Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) leaders visited Washington, D.C. last week to meet with Texas congressional members about what the next steps are in repealing the unfair federal Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
Are your earned Social Security wages being taken away from you? Then this conversation is about you!
Congressman Kevin Brady filed legislation during the last congressional cycle to address the WEP. H.R. 711, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, proposed to provide a rebate to retirees who fall under the WEP. The bill received considerable support, including 100 Congressional cosponsors.
However, stakeholder groups could not come to a final agreement on the bill’s changes to the WEP. The bill was delayed in committee, with a promise from Brady to continue moving forward with even better resolutions to this unfair law in the next congressional cycle.
During TRTA’s visits in Washington, D.C. last week, Congressman Brady again affirmed that his top personal priority as a legislator is to pass WEP reform. However, due to major political issues such as tax reform and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) taking precedence in the early part of this new congressional cycle, a bill has not yet been filed to address the WEP. Brady, who chairs the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, said he would file new legislation as soon as he can. When filed, the bill will have a new name and number.
Brady felt that the bill may be filed by late summer, and vowed to continue working closely with all stakeholders, including TRTA, to make the legislation work for everyone. Members, we also want you to know that the Government Pension Offset (GPO) was a part of this conversation. It is possible that the GPO could be addressed in any upcoming legislation reforming the WEP as well.
What You Can Do Now to Support Repeal of the WEP and GPO
While there is not yet a bill number for reforming or repealing the WEP and GPO, members can still call their congressmen today and express their support for Congressman Brady’s efforts to change these unfair provisions. Let them know you want to see these unfair provisions reformed and you would like their support when Congressman Brady’s bill is filed later this year.
Find your U.S. Representative by clicking here.
Call your U.S. Senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, using the phone numbers listed below:
John Cornyn: 202.224.2934 Ted Cruz: 202.224.5922
Gracias
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