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Rep. Abigail Spanberger Urges House Committee to Pass Bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congresswoman Spanberger, a champion of Social Security reform, has launched a concerted effort to pass her bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two provisions that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted their careers to public service. The bill, introduced alongside Rep. Rodney Davis in January 2021, has garnered significant support, with over 298 cosponsors and a robust coalition of organizations representing America's police officers, firefighters, and other public sector employees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Social Security Fairness Act has 298 cosponsors, the most of any bill introduced in the current Congress, and has the potential to pass with a simple majority vote.
  • The Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset have reduced benefits for over 2 million retired public sector employees, affecting about 4 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries.
  • The WEP and GPO have significantly impacted thousands of Virginians, including a retired police officer whose benefit was reduced by 30%, and a widow whose benefit was reduced because her husband served in the CIA for 26 years.
  • Bipartisan legislation to repeal the WEP and GPO has been introduced in every Congress since 2002, but has never received a vote, making the current Congress a historic opportunity to address this long-standing inequity.
  • The bill is supported by organizations representing America's police officers, firefighters, and other public sector employees, including the Fraternal Order of Police and National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).

Statistics:

  • 298 cosponsors on the Social Security Fairness Act, the most of any bill introduced in the current Congress.
  • Over 2 million retired public sector employees affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.
  • 47,723 Virginians had their benefits reduced by the WEP in 2021.
  • 7,856 Virginians had their benefits reduced by the GPO in 2021.
  • The WEP and GPO have reduced benefits for about 4 percent of all Social Security beneficiaries.

Sources:

  • Spanberger, A. (2022). Social Security Fairness Act. Retrieved from
  • Congressional Research Service (2022). Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision. Retrieved from
  • Congressional Research Service (2021). Social Security: The Government Pension Offset. Retrieved from

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