West Hudson Valley News

Unions & Social Security Advocates Applaud Rep. Molinaro For Supporting Bipartisan Bill 

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) on May 8, 2023 announced he has cosponsored the Social Security Fairness Act. This bipartisan bill will strengthen Social Security by fixing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pensions Offset (GPO) – two flawed 1980s-era federal laws that can result in massive cuts or total elimination of a retiree’s Social Security benefits.

The WEP is a formula used to reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who paid into both civil service pensions and Social Security throughout their careers. In effect, this law unfairly penalizes public servants like firefighters, police officers, and teachers by reducing their retirement checks.

The GPO reduces Social Security benefits for a retiree’s surviving spouse by two-thirds of their government pension. In some cases, this results in individuals receiving zero Social Security benefits, even if the spouse paid in their entire working career.

Rep. Molinaro said, “I’ve been proud to be a leading voice for protecting Social Security in Congress and am proud today to announce my support for the Social Security Fairness Act. 1980s-era laws are unfairly penalizing public servants and reducing their retirement checks. The Social Security Fairness Act is a bipartisan bill that will strengthen Social Security by eliminating these harmful laws.”

Paul V. Hogrogian, President of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union said, “The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision laws leave many postal retirees and their spouses at an unfair inequity due to lopsided calculations of Social Security benefits. Mail Handler retirees have been left at a disadvantage for far too long and NPMHU is grateful to Representative Molinaro for his support of the Social Security Fairness Act, and its call to repeal these harmful regulations.”

George T. Mangold, President of the New York State Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO said, “The NY State Association of Letter Carriers greatly appreciates Rep. Molinaro's support on this important bipartisan legislation. With his support, we hope to finally see this bill enacted into law."

William Shackelford, President of National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) said, “The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) penalize federal, state and local workers by unfairly reducing their earned Social Security benefits after decades of service. NARFE is calling on this Congress to do away with these penalties and thanks Rep. Molinaro for cosponsoring legislation that would do just that. The Social Security Fairness Act would correct 40 years of inequity placed on those who chose public service and Congress should pass this bill without hesitation.”

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Molinaro has emerged as a leading advocate for Social Security and Medicare and has vocally opposed cuts to both programs. For this, AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans aged 50 and over, issued a statement thanking Rep. Molinaro.

Original source can be found here.