WEP/GPO Repeal Bill Surpasses Key 290-Cosponsor Milestone in House

In July, the Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82, a bill to repeal both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), exceeded the key 290-cosponsor threshold that could force a House floor vote.

Since WEP and GPO were first implemented in 1983 and 1977, respectively, millions of people have been negatively affected by these unfair policies. Both provisions lower Social Security benefits for public servants, and their spouses, who receive a pension in connection with government employment that was not covered by Social Security. The WEP can result in monthly benefits that are $512 lower than under the standard benefit formula. The GPO reduces spousal benefits by twothirds of a government annuity for public servants.

For decades, NARFE has worked tirelessly to gain support for repeal of both provisions. But even when it has gained hundreds of cosponsors, the bill remained locked up in committee, never heard from again.

However, with a new House of Representatives rule, adopted at the start of the 116th Congress in 2019, any bill receiving 290 or more cosponsors can be placed on the House Consensus Calendar for a required House floor vote, so long as the bill maintains 290 or more cosponsors for 25 legislative days (essentially, days when the House is in session) and is not reported by the committee with primary jurisdiction (here, the House Committee on Ways & Means).

On July 15, after reaching the 290-cosponsor mark, the

OCTOBER ACTION ALERT: URGE YOUR LAWMAKERS TO COSPONSOR WEP AND GPO

REPEAL BILL Members must keep up momentum on grassroots efforts to increase cosponsors for the Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82/S. 1302. This bill would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Thanks to member engagement, the bill has surpassed 290 cosponsors, the number needed to have the bill placed on the House Consensus Calendar for a potential floor vote, per House rules. Use NARFE’s Legislative Action Center, located at www.narfe.org, to personalize a message to your Representative and Senators urging them to support the bill.