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Respect Public Service! Repeal Social Security Offsets

NEA has been working closely with sponsors of legislation to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and has received firm assurances that Chairman Clay Shaw (R-FL) will move GPO/WEP legislation through the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security this year. Movement through committee is a necessary step toward final passage, and the assurances that action will be taken represent a major victory for NEA and our members.

Although NEA had considered the possibility of pursuing a "discharge petition" to move the GPO/WEP legislation forward, such a petition is not needed at this time, since legislation will move out of committee.  (A "discharge petition" is a procedural mechanism designed to force stalled legislation out of committee).

A resolution (H.Res.523) seeking a discharge petition has been introduced in the House of Representatives.  However, the sponsors of our GPO/WEP repeal legislation (H.R. 594) (Representatives McKeon (R-CA) and Berman (D-CA)) do not believe a discharge petition is necessary at this time and are not supporting it.  Representatives McKeon and Berman have made movement of GPO/WEP legislation a top priority and have been encouraging Chairman Shaw to move legislation addressing the unfair Social Security offsets. NEA supports the sponsors' strategy because it believes it offers the best chance for action. Therefore, the NEA is not encouraging Members of Congress to sign the "discharge petition". 

NEA will continue to work closely with Representatives McKeon and Berman and with Chairman Shaw to ensure that GPO/WEP legislation moves quickly through committee this year.