WEP and GPO Repeal Legislation Reintroduced
The Social Security Fairness Act, a bill that would fully repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) was reintroduced last week. The bill was submitted by Representative Garret Graves, R-LA, a new lead sponsor than in previous sessions, after Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL, lost his primary election in 2022. Rep. Graves is joined by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-VA, as the lead Democratic sponsor, marking this bill as a bipartisan effort. Of note, the legislation retained its bill number from the previous Congress, still listed as H.R. 82.
The bill’s reintroduction in the first week of the new Congress allows NARFE to quicky carry forward the momentum created in the 117th Congress, which saw the bill gather a staggering 305 cosponsors and receive committee attention. Fortunately, the newly adopted House rules retained the existence of the House Consensus Calendar, which forces either committee action or a floor vote if the bill receives 290 or more cosponsors (and retains that number for 25 legislative days).
H.R. 82 currently has 10 cosponsors. NARFE will work throughout this Congress to increase the number of cosponsors and advance the legislation. Even with the turnover of lawmakers from the last Congress, there are 243 former cosponsors in the 118th, providing a clear path to adding cosponsors early. Ask your representative to cosponsor H.R. 82 today.
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