Congressman Gonzalez Statement on Social Security Fairness Act Becoming Law
New Law Will Restore Full Benefits to Millions of Retired Educators and Public Servants
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released a statement following the signing of the Social Security Fairness Act into law by President Biden.
This critical law will improve social security benefits for certain retired South Texans such as teachers and educators, firefighters, police officers, widowed spouses, and other retired public servants.
“Thank you, President Biden, for ensuring that our public servants receive the benefits they worked for and paid into,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “With this bill finally becoming law, we are honoring our promise to take care of our retired police officers, firefighters, teachers, and the other millions of public servants across our country who have had their benefits reduced for simply choosing a career in public service. I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of this bill and will always fight to defend South Texans’ hard-earned benefits.”
A vote in the U.S House of Representatives for the Social Security Fairness Act was previously blocked by House Republican leadership. This changed after a vote was forced by a discharge petition, a tool that Representatives can use to bypass gridlock. Congressman Gonzalez, after pushing for a vote through a letter to committee and House leadership, proudly signed the discharge petition which received the necessary 218 signatures on September 19, 2024.
The bill then passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 12, 2024, with Congressman Gonzalez’s support. The U.S. Senate passed and sent the bill to President Biden on December 21, 2024. President Biden signed the bill on January 5, 2025.
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