Washington, D.C. – Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) voted to support Congressman Jodey Arrington’s (R-TX-19) H.R. 5342, the Equal Treatment of Public Services Act, to provide a legislative fix to ensure teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other public servants receive what they contribute to Social Security.
“The Windfall Elimination Provision unfairly impacts the retirement of teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other public servants, and we need fair treatment for all,” said Congressman Moran. “Public servants work hard and plan retirement around their lifetime earnings only to find out they will receive a fraction of what they earned.”
“For this reason, I cosponsored and voted to support Congressman Arrington’s legislation,” continued Congressman Moran. “The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act would fix WEP by addressing the underlying issues in a responsible way leaving seniors, taxpayers, and the Social Security Trust Fund in good stead. I believe this is the right solution to meet our responsibility to our seniors and American taxpayers."
For 30 years, retired teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers have been unfairly impacted by Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Congressman Arrington’s bill would replace the existing WEP formula with one that reflects the work history of individuals, create a transition period for current workers, and offer rebates to retirees who are currently penalized by the WEP. In addition, the legislation has been estimated to cost $24 billion over the next 10 years and would not push the Social Security Fund closer to insolvency.
On Tuesday, the House also considered H.R. 82, a well-known proposal seeking to solve the same issue, but that would increase taxpayer spending by $195.65 billion and shorten the window for insolvency of the Social Security Trust Fund by 6 months – triggering a 23 percent cut for all seniors in 2033. Congressman Moran voted against this measure, which ultimately passed despite his opposition.
“While H.R. 82 is well-intentioned, it over-corrects on the issue, and will provided more benefits than were earned by some currently caught in WEP issue. Further, H.R. 82 will cost almost eight times more than the proposal by Jodey Arrington (H.R. 5343) and it will cause Social Security Trust Fund to become insolvent six months faster than its current expected demise. This will result in a far-reaching negative impact for all retirees,” said Congressman Moran. “I have remained committed to shoring up the Social Security Trust Fund, and unfortunately passage of H.R. 82 will do the opposite for all beneficiaries, not just those impacted by the WEP."
The House passed H.R. 82 with a vote of 327 to 75; H.R. 5342 failed with a vote of 175 to 225.
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