Tyler Reporter

On Sunday, Congressman Lance Gooden was present at the signing of the Social Security Fairness Act into law. This legislation aims to benefit retired teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants by eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions have previously reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for nearly 2.5 million Americans.

"From the day I first campaigned for Congress in 2018, I vowed to fight tirelessly until this unfair system was corrected," stated Congressman Gooden. He emphasized his commitment to addressing these issues through various legislative efforts over six years.

The repeal of WEP and GPO is expected to ensure that retirees receive their full earned benefits and prevent reductions in spousal benefits for widows and widowers. The changes are seen as a significant step forward for affected public servants.

"I am especially grateful to Tim Lee of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), who has been an unwavering advocate for this legislation and joined me today for the signing," Gooden added. He expressed pride in standing with retirees throughout this process.

Congressman Gooden was joined by Tim Lee from TRTA and President Joe Biden at the White House during the signing ceremony.