You did it, advocates! Last week, you made history.
On Thursday afternoon, we reached the magic number of signatories to the “discharge petition”—218, a majority of the House—that triggered a floor vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82).
The bill fully repeals GPO/WEP.
We are closer than ever before to our decades-long goal of repealing these unjust Social Security penalties. They have deprived millions of public servants, including our members, of the retirement security they earned and deserve.
NEA members and our partner activists have made more than 184,000 contacts—messages and phone calls—urging representatives to repeal GPO and WEP.
Now, the countdown to a floor vote begins.
Once a majority signs such a petition, the full House must vote within 10 legislative days (days the House is actually in session). The vote on H.R. 82 is likely to occur toward the beginning of the Lame Duck session following the November elections.
As NEA President Becky Pringle said in a press conference at the Capitol last Thursday morning, we will not rest until both the House and Senate vote on repealing GPO/WEP. This Thursday, the NEA Board of Directors will continue that push as they lobby for a vote before the 118th Congress ends.
Tell your senators and representatives what you think!
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association