“I am here to tell you—we are going to call the vote!” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced to a crowd of labor leaders including CEA President Kate Dias and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey gathered during a downpour outside the U.S. Capitol today.
H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, passed the House with a bipartisan vote on November 12, and since then municipal employees from across the country have been working their hardest to pressure the Senate to bring the bill, which would repeal WEP/GPO, up for a vote.
“Neither rain nor snow nor sleet can stop government workers from getting their Social Security benefits,” Schumer said. “I want to thank all my brothers and sisters from labor across the country for the good fight. I’m here to tell you the Senate is going to take action. You’re going to find out which senators are with you and which are against you.”
Schumer added that he has all Senate Democrats lined up for a vote but that H.R. 82 supporters will need to convince at least 15 Republicans to vote in favor of the bill.
“The drive down to D.C. in the rain was worth it to hear directly from Senator Schumer that he will bring this bill up for a vote,” says Dias. “Teachers’ hard work is paying off as we get another step closer to repealing these incredibly unfair penalties. Our work is not yet done, however. We still have to ensure senators turn up and vote in favor of WEP/GPO repeal.”
“There’s not much time left,” says DeLancey. “The Senate is scheduled to recess for the holidays on December 20, so all of us across the country who so desperately want repeal need to make sure our senators are committed to voting to pass H.R. 82. Please encourage your friends and families in other states to contact their senators too.”
Kentucky Education Association President Eddie Campbell, Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page, NEA Vice President Princess Moss, Louisiana Education Association President Dr. Jia T. Mills, CEA President Kate Dias, and Vice President Joslyn DeLancey.
Senator Elizabeth Warren told the crowd that it’s because of their continued activism and hard work, as well as that of union members across the country, that the Senate is finally poised to vote on repeal.
“Schumer stood here and promised a vote because you are here demanding that vote,” she said. “Without the firefighters, without the teachers, without the nurses—without every government employee who fights for this we’d be nowhere. You stood up for yourselves—you stood up for your brothers, you stood up for your sisters. We’re going to make change all across this country. Fair is fair, and we’re going to get this done.”
“We have never stopped fighting to repeal these unjust penalties that steal earned benefits from educators and their spouses,” said NEA Vice President Princess Moss. “Now we are so close that we can see the finish line.”
She thanked NEA state affiliate presidents from Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Massachusetts who attended today’s rally and have fought hard for repeal and led the crowd in chanting, “Repeal the Steal.”
“The senate must finish the job,” she said. “Millions of public employees nationwide, including educators, deserve that.”
“What’s happening to you is unfair and unamerican,” Schumer said. “I will fight it all the way.”
