Tim Lee To Host Facebook Live About WEP Reform with Congressman Kevin Brady!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Kevin Brady has had a scheduling conflict come up. Tim Lee is working to find a new guest for this week. We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to schedule Brady at a future date!

The Texas Retired Teachers Association’s (TRTA) Executive Director Tim Lee will host a Facebook Live discussion with Congressman Kevin Brady (R – The Woodlands) about the most recent efforts to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Brady serves as the ranking minority member on the House Ways and Means Committee, and his bill, H.R. 3934, proposes to give retirees back more of their hard-earned Social Security benefits. Previously, he has served as the chair of this very important committee.

You won’t want to miss this important discussion about the WEP and hear how we can move forward with reform. Be sure to tell your fellow retired and active educators about this event! The Facebook Live event will begin at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 22 on TRTA’s Facebook Page. You don’t need to have a Facebook account to visit the page and view the video. If you miss the live event, the recorded video will be available here.

On April 4, Lee also provided an in-depth look at the WEP on Facebook Live, which is available here.

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is an unfair federal provision preventing retirees from receiving the Social Security benefits they are owed. The WEP, which took effect in 1983, provides a means of eliminating the “windfall” of Social Security benefits received by beneficiaries who also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security.

Ninety-five percent of Texas public school employees do not pay into Social Security through their work with Texas schools. However, many have other jobs before, during, or after their employment in education in which they do pay into the federal program.

TRTA has joined our friends in Massachusetts, who are also affected by the WEP, in creating the Public Retirees Alliance.

There are currently two WEP reform bills on the table, H.R. 4540, by the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Richie Neal, and H.R. 3934 by Texas Rep. Kevin Brady.

The bills are similar and would be an improvement for the lives of retirees impacted by the WEP. TRTA is pushing for the best possible outcome for retirees.

Please contact your congressional representative and ask them to support both H.R. 4540 and H.R. 3934. You can find your representative’s contact information here.

Currently, there’s only one congressional member on the House Ways and Means Committee that has not signed on to either bill, Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett. If you want WEP reform to move forward, please contact Rep. Doggett and ask him to take action on this very important issue!

True WEP reform starts in the House Ways and Means Committee, but it will take all Texas congressional members to resolve the WEP issue as they all play a part. We need them to support one or both bills. Let’s work to get 100 percent Texas congressional support on these bills! Currently, Rep. Mac Thornberry also isn’t signed on to either bill.