NTC Members,
The recent efforts to impede the vote on H.R.82 have failed and a vote will take place this week, as early as tomorrow. The House will also be voting on H.R.5342, a compromise bill that falls significantly short of restoring your earned benefits and providing fair treatment.
The National Troopers Coalition (NTC) continues to work directly with the bill sponsors in coordinating efforts on the legislation. Know that the NTC has sent correspondence to every House member and that discussions are on-going.
Additionally, the NTC is strongly encouraging NTC members to engage by emailing your House of Representatives, urging them to:
- VOTE: YES on H.R. 82 - Social Security Fairness Act.
- VOTE: NO on H.R. 5342 - the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Capitol Switch Operator: 202-224-3121
Here is a summary of the events over the last week:
HR82 – Social Security Fairness Act
On Election Night, while every other member was home in district, members of the House Freedom Caucus executed an unusual maneuver (Pro Forma Session) on the U.S. House floor, stalling H.R.82 that was expected to come up for a vote after the congressional recess.
In tabling the legislation, the Freedom Caucus set back the procedural rule, but not the bill itself. The bill will be more difficult to pass as it now requires a super majority threshold rather than a simple majority.
HR5342 – Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act
This is a compromise bill that costs less than fully repealing WEP/GPO by applying another formula. This bill does not provide public employees with their full earned benefit:
- There is no relief for retired members already receiving reduced Social Security benefits.
- The bill fails to address GPO reductions and Spousal benefits reduced by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) will remain unchanged.
- Currently, pensioners with 30 years of Social Security-covered earnings can bypass the WEP reduction and receive their full benefit. This bill removes that exemption.
Thank you for your action!
Nate Johnson, Chairman
National Trooper Coalition
It has been a 40-year journey to this point. Finally, H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, which repeals WEP/GPO, is on a fast track for a vote likely on Tuesday or shortly thereafter.
While I am cautiously confident that we have the necessary votes to pass H.R. 82, the existence of a competing bill may cause confusion. For this reason, we have no time to waste in reminding your House of Representative Members just how important the passage of H.R. 82 is to our members.
I am requesting your IMMEDIATE ACTION to encourage your lodge members to email their House Representatives this weekend and urge them to vote YES on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. FOP members can easily do this through the NFOP Legislative Action Center: https://votervoice.net/FOP/home
Here’s the latest update
The Freedom Caucus members, Representatives Harris and Good—who initially conspired to block H.R. 82 by disregarding House rules and precedent—have agreed not to object to a Unanimous Consent request to reverse their actions from last Tuesday. This concession is conditional on the House also considering H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act led by Representative Arrington, (R-TX) under a suspension of rules. While this bill has support among several Freedom Caucus members, it is less popular on the Democratic side of the House and has an uphill battle.
Although this situation is frustrating, we are confident this agreement puts H.R. 82 back on track without further delays, allowing us to proceed with a suspension vote on Tuesday. Members will be able to vote on both H.R. 82 and H.R. 5342 separately, not through the “Queen of the Hill” rule, so each bill can proceed independently based on its own support. Please emphasize the importance of voting YES on H.R. 82 and keep us on track for potential passage this year.
A brief analysis of H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act
Introduced by Rep. Jodey C. Arrington (R-TX), H.R. 5342 aims to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) by providing graduated benefits depending on retirement year. The bill does not address the Government Pension Offset (GPO), and currently lacks a Senate companion or mark-up from Ways and Means. The House bill has 37 cosponsors—36 Republicans and one Democrat.
- For individuals eligible for Social Security benefits before 2025: Individuals subject to WEP would receive an additional $100 per month, and spousal or child beneficiaries would receive an extra $50 each month.
- For individuals eligible between 2025 and 2067: These beneficiaries’ WEP penalty would be determined by either the current or a new formula (whichever is more favorable). The new formula would calculate benefits based on the proportion of a worker’s Social Security-covered earnings.
- For individuals eligible beginning in 2068: Their WEP penalty would be determined solely by the new formula, removing the option to avoid WEP with 30 years of covered employment as currently allowed.
THE NFOP OPOSSES THIS BILL AS IT FALLS SHORT OF CORRECT ING THE INJUSTICES OF WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION AND DOES NOTHING FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET.
Please act now by encouraging your lodge members to email their House Representatives this weekend, urging them to vote YES on H.R. 82. FOP members can easily access the NFOP Legislative Action Center to send their messages: https://votervoice.net/FOP/home
For clarity, it is essential that as our members reach out to their House Representatives to encourage a YES VOTE for H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, they also urge them to VOTE NO on H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.
The title of H.R. 5342 is misleading. Here’s why it falls short of truly fair treatment:
- Some Representatives may see this bill as an easier compromise and support it because it costs less instead of fully repealing WEP/GPO.
- This bill does not provide public employees with their full earned benefit; it applies yet another formula that reduces benefits.
- It offers no relief to retired members already receiving reduced Social Security benefits.
- Currently, pensioners with 30 years of substantial Social Security-covered earnings can bypass the WEP reduction and receive their full benefit. This bill would remove that exemption for persons aged 20 or less in 2024.
- Spousal benefits reduced by the Government Pension Offset will remain unchanged, as this bill fails to address GPO reductions for public employees. The GPO is left intact and will continue to punish our families.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of mobilizing our grassroots network this weekend.
The message should be clear:
- VOTE YES on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act.
- VOTE NO on H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.
Thank you for your immediate action on this important issue.