Dear Senator Brown,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to offer you our most sincere appreciation for all your hard work over the years which led to the enactment of the “Social Security Fairness Act.”
You provided steady leadership for more than a decade as the lead sponsor of this legislation, and we’re proud to have had you as a partner on this bill and so many other issues. We were buoyed over the last few Congresses by your confidence that Congress, and the Senate in particular, would vote to overturn this injustice if we could get it to a vote. You were right. For nearly 30 years, the opponents of this legislation were able to block its advancement until these last few months.
Because of your work, nearly three million law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and other public employees who earned themselves a Social Security benefit, only to see those benefits reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision, will finally begin to receive every penny that they earned. Because of your work, families impacted by the Government Pension Offset which reduced or, in most cases, eliminated the survivor’s benefit received by surviving spouses, will finally be able to collect what they are owed. We owe you a debt of gratitude.
On behalf of the more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as every individual and family that will benefit from the passage of the “Social Security Fairness Act,” thank you. If we can be of any assistance to you after your departure from the Senate, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President