Senate Passes Social Security Fairness Act: A Landmark Win for Public Employees in Texas
The U.S. Senate today, Dec. 21, overwhelmingly passed the Social Security Fairness Act with a 76-20 bipartisan vote, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These longstanding federal policies have denied nearly 3 million public employees, including police officers, firefighters, postal workers, and teachers, their full Social Security benefits.
The bill's passage delivers a critical win for public workers in Texas and nationwide, ensuring those who often labored in lower-paying public sector jobs but then faced reduced or no Social Security benefits despite contributing to the system through other private-sector employment.
Texas Public Employees Benefit
"Texas' public workforce, a cornerstone of the state's communities, is set to gain substantially from this legislation," said Art Alfaro, Executive Director of TEXPERS. "WEP and GPO have disproportionately affected state and local employees who contributed to public pensions and Social Security. By eliminating these penalties, the bill restores fairness and financial security for those who dedicated their careers to public service.
TEXPERS played a significant role in advocating for the bill's passage. Through outreach campaigns, meetings with lawmakers, and public education efforts, TEXPERS helped garner support among Texas' congressional delegation."
House Clears Path
The U.S. House of Representatives paved the way for Senate action when it passed the bill on Nov. 27, 2024. The House vote reflected a bipartisan consensus on addressing inequities caused by the provisions. TEXPERS and allied organizations intensified their efforts after the House vote, urging the Senate to take swift action.
Key Votes from Texas Senators
While many senators supported the bill, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was among 20 Republicans who opposed the legislation. Their votes have drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups and public employees, with many questioning their commitment to addressing their constituents' financial challenges.
Voices from Public Servants
Texas American Federation of Teachers President Zeph Capo celebrated the Senate's action, calling it a long-overdue remedy. In a post to the statewide union's website, he said the act's passage "rights a longstanding wrong done to the to the very people who work every day on behalf of our public good, whether that's teachers or support staff in our public schools or firefighters protecting our communities."
The union has lobbied Congress for decades to fix the provisions Capo said have left retired educators scraping to get by in the years they should spend celebrating a well-lived life.
"If you pay into Social Security, those benefits should be yours in full. Period.," he said. "I am grateful that bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress have now worked together to ease the burden on our families, for once and for all. That includes Sen. John Cornyn; Texas public school employees thank him for listening to his constituents and diligently prioritizing the needs of the many."
The fact that Cruz voted against the bill was unfortunate but not surprising, Capo said. He said that retirees have contacted the senator's office throughout the bill's journey, so he cannot claim ignorance.
For more than 40 years, the International Association of Fire Fighters' general president, Edward Kelly, says public workers have had their retirement benefits stolen by the United States Congress. In a post to the Association's website, he said the Senate "stood up to say, 'No more,' voting to ensure retirees finally get the benefits they paid into and earned."
What's Next?
The bill now heads to Pres. Joe Biden for his signature. Once enacted, the repeal of WEP and GPO will take effect.
"This bill will improve the lives of millions of retired public servants," Kelly said.
To watch the historic Senate vote, visit a Forbes YouTube video here.
"TEXPERS commends its members and partners for their relentless advocacy and will continue championing efforts to protect public employees' retirement security," Alfaro said.
About the Author: Allen Jones is the director of communications and event marketing for TEXPERS. He joined the Association in 2017. Before TEXPERS, he worked in the news media industry, producing content for newspapers, magazines, and online publications and leading newsrooms as an editor and publications manager. [email protected]