Washington, DC - At the request of Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Clyde Boatwright, the President of the Maryland State Lodge, joined Representatives Rodney L. Davis (R-IL) and Abigail A. Spanberger (D-VA), the sponsors of H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” on Capitol Hill today to talk about the efforts to bring the legislation to a vote despite a recent rule change that complicated its path.
“I am so proud to be here with these two Members who have worked so long and so hard to advance the cause of Social Security fairness for our country’s public employees. On behalf of all of our members, please know how grateful we are for your leadership,” Boatwright said. “I wish our National President Patrick Yoes was here because nobody in the FOP worked harder than he did to get this bill where it is today.”
The legislation, which would repeal the unfair Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), has garnered more than 290 cosponsors. Under a House rule that was amended yesterday, any bill which maintained at least 290 cosponsors for 25 legislative days would be added to the Consensus Calendar and then brought to the House floor for a vote. Yesterday, the House changed this rule by changing what counts as a “legislative day.” The FOP is working with the bill’s sponsors and House leadership on a solution that will allow for the bill’s consideration.
“This is one of the FOP’s very top priorities, and we have been focused on getting this bill to a vote since the day the bill dropped, particularly in the last three months,” Boatwright said. “But now is no time to let up on the gas pedal. You must continue reaching out to your Representatives, urging them to sign on. And contact your Senators, because in September, they’re going to get a House-passed bill!
“That is my message to every FOP member today—pick up the phone and call your Representative and Senator and tell them how important it is to pass the ‘Social Security Fairness Act!’”