11-18-2024 8:45am

House Passes the Social Security Fairness Act

Beth Callahan Editor

(Submitted Photo) Congressman Landsman at a Social Security Fairness Act press conference

From the Desk of Congressman Greg Landsman

For decades, public retirees like teachers, nurses, firefighters, and police officers have paid into Social Security but haven’t received all the benefits they’ve earned due to two outdated provisions. The Social Security Fairness Act was first introduced back in the 107th Congress and has been reintroduced every session since, but never made it out of committee—until now.

Across the country, thousands of firefighters, letter carriers, and bus drivers have been raising their voices about the same issue. This was impacting millions of Americans, including 160,000 Ohioans who haven’t been receiving the benefits they have paid into and worked years for. In our district, a public school teacher, Melissa, shared that she was set to miss out on $2,000 a month in benefits she paid into. She’s not alone.

To get the bill passed, we met with the original co-sponsors of the bill and decided to move forward on a discharge petition – that would force a vote on the bill. After obtaining 218 signatures on the petition, bypassing House leadership, a vote was forced.

"The Social Security Fairness Act," said Congressman Landsman, "It's the most cosponsored, bipartisan bill in the 118th Congress and it will help millions of retired teachers, police officers, and firefighters. We will get this done.”

On Tuesday, they did. The House overwhelmingly passed the Social Security Fairness Act with a vote of 327 to 75.

Once the Senate passes this bill and the President signs it, these folks will finally get what they’re owed.

"These dollars won't only support our retirees and their families, but they will boost our local economy as they spend their dollars right here in SW Ohio," Landsman noted, adding, "Congress has been stealing Social Security benefit dollars from millions of Americans and it’s time they start getting all of their benefits. Thanks to advocates and people around the country pushing for this legislation, we’ve passed the Social Security Fairness Act in an overwhelming bipartisan fashion."