The long-awaited Social Security Fairness Act, which would restore benefits for public servants, is set for a House vote after bypassing GOP leadership through a successful discharge petition.
Milestone Reached: Social Security Fairness Act Moves Forward
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a rare display of bipartisan unity, the Social Security Fairness Act has reached a crucial milestone, with a successful discharge petition securing the 218 signatures required to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, championed by Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), seeks to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two controversial elements of the Social Security Act that have long reduced or eliminated benefits for public servants, including police officers, firefighters, and educators.
The bill’s progress has been hard-won. Despite enjoying widespread support—with 327 co-sponsors in the House—the legislation has repeatedly stalled in committee, falling through the legislative cracks. In response, Spanberger and Graves employed a rarely-used tactic, the discharge petition, to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and bring the bill directly to the floor.