Social Security Subcommittee
House Ways & Means Committee
November 20, 2023, Meeting in Baton Rouge
A field hearing was held at the St. George Fire Department facility in Baton Rouge for the Social Security Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. Congress to consider testimony about the impact of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) laws. It was noted that this was the first committee meeting in over a decade held outside of Washington, DC.
Congressman Mike Carey (R-OH) chaired the meeting. Ways & Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) and Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS) also participated. Members of the Louisiana Delegation in attendance and allowed to take part in the hearing were Garret Graves, Julia Letlow, Troy Carter, and Clay Higgins.
Congressman Graves was given credit for the fact that the meeting was held in Baton Rouge.
Four witnesses presented testimony:
Patrick Yoes, President of the Fraternal Order of Police
Ann Dugas, Retiree from the LA Department of Justice
Bernard “Bernie” Piro, Retired Firefighter from Shreveport
Paula Porter, Retired Teacher from Terrebonne Parish
More than 100 people were in attendance and each was given the opportunity to submit a written statement for the record.
The following State legislators were in attendance:
Representative Mike Johnson
Representative Rodney Schamerhorn
Representative Kathy Edmonston
Representative Charles Owen
Senator-Elect Rick Edmonds
The consensus of the participating members of Congress was that the WEP and GPO are unfair, and Congress needs to act. This hearing was described as the first step.
You can watch the video and read opening statements and witness statements at: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/event/social-security-subcommittee-field-hearing-on-social-securitys-disservice-to-public-servants-how-the-windfall-elimination-provision-and-government-pension-offset-mistreat-government-workers/
Social Security Subcommittee
House Ways & Means Committee
April 16, 2024, Meeting in Washington, D.C.
On April 16, 2024, a subcommittee hearing was held in Washington, DC about the WEP and GPO. A summary of the hearing can be found at:
