.
Despite the bill’s overwhelming support in both chambers, neither House nor Senate leadership has allowed the Social Security Fairness Act to come up for a vote. Spanberger hopes that hearing the impacts WEP/GPO has directly from retired public servants will help convince Congressional leaders to schedule the bill for a vote.
Since relaunching her survey, Spanberger said she’s already received more than 2,750 responses from retired public officials in Virginia.
“These responses underscore the real impacts of these unfair provisions on Virginians — and illustrate why I’m working to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on my bipartisan legislation to eliminate these unfair provisions and protect the Social Security benefits of all Americans,” said Spanberger.
Retired Virginian public servants can complete the 10-question survey here.
While the survey is intended for retirees residing in Virginia, other public servants from around the country may also share their experiences.
The survey relaunch comes just a few weeks after General President Edward Kelly joined Fraternal Order of Police National President Patrick Yoes to endorse a discharge petition for the Social Security Fairness Act.
Discharge petitions allow rank-and-file members of Congress a chance to set the legislative agenda in their respective chambers – a decision typically made by Congressional leadership. If 218 House lawmakers sign the discharge petition, the Speaker of the House and the House Majority leader would have no choice but to bring the resolution to the floor for a vote.
With the end of the Congress fast approaching, supporters of the Social Security Fairness Act know now is the time to act.
Want to join the fight? Visit the IAFF Advocacy Center to tell Congress to support retired public servants and vote on the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act.
