U.S. House votes to repeal GPO-WEP, Senate is next

The following statement can be attributed to Al Llorens, president of the Illinois Education Association:

"It is long past time to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). This measure denies Illinois educators who are part of either the Teachers' Retirement System or State Universities Retirement System to collect much, if any, Social Security whether they work other jobs, come to teaching as a second career or their spouse passes away. It is a shame to deny educators these benefits simply because they chose a life of service. We congratulate the U.S. House on its overwhelming support to repeal GPO-WEP, voting 327-75. Now, the fight moves to the U.S. Senate. Both Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth co-sponsored this bill. Now it's time for them to bring it to the floor for a vote and to fight for its passage."

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state's largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.