WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) signed a discharge petition to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on bipartisan legislation to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The discharge petition, led by Representatives Garret Graves (LA-06) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), reached 218 signers, meaning H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, will head to the House floor for a vote. 

The legislation would eliminate both the WEP and the GPO, two provisions added to the Social Security Act in 1983 that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted much of their careers to public service — including police officers, firefighters, and educators. 

“If you paid into the system, you should reap the benefits,” said Congressman Joyce. “In Ohio, there are many firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public servants who worked their entire careers to receive the Social Security benefits they earned. This legislation will ensure we remedy this wrong for these Americans who worked tirelessly to serve our communities.

The following organizations endorse the legislation: The Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, International Association of Fire Fighters, The Senior Citizens League, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, National Association of County Office Employees, National Treasury Employees Union, Federal Managers Association, American Federation of Teachers, Alliance for Retired Americans, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, National Association of Letter Carriers, American Postal Workers Union, National Education Association, American Federation of Government Employees, National Committee of Preserve Social Security & Medicare, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Society of Former Special Agents.