Collins, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Police, Firefighters, Teachers

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure that public sector workers and their families can receive their full Social Security benefits. Right now, the law results in many of these workers or their spouses receiving reduced benefits.

“I have heard from numerous public servants, such as retired teachers and police officers, who have dedicated their professional careers to public service and whose retirement benefits are reduced due to the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision,” said Senator Collins. “I held the first Senate oversight hearing on this issue and have continued to work to correct it. Our bipartisan legislation would eliminate these unfair provisions that have enormous financial implications for many federal, state, and local employees.”

“These workers have taught Ohio children and kept Ohio communities safe, and it’s up to us to make sure police, firefighters and teachers can retire with their full Social Security benefits,” said Senator Brown. “It’s not just about the workers – their families suffer the consequences of reduced benefits, too. This small fix will help these workers and their families have the peace of mind that their Social Security benefits will be there for them when they retire from a life dedicated to serving our communities.”

The Social Security Fairness Act would eliminate provisions of the Social Security Act that significantly reduce benefits for more than two million Americans and 225,000 Ohioans – including many teachers, firefighters, and police officers. The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal these provisions so public sector workers receive full Social Security benefits.