- Office of State Treasurer and Receiver General Deborah B. Goldberg
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Office of the State Treasurer
State House Room 227
Boston, MA 02133
Deborah B. Goldberg
Treasurer and Receiver General
TEL: (617) 367-6900
FAX: (617) 248-0372
October 16, 2021
Honorable John 8. Larson, Chair
House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Social Security U.S. House of Representatives
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
RE: Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act I H.R. 2337
Dear Congressman Larson:
On behalf of the retired and active members of the more than 104 public retirement systems in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts I write to urge favorable action by the Subcommittee on Social Security on H.R. 2337, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act. As you are aware the legislation will provide significant financial relief, nationally, to current and future public retirees impacted by the federal Windfall Elimination Provision ("WEP"). As State Treasurer, I am deeply concerned with our state's ability to attract and retain a modem day workforce, and this bill would address a concern and challenge that current and future state retirees face.
The bill would provide up to $150.00 a month in relief payments to current retirees who have had their Social Security benefits reduced by the WEP, as well as create a new benefit formula for future retirees. The bill now has Congressional support of over 150 sponsors.
Based on the July 26, 2021 report of the Congressional Research Bureau, nationally the Social Security benefits of nearly two million public retirees and beneficiaries are negatively affected by the WEP, including over 83,000 from Massachusetts.
If the Committee has any questions or would like to discuss the matter further, my office and I are available to you and your staff. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Deborah B. Goldberg
Treasurer and Receiver General
