WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) was awarded the Fraternal Order of Police National President’s Advocacy Award for his instrumental role in passing the Social Security Fairness Act, which fully repeals two unfair Social Security provisions known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). It was signed into law on January 5, 2024 after Cassidy successfully secured a vote on the Senate floor. Prior to the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, WEP and GPO unfairly penalized 94,000 state and local public servants in Louisiana, including Louisiana sheriffs.
“No one should be penalized for serving their communities. For years, I have worked to make sure our police officers and all public servants receive the full Social Security benefits they have earned,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I stand committed to those who protect and serve Louisiana every day. Thank you to the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association for this honor.”
Background
Last week, Cassidy led his colleagues in sending a letter to acting Social Security Commissioner Michelle King calling for the immediate implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act to provide full Social Security benefits for millions of public servants impacted by WEP and GPO.
Cassidy played a pivotal role in getting the Social Security Fairness Act signed into law on January 5, 2025. Cassidy successfully demanded a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act. In July 2024 and again in December, Cassidy spoke on the U.S. Senate floor urging Congress to repeal WEP and GPO as part of his “Big Idea” to save, strengthen, and secure America’s retirement system. In June, Cassidy entered a statement into the record urging the repeal of WEP and GPO ahead of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee field hearing on Social Security.
Cassidy is a long-time cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act in the Senate, being an original cosponsor since he became a Member of Congress in 2009. He led the introduction of the legislation in the 117th and 116th Congress.
Cassidy led a bipartisan working group to preserve and protect Social Security. He released the inaugural Bill on the Hill video where he asked Capitol Hill visitors from across the country their thoughts on the looming benefit cuts to Social Security and presented his “Big Idea.”
Last March, Cassidy grilled U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on President Biden’s plan to address Social Security, to which Secretary Yellen admitted “the president doesn’t have a plan,” to save Social Security.
Cassidy has discussed the “Big Idea” at a public forum with AARP on the future of Social Security, outlined his Social Security plan in a fireside chat with the Bipartisan Policy Committee, and authored op-eds in the Washington Examiner in July, the Wall Street Journal in March, and State Affairs and Washington Post in May.
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