January 23, 2026
Media Advisory: Public Servants to Visit Capitol Dec. 14 to Exhort Congress to Act on Social Security WEP Reform Before Congress Ends
Media invited to south steps of U.S. Capitol at 10 a.m. ET Dec. 14 for briefing/Q&A
| Who: | Retired and active public servants representing the Association of Texas Professional Educators, Mass Retirees, and Texas Retired Teachers Association | |||
| What: | Media briefing/Q&A opportunity on inequity of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which reduces the Social Security benefits of retired public servants, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers. | |||
| When: | 10 a.m. ET Wednesday, Dec. 14 | |||
| Where: | South steps of the U.S. Capitol | |||
| Why: |
The WEP and Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions in federal law harm the retirement security of over 2 million public workers by arbitrarily reducing their Social Security benefits. Congressional leaders have promised to pass a solution to address these Social Security provisions. H.R. 82, a bill with 305 cosponsors, would fully repeal the WEP and GPO. A recent committee markup demonstrated the lack of leadership support to move that bill forward, but it also showcased broad support for a fix, with many committee members calling for quick passage of a bipartisan alternative. Those calls did not go unnoticed. Our groups heard clearly that bipartisan legislation, at least addressing the WEP, is not only possible but also should be put to a vote this year. Indeed, both House Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) and ranking member Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) have pledged in press statements and at the September committee markup to continue negotiating a bipartisan WEP reform agreement that could be included in a year-end tax extender or omnibus spending package. As the 2022 clock ticks down, stakeholder urgency grows. Brady, a tireless advocate for fixing the WEP since 2004, is retiring, and the House majority will flip to Republican control in January. Neal, also an advocate for a fair and equitable solution to the WEP, will no longer chair the Ways and Means Committee, and stakeholders simply do not want to see this moment of cooperative work and focus on such an important issue squandered. Day-of media contacts:
|
16 comments
Joyce E Faires
12/10/2022This definitely affects my retirement.
David B. Citrone
12/11/2022Please repeal WEP and GPO. It will be an act of compassion. Respectfully, Dave Citrone
Stephen Arnold
12/11/2022As a retiree like many, many others we are only asking our representatives to recognize and reform WEP so that we might receive what we have earned and should be entitled to.
Susan Littlefield
12/11/2022I urge all congressmen & women to support this bill. Many retired educators aren’t getting the benefits we paid into. It’s extremely unfair that we aren’t eligible to collect our full benefits.
Timothy Flaherty
12/11/2022Brady and Neal both have played this for many years using WEP reform to gather votes. Yet nothing is never done reform or otherwise. If this is their last shot they better make it count. But in the end a full repeal of WEP/GPO is the only fair thing to do!
Jennifer Young
12/11/2022Please repeal WEP & GPO. Please understand this is the retirement fund that we EARNED working diligently for the public. I served and taught students with disabilities for 20 years and made a difference. Now it is time for you to make a difference in my life by repealing the WEP!
Lisa Zinn
12/11/2022Support this bill! Do what your constituents are asking you to do in representing THEM!!! Former public service workers, fire fighters, police officers, educators and more should be entitled to what they worked for!
Maripat Putzer
12/11/2022Please, repeal WEP and GPO. I thought for 38 years, and paid into Social Security for 17 of those years, as well as paying in before I started teaching.
Linda Deveau
12/11/2022Please repeal WEP and GPO. In a time when school staff are leaving education in droves, the negative financial consequences of GPO and WEP (for those who have paid into Social Security), also adds to folks leaving education. Please help correct this very challenging situation.
Kathie Martin
12/11/2022My husband paid into Social Security for 45 years. He recently passed away but I do not get spousal survivors benefits because my school system Did not participate in SS. My monthly income has been reduced since he passed away. Please repeal GPO and WEP.
Patrice Earnest
12/11/2022Full Repeal (HR82) NOT Reform. The Brady BiIl 5834 totally ignores GPO!
Kathryn Phelps
12/11/2022Some of us, myself included, were low paid support staff and our pensions are also low.
Mitchell Roach
12/11/2022Please repeal WEP an GPO it is unfair that we had to pay into SS an when we are old enough to start drawing a pension it is cut in half
Jo Anne Brame
12/11/2022After years of paying SS we deserve a complete repeal not a pathetic attempt to placate both sides.
Keith Keene
12/11/2022To the powers that be, I ask kindly to repeal WEP and GPO. We simply want our full benefits based on what WE DID PAY IN OVER OUR WORKING YEARS.
Regina Needham
12/11/2022Please repeal the WEP and GPO. Some of us changed careers and will never realize a full pension. I worked in private industry for many years before becoming a public school teacher. My pension will be low and my social security reduced - not fair - I contributed to both!!! You are hurting your public servants!!
Related blogs
January 23, 2026
January 21, 2026
