NATCA Supports the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82)

On behalf of air traffic controllers throughout the National Airspace System, NATCA fully supports the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 82). Introduced by U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (La., 6th District) and Abigail Spanberger (Va., 7th District), this critical legislation would finally eliminate provisions that have denied millions of people their full Social Security benefit.

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), passed in the 1970s and 80s, is a formula used to reduce Social Security benefits for those who have paid into both civil service pensions and Social Security throughout their lives. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) decreases spousal dependent benefits of individuals who did not pay into Social Security themselves by two-thirds of their government pensions.

“It is imperative that WEP and GPO are repealed for the sake of millions of workers who face the unfair reduction of their Social Security benefits,” said NATCA President Rich Santa. “H.R. 82 is a bipartisan bill that has 209 co-sponsors. This bill is not about politics – it is about doing what is right for these workers and their families.”