House to Vote on Social Security Fairness Act with $195 Billion Impact to Protect Public Service Workers' Benefits

Nov 12, 2024, 10:43 PM

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to protect the retirement benefits of public service workers such as teachers, firefighters, and police officers. The bill seeks to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have reduced Social Security benefits for many public servants. Proponents argue that these provisions unfairly penalize those who have paid into Social Security, while opponents warn that passing the bill could accelerate Social Security’s insolvency, with an estimated $195 billion impact. Key figures, including Rep. Bill Foster, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Julia Letlow, Rep. Desposito, Rep. Spanberger, and Rep. Escobar, have expressed their support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of protecting earned benefits for millions of Americans.