The Fight For Fairness with Representative Spanberger
Equality and fairness are some of America’s most cherished ideals. In current Social Security law, over 2.5 million retired first responders, teachers, and other government employees are financially penalized by provisions of the law, the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, that slash their benefits solely because they spent part of their careers in jobs that don’t pay into Social Security.
On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with Representative @RepSpanberger, who currently represents Virginia’s 7th Congressional district.
A former law enforcement officer herself, Representative Spanberger is the lead Democratic sponsor of H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.” The Social Security Fairness Act, which is one of the most bipartisan and broadly supported pieces of legislation in the House, would fully repeal both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) in current Social Security law. The bill, which currently has over 320 cosponsors, is a top priority of the FOP. The House sponsors of the Social Security Fairness Act, Representative Spanberger as well as the lead Republican on the bill, Garret N. Graves (R-LA), are united in an effort to use a House procedure known as a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 82. A discharge petition is a legislative mechanism to move legislation directly to the floor provided the petition—an actual document—is physically signed by 218 Members of the House. Members can begin signing this petition on 10 September—one day after the House returns to session.
Law enforcement officers have one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the United States. The brave men and women of law enforcement are charged with the enormous responsibility of keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe.
Be sure to tune in to Blue View, a weekly podcast presented by the National Fraternal Order of Police, to hear from law enforcement experts, elected officials, and other notable leaders to gain insight into the issues and current events surrounding the law enforcement community. Each episode will leave you with a better understanding of what law enforcement officers face daily. Together, we can rebuild the trust between police officers and the communities they serve.
