U.S. Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA-06) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) announced today that their bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act has successfully passed through the Senate with broad support. The legislation aims to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which negatively affect numerous public servants. The bill is now set to be signed into law by the president.
In their statement, Graves and Spanberger expressed their commitment to advocating for the millions of Americans who serve in essential roles—such as police officers, firefighters, and educators—many of whom have taken on second jobs to support their families. They highlighted the struggles faced by numerous widows and widowers who have been denied their deceased spouses’ Social Security benefits during challenging times. “Today, Congress has finally acted to address this injustice that has affected so many for decades,” they stated.
The lawmakers emphasized their collaboration with various stakeholders to gather significant bipartisan support, culminating in a discharge petition that they filed prior to the October district work period. This petition garnered the necessary 218 signatures to force a vote in the U.S. House, leading to its passage and subsequent approval by the Senate.
The provisions in question, the WEP and GPO, were introduced in 1983 and have since impacted over 2.4 million public workers. Specifically, a report in 2024 revealed that the WEP unjustly denies benefits to around 1.7 million individuals, while the GPO adversely affects over 420,000 Social Security beneficiaries. Additionally, some retirees are impacted by both measures.
Reintroduced in January 2023 at the beginning of the 118th Congress, the Social Security Fairness Act has been a priority for Graves and Spanberger, who have consistently pushed for necessary reforms. The WEP reduces earned Social Security benefits for individuals with public pensions from non-Social Security-covered jobs. For example, educators often find their benefits diminished despite having paid into the system. Similarly, the GPO adversely affects spouses of government employees, frequently offsetting their benefits entirely.
This milestone underlines the power of bipartisanship in addressing significant financial challenges faced by public servants and their families. By rallying around the cause, legislators have taken meaningful steps to enhance the financial security and well-being of those who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities.
Summary: U.S. Representatives Garret Graves and Abigail Spanberger announce the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, benefiting millions of public servants. Following bipartisan support in Congress, the bill is set to be signed into law, marking a critical step towards rectifying longstanding injustices faced by those in public service roles.