Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that the Social Security Fairness Act has been signed into law, legislation that he supported as a co-sponsor, helped pass, and supported as a co-signer of a discharge petition to force a floor vote. This bill removes provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, postal workers, and other critical public servants.
“The time is now to help our teachers, law enforcement, postal workers, and other public servants,” said Dr. Cuellar. “I am pleased to have supported public servants in my district by co-sponsoring and passing legislation that ensures they get the benefits they’ve rightfully earned, which has now been signed into law by the President. Over the years, I’ve worked across the aisle to restore full social security benefits for our workers and to get this bill across the finish line. I am thankful for the support from my colleagues in helping push this legislation through Congress. I want to thank Congressman Graves and Congresswoman Spanberger for their leadership in pushing this legislation forward.”
The Social Security Fairness Act repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.
Specifically, the bill eliminates the government pension offset, which in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.
The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.
