As members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) may have learned either from yesterday’s Inside Line or by tuning into Executive Director Tim Lee’s recent live event, they are poised for a landmark occasion: a crucial vote regarding the repeal of the contentious Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) is slated for tonight, November 12.
HR 82, known as the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, is sponsored by Rep. Garret Graves (R, LA) alongside Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D, VA), currently boasts an impressive 330 cosponsors. This overwhelming support exceeds the required 218 signatures necessary to initiate a discharge petition, compelling a vote on the bill. A live broadcast of the House debate this evening will be accessible at this link.
Despite an attempt to obstruct the bill on election night, HR 82 remains a priority for a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives this evening. Tim Lee emphasized during yesterday’s live event the historical weight of this decision, noting that no votes have been cast to repeal or amend the WEP and GPO since their original implementation over four decades ago.
The House is also gearing up to deliberate on HR 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2023, introduced by Rep. Jodey Arrington (R, TX), which if passed, would propose significant reforms to the WEP.
If either HR 82 or HR 5342 is approved by the House, the next phase will involve the U.S. Senate reviewing the legislation before the conclusion of the current lame-duck session this December. Notably, the Senate counterpart of HR 82, S 597, sponsored by Sherrod Brown (D, OH), currently enjoys support from 62 cosponsors.
The biggest challenge toward achieving substantial relief for retirees may arise in the Senate. As momentum builds for the repeal and reform of the WEP and GPO, opposition from various groups has also intensified. It will take the concerted efforts of all education retirees in Texas, complemented by our national coalition, to persuade Senate members to prioritize the sensible reform of these provisions.
Members, TRTA has tirelessly advocated for decades aiming to reform or eliminate the WEP and GPO. The passage of HR 82 may face obstacles despite strong congressional backing, largely due to the projected cost of repeal, estimated at a staggering $196 billion over the next ten years. However, these are hard-earned benefits that retirees deserve!
TRTA will collaborate with Mass Retirees, along with our partners at the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), and the wider network of education and public service retirees and active employees to advance our goal of repealing the WEP and GPO before this congressional cycle concludes.
Thank You!
Thank you for being a valued member of TRTA. If you have not yet renewed your dues, please consider doing so, as our advocacy work within the Texas Capitol and on Capitol Hill is sustained by the financial support of our members. Encourage anyone you know who isn’t a member to join us, as our strength lies in numbers, and expanding our organization is the best path to achieving our goals.
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