WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to correct long-standing issues with Social Security that unfairly impact the nation’s firefighters, law enforcement officers, public school teachers, postal workers, and other public servants, the U.S. Senate today advanced the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R.82/S.597) with a vote of 73-27.

The bipartisan legislation, which previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November with a vote of 327-75-1, repeals the government pension offset (GPO) and windfall elimination (WEP) provision that reduce Social Security benefits for some public employees and their spouses.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed is an original cosponsor of the bill in the Senate and says repealing these harmful provisions is critical in ensuring career public servants are able to retire with dignity and financial security they have earned.

“For thousands of hardworking Rhode Islanders, the Social Security Fairness Act makes sure that their years of dedicated service to our nation, state, or community and their contributions to Social Security result in them receiving the benefits they deserve. It has taken decades for this bill to pass through congress and this accomplishment would not have been possible without the effort and advocacy of millions of teachers, postal workers, firefighters, police officers, and other proud civil servants who made their voices heard,” said Senator Reed.  “I will continue fighting to protect and strengthen Social Security for all the hardworking Rhode Islanders and Americans who have dutifully paid into and earned their benefits.”

According to the Congressional Research Service, the WEP and GPO provisions have limited Social Security payouts for approximately 2.8 million Americans.

The Social Security Fairness Act was introduced in the House by Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-7) and Garret Graves (R-LA-6) and in the Senate by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME). Senator Reed is one of 62 cosponsors of the bill. 

Now that the bill has cleared its first major hurdle on the “motion to proceed” it must still be debated before it can get another vote on final passage, which will also require overcoming a 60-plus vote threshold.  The Senate has two more days to act in order to get the bill to the President’s desk before the holiday recess.