Connecticut Education Association leaders are in Washington, D.C., today, sending a strong message to Congress about the need to repeal two federal laws that strip teachers and other public servants of hard-earned Social Security benefits and are a barrier to recruiting and retention efforts.
At a hearing of the Congressional Subcommittee on Social Security, CEA President Kate Dias and CEA Vice President Joslyn DeLancey are bringing the message from thousands of educators that WEP/GPO must go.
“The Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO) penalize those with public pensions, including teachers, and especially those who have worked second jobs or entered teaching as a second career,” says DeLancey. “The provisions strip educators of receiving the Social Security benefits they have earned, and along with stagnant wages, are a deterrent to recruiting second-career educators to the teaching profession.”
“With a nationwide teacher shortage, Congress needs to acknowledge that we are not treating people fairly and equitably, especially women, who make up 75% of the teaching force,” said Dias. “If I were not a teacher, I would not be facing the loss of both my own Social Security, which I have paid into since I was 15, as well as my husband’s. It’s time to repeal WEP/GPO.”
Members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation and other members of Congress support the repeal.
“I thank the Connecticut Education Association for their continued advocacy and efforts to protect and strengthen Social Security for not only our state educators but also our municipal employees, like our firefighters and police officers. It’s been over 40 years since these harmful WEP and GPO provisions were imposed, and it’s been more than 50 years since benefits have been increased for all recipients. Congress needs to vote. I will continue to pursue legislation that enhances Social Security for all Americans and includes the repeal of WEP and GPO.” Congressman John B. Larson, Ranking Member of the Social Security Subcommittee (CT-01)
“From my first days as a member of Congress, I have always been a consistent supporter of repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. The impact of these rules is discriminatory for people with public pensions, including educators, unlike other working Americans who have multiple private pensions. I applaud CEA’s advocacy and their work to strengthen Social Security for Connecticut’s educators.” Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02)
“For the last 30 years, the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset have reduced Social Security benefits for teachers and other hardworking professionals. It’s up to Congress to reform the WEP and GPO, and I am proud to support legislation that rectifies this injustice. Our public servants deserve nothing less than the full retirement benefits they earned.” Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04)
“Repealing WEP/GPO is about fairness. These provisions reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans who have devoted their life to public service, including educators, police officers, and firefighters. As a teacher and the wife of a police officer, I know firsthand the impact these provisions have on Connecticut families. That is why I support legislation which would eliminate these unfair provisions, and I thank the Connecticut Education Association for their leadership on this issue.” Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05)
“After years of dedicated public service, countless teachers are denied full Social Security benefits when they retire—because of egregiously unjust restrictions that now should be reversed. These rules must be repealed so that public servants who pay into this lifeline insurance program receive their full, earned benefits. I am proud to support the Social Security Fairness Act to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset and urge Congress to act swiftly to correct this wrong.” Senator Richard Blumenthal
“Louisiana and America’s teachers, firefighters, police, and others have been punished for decades for their public service. There could not be a better time than now to fix the punitive policy that has robbed these folks of the Social Security they earned. The Committee has taken great measures to ensure fairness and thoughtfulness in this reform effort—of which more than 300 of our colleagues agree—which is why we support the Committee taking this bold step. In November 2023, the House Ways and Means Committee held a field hearing on these penalties that effectively defund public servants, right at home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And after hearing directly from victims of WEP/GPO, seeing how they unfairly have their hard-earned retirement benefits slashed just because they or their spouse decided to serve their state or community, the Committee received more than 800 written submissions from victims in the same predicament across the country. Our bill to fully repeal both of these deeply flawed penalties has immense support and is heavily championed both inside and outside of Congress, and it’s time for it to move forward. We applaud the Committee in taking the next steps necessary here in Congress so that we can pass this bipartisan legislation as soon as possible.”
– Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves, Introduced H.R. 82 to repeal WEP/GPO, (LA-06)
CEA urges all public servants and their families to join the national push to repeal WEP/GPO. For more information and to take action, visit https://cea.org/wep-gpo/
