Washington – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) led the Problem Solvers Caucus endorsement of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. This legislation would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act. Currently, public service employees – such as police officers, teachers, and firefighters – are unable to receive Social Security benefits if they are also receiving other forms of retirement benefits, such as a pension.

“The WEP and GPO unfairly reduce the benefits of hard-working Americans who had jobs in the public sector,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Social Security Fairness Act will right this wrong and ensure our public servants who have paid into the system receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve. I’m proud to be a co-sponsor and I’m glad the Problem Solvers Caucus is endorsing this bipartisan bill to strengthen social security.”

The Social Security Fairness Act has 319 co-sponsors and is the second-most co-sponsored piece of legislation in the House of Representatives in the 118^th Congress. Congressman Valadao has been a co-sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act in both the 117^th and 118^th Congress.

A Senate companion bill, led by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), has more than 50 co-sponsors.

Background
The WEP reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who receive a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security, while the GPO reduces benefits for surviving spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own. Between them, the WEP and GPO reduce benefits for roughly three million active and retired government employees.

H.R. 82 is endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Firefighters, the American Postal Workers Union, the American Federation of Government Employees, and various other organizations representing public sector employees.