Over 43,000 public sector employees in Washington state are affected by provisions the law will repeal
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation she cosponsored that will restore full Social Security benefits for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public servants by repealing two provisions of current law—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—that unfairly reduce the Social Security benefits that public employees receive. Over 43,000 people in Washington state are affected by the WEP and GPO provisions. The Social Security Fairness Act previously passed the House and, after passing the Senate 76-20 tonight, heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“In Washington state and across the country, public servants including teachers, police officers, and local government workers are not receiving the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned through years of hard work—putting people in tough financial situations when they retire. This legislation will fix a fundamental unfairness in our current law and ensure that public service employees who work so hard to make our communities better can count on the retirement security they have earned and deserve. I’ve pushed for years to eliminate these two provisions that wrongfully penalize public employees—I’m thrilled the Senate was finally able to pass this bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”
Senator Murray has advocated for years for the repeal of the WEP and GPO and has an extensive record of protecting Social Security benefits and fighting to secure essential funding for the SSA. In August, under Murray’s leadership as Chair, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act which includes $14.7 billion for the SSA—a $509 million increase over Fiscal Year 2024. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security and have earned benefits over lifetimes of work. Half of seniors rely on Social Security for most of their income and a quarter of seniors rely on Social Security for at least 90% of their income.
At a Budget Committee hearing in September, Senator Murray outlined how House Republican proposals over the years would undermine benefits overall, and undermine the SSA’s ability to help get those benefits to people. At another Senate Budget Committee hearing last July, Senator Murray outlined Democratic efforts to protect benefits, and strengthen Social Security’s long term financial footing while contrasting that with efforts from GOP leaders to slash funding.
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