Causes - powered by Countable - provide millions of advocates an intuitive understanding of pending legislation and streamlines the communication process with lawmakers, enabling advocates to influence voting decisions effectively. Advocates can also sound off on issues of national, local, or personal importance: policy, news, campaigns, and more.
As the only advocacy software to also run a community that consistently engages, Causes gives Countable a unique perspective. We get first-hand insights into what advocates think about and discuss, and we're passing these insights on to you.
In this policy roundup, we’ve gathered the latest bills advocates are talking about as well as highlighting comments from the advocates themselves.
Addresses food insecurity among student populations
Permanently removes barriers and expand access to SNAP
Eliminates barriers to accessing SNAP related to students' place of residence
What advocates are saying:
Criticizes New York's ban on future propane and natural gas stoves
Blocks rule that would limit access to gas stoves
Fights against new energy performance standards
Focuses on consumer choice
What advocates are saying:
Withdraws the U.S. from WHO
Establishes U.S. autonomy over public health protocols
What advocates are saying:
BILL: Increase Social Security Benefits for Public Sector Workers - Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 - H.R.82
The Bill
H.R.82- Social Security Fairness Act of 2023
Bill Status
- Introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA): March 9, 2023
- Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is the lead Democratic sponsor
- The bipartisan bill had seven original co-sponsors and currently has 197 co-sponsors
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means: March 9, 2023
- House and Senate: Not yet voted
- President: Not yet signed
Bill Overview
- The bill would ensure that public sector employees like firefighters, police officers, teachers, and their families, receive full Social Security benefits regardless of other benefits they are entitled to receiving.
- The bill would repeal provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for individuals already receiving other benefits, like a state or local government pension.
- The changes proposed in the bill will be effective for benefits payable after Dec. 2023.
- The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act. Both provisions were aimed at reducing high payouts and retirement windfalls.
- The bill is identical to the Senate version of the bill, the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 597), reintroduced by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) on March 1.
What's in the bill?
A fairer way of calculating payments
- When calculating payments, Social Security only takes into consideration covered employment.
- When an individual is employed by a non-covered, public sector employer that does not pay into Social Security, it appears that they have a much lower income and reduces the benefits they are entitled to.
Eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision
- The bill eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), enacted in 1983, which reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who received a pension from a job in which they did not pay Social Security taxes.
- WEP impacts approximately two million Social Security beneficiaries.
Eliminates the Government Pension Offset
- The bill will also eliminate the Government Pension Offset (GPO), enacted in 1977, which reduces Social Security benefits for spouses and widows who already receive a pension of their own.
- The offset currently impacts approximately 780,000 retirees.
What advocates are saying:
Establishes a National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention
Repeals Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act
Creates a set of "best practices"
Involves Congress in monitoring
What advocates are saying: