Dear Representative,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to urge you to sign Discharge Petition #16, in order to bring H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” to a vote on the floor of the House.
Throughout this Congress, the FOP has worked with Republican and Democrat Members to move this bill—one of the most bipartisan bills in the entire House—through regular order without success. Given that the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) is critical to the health and well-being of our retired public servants, we have worked with the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Garret N. Graves (R-LA) and Abigail D. Spanberger (D-VA), to file Discharge Petition #16. Now, we need your help and your signature to get H.R. 82 to the floor.
The legislation would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) in current Social Security law, two provisions of the Social Security Act that unfairly reduce or eliminate the Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted their careers to public service. Unless the WEP and GPO are repealed, our retired law enforcement officers, fire fighters, teachers, and other public employees will lose $195.6 billion in benefits that they earned during their career in public service over the next ten years. Considering that the Federal government has been looting the Social Security benefits of public employees for the last 40 years, it is past time for Congress to act!
Ultimately, the “Social Security Fairness Act” is about fairness to public employees who served their communities. When these public employees earn a Social Security benefit through other work, they should receive that benefit in full without being penalized because of their public service. A significant majority of the House—326 cosponsors to be specific—share this view, and we believe this bill has earned the right to be debated on the floor.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I hope that you will support basic fairness for our public servants and agree to sign Discharge Petition #16. If I can be of any help or provide additional information about the bill or process, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President