Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans

PARA President was in Washington DC this week to discuss protecting and expanding retirement security and Social Security. He's pictured here with Rep. John Larson (D-CT).

Retirees Applaud House of Representatives’ Passage of
Social Security Fairness Act

The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding House passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82

“Tonight the U.S. House of Representatives voted to correct a serious injustice involving Social Security benefits that has been a problem for decades. Retirees congratulate lawmakers on taking this much needed action.

“The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for public sector retirees who receive a public pension — or the spouse or survivor of a Social Security beneficiary — who worked in a job not covered by the Social Security program.

“By passing H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, the House voted to fix two unfair provisions that are currently being used to calculate benefits.

“The GPO and WEP cause an unnecessary hardship for 2.8 million retired and disabled Americans. It is fundamentally unjust that public employees who earned Social Security credits and benefits through non-government employment cannot receive the full benefits from their work.

“Many Alliance members and other retirees are seeing their Social Security benefits reduced by hundreds of dollars a month. The economic harm to their quality of life cannot be overstated.

“The House took the first step in fixing these unreasonable provisions. Now we need the U.S. Senate to follow suit and pass the Social Security Fairness Act as soon as possible.”

Retirees Call on Speaker Johnson to Bring
Social Security Fairness Act to the House Floor

The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding House Freedom Caucus members’ attempts to try to kill the Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82:

“Yesterday while Americans were focused on Election Day, two members of the House Freedom Caucus blocked 2.5 million retired public workers or their spouses from receiving the Social Security benefits that they have earned.

“The bill that Reps. Bob Good (R-VA) and Andy Harris (R-MD) tried to kill has more than 300 bipartisan co-sponsors, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. If they thought no one would notice, they were sorely mistaken.

“The members of the Alliance for Retired Americans are calling on Speaker Johnson to bring the Social Security Fairness Act to the floor for a vote this month, as planned. This issue affects millions of Americans, and the bill to restore their benefit deserves an up or down vote on the merits.

“The Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82, eliminates the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for public sector retirees who receive a public pension — or the spouse or survivor of a Social Security beneficiary — who worked in a job not covered by the Social Security program.

“The WEP and GPO disproportionately affect lower-income workers and women. As a result, many face economic hardship during retirement.”

Older women too care about women's rights to control their own bodies. Let's use our votes to show our power and determination to protect fundamental freedoms!

These older women voters remember a time before Roe — and they’re rallying around Kamala Harris | CNN Politics In 1965, when Betty Gunz was a junior in college, she was kicked out of school and almost died after having an illegal abortion.

Succinct argument for why the Alliance supports Harris - in 30 seconds. Please like and share widelly.

President: It's Yours

What's at stake this November? Your social security. Explained here in our new ad.

President: It's Yours

AARP's new polling of older Pennsylvania voters shows that for older Black voters, Social Security and Medicare are primary issues shaping how they will vote. Kamala Harris is clear that she will protect and strengthen Medicare and Social Security, and she has a Congressional voting record to prove that she will.

AARP Poll: Black Voters 50+ Say Social Security, Medicare, Democracy Will Influence 2024 Vote AARP Pennsylvania recently released key findings from its second 2024 election survey showing candidates should pay close attention to Pennsylvania voters age 50 and older, particularly Black voters. The survey also revealed that the priorities and concerns of this demographic will likely influence....

Social Security is definitely on the ballot this year, and the choice between a candidate who supports strengthening and expanding the program and one that supports gutting it is now very clear. Economists have now shown that Trump's plan would drain Social Security of funds and trigger automatic cuts to monthly Social Security checks, starting as early as 2031. Whereas Kamala Harris and our endorsed Congressional candidates are advocating to make the wealthy pay their fair share of Social Security taxes so that the Social Security Trust Fund can remain solvent and deliver hard-earned benefits to retirees for the rest of this century.

Trump proposals could drain Social Security in 6 years, budget report says Trump proposals could drain Social Security in 6 years, budget report says

Social Security is definitely on the ballot this year. Kamala Harris and Democrats running for Congress are aiming to strengthen it, and the Republicans are aiming to raise the retirement age and severely limit cost of living adjustments to Social Security.

Progressives Say 2.5% COLA Increase Is a Reminder That Social Security Is on the Ballot | Common Dreams "Older Americans should pay close attention and make sure they support candidates who will protect the benefits they have earned—and even increase them—in the fast approaching November elections," said one advocate.

Check out this new Retired Americans PAC ad supporting Susan Wild's campaign for re-election to Congress and share it with your friends.

PA-7: No Games 30 Second Version

We did the research. Pennsylvania seniors can be confident that Beth Farnham for Congress will fight for them in Washington. Her opponent, Rep. Joyce, earned a dismal lifetime pro-retiree score of just 10% in our Congressional Voting Record.

Older Pennsylvanians can trust Summer L. Lee. She has a 100% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record and will fight for their interests in Washington.

Older Pennsylvanians can trust Matt Cartwright. He has a 99% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record and will fight for their interests in Washington.

Chrissy Houlahan has a 100% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record. Pennsylvania retirees can trust her to protect their Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Older Pennsylvanians can trust Mary Gay Scanlon. She has a 100% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record and will fight for their interests in Washington.

Older Pennsylvanians can trust Madeleine Dean. She has a 100% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record and will fight for their interests in Washington.

Dwight Evans has a 99% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record. Pennsylvania retirees can trust him to protect their Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Older Pennsylvanians can trust Brendan Boyle. He has a 99% lifetime pro-retiree score on our Congressional Voting Record and will fight for their interests in Washington.