Congressman Gonzalez Signs Discharge Petition, Urges Passage of H.R. 82, The Social Security Fairness Act to Protect Public Servants’ Retirement Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) joined fellow Members of Congress in signing a discharge petition to bring H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. A discharge petition would force a vote on a bill, after at least seven legislative days, once218 members have signed the petition.  

This legislation would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two tax provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for 40 million retired federal, state, and local government employees who receive pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. Those most affected are public servants such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters. 

H.R. 82 currently has the bipartisan support of 326 Members of Congress, the second most supported bill in all of Congress. However, it has yet to be brought for a full vote in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. 

“Retired public servants in South Texas and throughout our country are being unjustly stripped of the benefits they earned simply for working for the public good,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Congress has the unique power to stand up for those who have devoted years of their lives to the bettering of our communities and country. It’s past time we use that power and eliminate the WEP and GPO once and for all.”  

Congressman Gonzalez is a steadfast supporter of Social Security benefits and is committed to protecting them. He previously introduced H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, which would replace the WEP with fairer benefits for public sector employees. Congressman Gonzalez is a cosponsor of all three bills that support the reduction or repeal of the WEP. 

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