Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, echoed calls by Senators Sherrod D. Brown (D-OH) and Susan M. Collins (R-ME) to immediately bring S. 597, the “Social Security Fairness Act,” to the Senate floor for a vote.  Today, the two Senators sent a letter to Senate leadership urging that the bill be considered on the floor “as soon as possible.”

“I want to thank Senators Brown and Collins for their leadership and help in building support for this bill in the Senate and for demanding action from Senate leaders—action that is long overdue,” Yoes said. “For 40 years, millions of public servants have seen their benefits stolen by a grossly unfair system. Now, we are in the best position in a generation to rectify this injustice and fully repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.”

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) are penalties on the Social Security benefits earned by public employees.  The Senate Finance Committee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy held a hearing in Columbus, Ohio, at which public employee witnesses described just how damaging these penalties are to themselves and their families.  The “Social Security Fairness Act” currently has the support of 62 Senators, a filibuster-proof majority.

“When public employees earn a Social Security benefit through other work, they should receive that benefit in full without being penalized because of their public service,” said Yoes. “The millions of dedicated police officers, firefighters, teachers and other government employees who paid into the Social Security System aren’t asking for a handout, just to be given what they rightfully earned.  I hope Senators Schumer and McConnell bring this bill to the floor for a vote very soon.”

In the House, the same legislation has 323 cosponsors.  The FOP has called on House leadership to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.