Congresswoman Brown Votes for Social Security Fairness Act to Repeal Provisions Hurting Public Servants

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) has voted for the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), bipartisan legislation to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits of many retired public employees who also worked other jobs during their lifetime.  

Congresswoman Brown is a cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act and signed the discharge petition to bring the bill to a vote in the House. The legislation passed by a 327-75-1 vote and now heads to the Senate. 

“Everyone deserves to receive the Social Security benefits they’ve earned, but for decades, many public employees and their spouses have been unfairly punished by the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. I proudly voted for the Social Security Fairness Act to restore full Social Security benefits for the millions of former teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public employees who have been harmed by these provisions,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. 

The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security, for example, a teacher who did not earn Social Security from teaching in a public school system, but who also worked part-time or in other jobs during their career.  

The Government Pension Offset applies to the spousal and survivor benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees if the job is not covered by Social Security, reducing their benefits even if their spouse paid into Social Security for their entire career. 

According to an analysis from the Congressional Research Service, the Windfall Elimination Provision affects more than 2 million Social Security beneficiaries, while the Government Pension Offset affects more than 700,000 Social Security beneficiaries. These provisions can reduce Social Security benefits by hundreds of dollars each month. 

The Social Security Fairness Act has been endorsed by a number of organizations, including: the National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, International Association of Fire Fighters, 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 to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, and Society of Former Special Agents.  

Congresswoman Brown is also a cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act, which would increase Social Security benefits across the board, improve the COLA adjustment, and provide additional expanded benefits for very low income seniors. 

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