Overview

• The Social Security Fairness Act aims to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce benefits for nearly 3 million public sector retirees, including teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pledged to bring the bill to a floor vote next week, following its passage in the House last month with bipartisan support.
• Proponents argue the bill addresses long-standing inequities in Social Security benefits for public workers, while critics warn it could cost $195 billion over a decade and accelerate Social Security trust fund insolvency by six months.
• The bill requires at least 60 votes to pass the Senate, with Schumer emphasizing the need for Republican support to overcome a potential filibuster.
• If the Senate fails to act before the end of the current congressional session on December 31, the bill will expire, requiring reintroduction in the next session.