Washington--Today, Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) joins Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) to reintroduced the Government Pension Offset (GPO) Reform bill. Current GPO provisions reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for government retirees widows and widowers who are eligible for state, local, or federal job benefits not covered by Social Security. This legislation does not repeal the GPO provision completely, but it allows it to apply only if the pension plus survivor Social Security benefits exceed $1200 per month.

"I am pleased to join Congressman Jefferson in support of this legislation," Green stated. " I cosponsored this bill both this Congress and last Congress because public employees, and their spouses, should receive the same benefits and security as private sector families."

"It is not fair that Social Security widow's benefits be reduced, or in some cases eliminated, simply because the spouse is eligible for a pension not covered by Social Security," Green added. "As Congress considers proposals to strengthen Social Security for future generations, we must be careful not to ignore the needs of current beneficiaries."