Rep. Roy issues statement on H.R. 5342 and H.R. 82

WASHINGTON, DC — On Tuesday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) issued the following statement:

"Today, I voted for H.R. 5342, which would have responsibly fixed the issues stemming from Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Many of America’s police, firefighters, teachers, and other public servants have unfairly seen their Social Security benefits reduced because of the poorly crafted WEP, despite many of these individuals paying into Social Security while working other jobs.

H.R. 5342, which I have co-sponsored since coming to Congress in 2019, would have responsibly addressed the problems stemming from WEP without accelerating Social Security’s insolvency. It was designed to replace the unfair, slipshod WEP with a new and carefully considered benefit formula to ensure these Americans get the benefits they deserve. At the same time, it would have provided monthly rebates to current beneficiaries to offset the impacts of the WEP.

The House also considered H.R. 82, which I voted against. This bill irresponsibly eliminates Social Security’s WEP and Government Pension Offset, which means some retirees already covered by government pensions could receive an unfair windfall from Social Security at the expense of other retirees. The Congressional Budget Office estimates H.R. 82 would cost taxpayers a whopping $200 billion and will accelerate Social Security’s insolvency – threatening benefits for every American currently paying into the system and those currently receiving benefits.

This question forces us to face some difficult and unavoidable realities. The U.S. is nearly $36 trillion dollars in debt, and we are adding trillions on top of it every single year. Social Security is facing an existential insolvency crisis with funds estimated to run out as soon as 2033. If we want this program to be there – if we want our country to be there – for future generations, we need to make choices that do right by people with what they have earned, and to do that with a clear-eyed view of our fiscal challenges.

That is why Congress has a duty to responsibly and fairly protect Social Security benefits for all Americans both today and tomorrow. That is what I voted for today."

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