Dear Mr. Speaker and Representative Jeffries,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our strenuous objection to the attempt by Representatives Andrew P. Harris (R-MD) and Robert G. Good (R-VA) to table H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act.”
This action appears to be in violation of the practices of the House, which disallows unanimous consent requests without the prior consent of the chairman and ranking members of the committee of jurisdiction as well as that of the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader. We are understandably outraged that a bill with over 300 cosponsors that was to be considered by the House next week could be derailed in just a few minutes by two very partisan Members in what was, at minimum, a breach of trust. In fact, seeing as the bill was tabled but not the rule, H. Res. 1410, we believe that the tabling action may also have violated parliamentary procedure.
The members of the FOP have worked tirelessly for decades to build support for the “Social Security Fairness Act” and the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which penalizes public employees in every State in our country. For forty years, this organized theft of benefits fairly earned by retired public employees has been allowed to continue by Congress. These employees are treated differently than every other retired American worker. This is wrong, unfair, and dishonest. These retirees paid into Social Security and rightfully earned these benefits, so it is time for Congress to correct this injustice. The actions of two unsupervised partisans flouting the rules and practices of the House is a pro forma session, while millions of Americans were at the polls, should not stand.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I urge you both to take immediate corrective action through the Parliamentarian of the House or by floor action. I thank you for your swift attention to this matter and, if I can be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President