Rep. Cuellar Passes Bipartisan Bill to Restore Social Security Benefits for Thousands in South Texas

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) helped pass the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, legislation that he supported as a co-sponsor and as a co-signer of a discharge petition to force a floor vote. This bill removes provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other critical public servants. This legislation is now headed to the Senate.

"The time is now to help our teachers, law enforcement, postal workers, and other public servants," said Dr. Cuellar. "I am happy to support the public servants in my district by passing legislation that ensures they get the benefits they've rightfully earned. That is why over the years I've worked across the aisle to restore full social security benefits for our workers. I want to thank Congressman Graves and Congresswoman Spanberger for their leadership in pushing this legislation forward."

The Social Security Fairness Act repeals provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government.

Specifically, the bill eliminates the government pension offset, which in various instances reduces Social Security benefits for spouses, widows, and widowers who also receive government pensions of their own.

The bill also eliminates the windfall elimination provision, which in some instances reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who also receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes.

###