From Becky Pringle, President of the NEA:

We did it!!!
Together, we finally repealed GPO and WEP, the unfair penalties that denied retired educators, first responders, and other public service workers their full Social Security benefits.
The Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act today in a historic 76 to 20 bipartisan vote. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law.
Soon, Martha Karlovetz from Missouri will be able to get her full Social Security payments—benefits she paid into for 15 years before she became a teacher.
Gayle Harbo in Alaska will be able to finally receive her late husband’s Social Security—payments the government has taken from her just because she was a teacher.
And now, educators can enter the profession mid-career or work a second job without jeopardizing their retirements.

See what this historic victory means for educators across the United States, and let us know what it will mean to you.

This victory for retired educators, both current and future, was only possible because of your advocacy and the collective voice of our union. For decades we have lobbied Congress, telling our stories about how these unfair penalties hurt retirees and the education system. Together, you contacted Congress more than 430,000 times with messages, calls, and in-person visits to pass the Social Security Fairness Act.
Now, millions of educators, first responders, and other public service workers will get their full Social Security, benefits they and their spouses earned.

We did this, together.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your tenacity and righteous activism.

In solidarity,

Becky Pringle
President
National Education Association

Breaking news from the U.S. Senate, as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has teed up a vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, as early as Monday to once and for all fully repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)! As you know, repealing these unfair penalties that take away earned Social Security benefits from millions of educators, first responders, and other public service workers has been an NEA priority for 40 years. Now, thanks to your incredible advocacy and that of our members, we are on the cusp of history. But we have to close out strong.

Every single senator needs to hear from you and your members right now that they need to vote yes on H.R. 82 next week. (We expect multiple rounds of votes, with the first procedural or cloture vote needing 60 to advance). Senators who are co-sponsors need to hear from you. Senators from fully impacted states need to hear from you. Senators who have not co-sponsored the Social Security Fairness Act need to hear from you.

NEA members have made hundreds of thousands of contacts on GPO-WEP repeal this year. The NEA Board of Directors has lobbied on repeal 3 times this Congress. NEA and our labor and retirement security allies rallied at the rainy Capitol on Wednesday to push the Senate to finish the job, which is when Schumer made the commitment to force the vote.

A reminder that the House passed H.R. 82 by a vote of 327 – 75 in November. This bill has broad bipartisan support and the time to finish the job is now.

Flood the Senate phone lines! We have 3 ways you and your members can call your senators:

The URL: www.nea.org/SSFairness

1. the QR Code (on the right)
2. dialing 1-844-912-1779

Let’s keep up the pressure until the final vote. We are on the verge of history for our members – current retirees and future retirees. And repealing these penalties will make it easier to recruit and retain future educators too. Help us end 2024 with an incredible win.

The Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) is offering five scholarships to children of current members. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is 3:00 pm on Monday, March 3, 2025.

These scholarships are not need-based. Winners are selected on the basis of academic success, school activities, volunteer/work experience, and thoughtful responses to essay questions.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Four scholarships in the amount of $2000 each will be given by the NUEA. Applicants must be in their senior year, attending a post-secondary school next year.

High School Senior Application Instructions

FUTURE IN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
One scholarship int he amount of $2000 will be given to a student enrolled in an undergraduate program who will be starting their 3rd year or later in an education-related field of study.

Future in Education Application Instructions

Please send all materials or questions to NUEA Scholarship Coordinator David Carroll at Madison Jr. High.