Action Alert: WEP/GPO UPDATE
August 8, 2024On Thursday, September 19, 2024, The discharge petition to force a vote by the US House of Representatives on H.R.82 legislation to repeal the Social Security WEP and GPO (Windfall Elimination Prevention/Government Provision Offset) laws was a victory. The discharge petition for H.R. 82 received the 218 signatures needed. This marks a significant step forward in the fight to repeal WEP and GPO.
The pressure on Congress to finally end WEP/GPO is a direct result of the perseverance from retirees across the country, including the actions taken by our LRTA members. THANK YOU!
As a reminder, the discharge petition outlines the specific process for how a vote would proceed. The bill cannot be amended. The House would have the option of either holding a straight Yes/No vote on the bill as filed or holding a majority vote to return the measure to committee for further consideration.
What is next?
Now that the threshold has been met, the discharge petition has been placed on the discharge calendar where it will be held for seven legislative days, according to the legislative rules. After the seven-day mark, a member (usually one of the sponsors of the resolution) would have to call for a vote which would trigger a two-day requirement for a vote to be scheduled. If the resolution passes, a vote on H.R.82 would automatically be brought to the floor.
Please contact your elected congressperson and thank them for cosponsoring H.R. 82 and for signing the discharge petition if they were able to before it was locked. Also, to please vote YES when H.R. 82 is brought to the floor for a vote.
On the Senate side, please continue to contact Senators Cassidy (202) 224-5824 and Kennedy (202) 224 4623 and ask them to help move S.597 to the floor for a vote
As they say, timing is everything. Along with the seven-day hold they are up against a possible government shutdown on October 1st. A vote yesterday on a 3-month short term budget bill failed; however, we anticipate renewed efforts to secure passage next week, ahead of the September 30th budget expiration deadline and the election just weeks away.
Should the legislation pass the House, it still faces action by the Senate. S.597 Social Security Fairness Act has 62 co-sponsors, including Senators Markey and Warren; however, there has been no movement to schedule a floor vote. Passage will continue to be up against the time constraints of the current session
Louisiana State Senator contact information:
William Cassidy 202-224-5824
John Kennedy 202-224-4623
WHAT IS H.R. 82
This bill repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.
The bill eliminates the government pension offset, which in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.
The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.