ATPE joins congressional leaders at Washington press conference on Social Security reform
Date Posted: 12/14/2022 | Author: Jennifer Mitchell
ATPE State President Stacey Ward joined representatives of the Texas Retired Teachers Association and Mass Retirees Association at a press conference Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., to urge Congress to pass Social Security reform legislation by the end of the year. They were joined at the event by several members of Congress who have been strong allies on efforts to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) that reduce retirement benefits for many educators and other public servants in several states.
Standing in front of the U.S. Capitol alongside members of Congress, Ward said, “The time is now,” conveying the urgent need to address the arbitrary provisions in the law that hurt so many teachers when they retire and dissuade younger generations from joining the profession.
U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) was the highest-ranking elected official at the press conference. His powerful committee oversees all legislation pertaining to Social Security. Neal emphasized that he and other leaders continue to work toward an agreement that will have the momentum to pass. The chairman stated he was prepared to vote for H.R. 82, a bill that would fully repeal both provisions—if it garners enough support to pass. Other speakers noted there were not enough votes in the U.S. Senate to pass a full repeal in the current Congress.
Neal and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who is the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, have both filed legislation to repeal and replace the WEP with a more equitable provision. The two measures, which are very similar, have garnered substantial support from both sides of the aisle.
Brady said during the press conference: “Texas and Massachusetts teachers have been the tip of the sphere here.” He thanked the stakeholders for their presence at the Capitol to help get something done. Brady said, “We’ve always sought equal treatment,” touting the benefits of a proportional approach to calculating public servants’ benefits instead of the arbitrary WEP formula that is used today. Brady also explained that the effort to pass a WEP reform bill before the end of the current term was only the first part of a multi-pronged attempt to solve the issues with Social Security without hurting the long-term solvency of the fund.
“As complicated as WEP is, the GPO is even more complicated,” Brady added. “If we can solve WEP, we can then turn to GPO.”
U.S. Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) spoke next. She said: “I’m for full repeal, but I’m also for survival…. Let’s get it done.” Also speaking at the press conference were U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), who sits on the Ways and Means Committee that oversees Social Security legislation, and U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas).
Asked by reporters about the likelihood of getting a deal done this month, Neal said, “We’re close to something.” Brady added, “We have to grind it out to see if we can get this done. … We’re not gonna give up until the clock strikes midnight.”
ATPE’s Ward and Senior Lobbyist Monty Exter are also meeting with individual members of the congressional delegation in Washington this week to lobby for a Social Security fix in the final weeks of the term. Adding urgency to the push are the facts that Brady is retiring and that Neal will no longer chair the committee once control of the U.S. House returns to Republicans in January.
ATPE encourages educators to continue contacting members of Congress and urging them to address Social Security now. ATPE members can use Advocacy Central to contact their elected officials via phone, email, or social media. (Member login is required.)
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Like many others, teaching is a second career for me. I too have all my quarters but, reducing my SSI just because I am a teacher is not right. I worked hard and earned the right to have my SS. In Texas, in order to get your full pay when you retire you have to work 45 years. When I plan to retire I will get about 58% of my pay. Could any of your family members live on 58% of their current pay AND about 1/3 of their earned SS income?
Teaching is a second career for me. I worked for over 20 years and have all my SS quarters. I am currently an educator with 24 years of service and when I retire I lose a large percent of what I have rightfully earned. Myself and others like me have earned those SS benefits. This unfair rule must be removed.
If I am employed by an employer or school distric and funds are withheld with my permission to fund a retirement allotment at retirement age, that is my choice. If I can also enjoy the retirement disbursement afforded by investing in SSI it would would be fair. The double dipping clause needs to be repealed and replaced with an equatable and inclusive tax code provision.
Fair; that’s all we ask. I have friends who aren’t teacher who draw their social then also draw their ex social and they make bank because they weren’t teachers! After 33 years and being divorced too I will barely make it if this doesn’t reform. Why punish public servants such as myself , policemen etc?
Thank you so much for those continuing to work work for financial fairness for the educators of Texas by repealing or replacing the WEP and the GPO. We appreciate your efforts!
Thank you ATPE, TRTA and MRA for promoting what is right.
Teaching is a second career for me. I was a trucker for over 20 years and have all my SS quarters fully in. I''m currently an active duty HS teacher with 25 years of service. I was told by SS administration that once I retire, my SS benefits will be cut. Myself and others like me have earned those SS benefits. Now tell me, how fair is that under the WEP?
The teachers are losing at two ends one because of the WEP and other is no COLA has been approved in 20 years so how do teachers survive with the recession and horribly inflated prices. I thank the people eorking to resolve this situation before I am no longer part of this Earth.Bless all r the people that care about us.