Alert #113 The Scorecard
The Scorecard: GPO/WEP Progress So Far This Year
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS! Keep making our case to everyone you know.
We are halfway through the current legislative session–“the 116th Congress.” This Congressional session and the bills so far introduced continue through 2020. Here is a quick look at the bills that could affect the Social Security offsets. Please call or email your Senators and House Members and send them a thank you or a reminder to co-sponsor if they haven’t yet done so.
The Repeal Bills (click on blue links for more information):
H.R. 141 Social Security Fairness Act
Introduced by Representative Rodney Davis (R) of Illinois
Currently has 235 co-sponsors: 180 Democrats, 55 Republicans
Would stop the application of the offsets to already retired persons as well as to future retirees.
S. 521 Social Security Fairness Act
Introduced by Senator Sherrod Brown (D) of Ohio
Social Security Fairness Act
Currently has 36 co-sponsors: 30 Democrats, 4 Republicans, 2 Independents
Would stop the application of the offsets to already retired persons as well as to future retirees. Companion to the House bill.
More than half the House of Representatives has signed onto the repeal bill, HR 141, and many have also signed onto the WEP change bills. We need to put more pressure on our SENATORS to REPEAL, not just change BOTH offsets!
Bills to modify only the Windfall Elimination Penalty:
H.R. 3934 Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act
Introduced by Kevin Brady (R) of Texas
Currently has 43 co-sponsors: 40 Republicans, 3 Democrats
Uses a different formula to calculate the windfall, taking into account years of covered and non-covered Social Security income. Would not re-calculate benefits of persons already retired. They would receive an extra $100 per month and $50 for spouse.
H.R. 4540 Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act
Introduced by Richard Neal (D) Chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee
Currently has 79 Cosponsors: 77 Democrats, 2 Republicans
(similar to H.R. 3934) Uses a different formula to calculate the windfall, taking into account years of covered and non-covered Social Security income. Would not re-calculate benefits of persons already retired. They would receive an extra $150 per month.
Bill to expand Social Security benefits for all retirees.
H.R. 860 Social Security 2100 Act
Introduced by John Larson (D) Connecticut
Currently has 208 Co-sponsors, all Democrats
Would increase retirement benefits as well as contributions to Social Security retirement funds. Does not currently affect GPO/WEP. There is an campaign to add repeal of both offsets to this bill.