Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, and Executive Director Jim Pasco met yesterday with President-elect Donald J. Trump at his home in Mar-a-Lago to discuss issues of mutual interest to the FOP and the incoming Administration. They also talked about the pending Senate votes on H.R. 82, the “Social Security Fairness Act”—the FOP’s top priority.

“During our meeting, President-elect Trump expressed his commitment to help us pass this critical legislation, which will ensure public employees receive the benefits they have earned—just like every other American who paid into Social Security,” Yoes said.

President-elect Trump told the FOP leaders: “You have been fighting for this for many years, and I know how important it is to you. You and your members have been good to me, and I am going to help you with this."

The Senate is expected to consider the bill on the floor this week. The first vote will be on a cloture motion, and another secondary procedural vote on a point of order may also take place, possibly as soon as tomorrow. Following these votes, the Senate may consider an amendment or amendments from the bill’s opponents. A final up-or-down vote on the bill will be held later this week. If passed by the Senate, the bill will go to the President’s desk for his signature.”

The legislation, which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset in current Social Security law, passed the House last month on an overwhelming 327-75 vote, with a majority of both the Republican Conference and Democratic Caucus supporting the bill. The WEP affects workers who spent some time in jobs not covered by Social Security and who also worked other jobs where they paid Social Security taxes long enough to qualify for the benefits. Like the WEP, the GPO may reduce the benefit received by surviving spouses if these spouses also receive a surviving spousal benefit from a public pension.

“The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act is long overdue, and we are so very grateful to President-elect Trump for his support on this critically important measure,” Yoes said. “With his help, we may be able to get a majority of Seate Republicans to stand with us on these upcoming votes.”