VICTORY! HR82 WEP/SS Fairness Act

After over 30 years of hearings, promises, and debate urging Congress to repeal the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), we reached “victory lane” early in the morning of December 21st, 2024, when the Senate voted to pass HR 82. The vote was 74 – 20 to approve the Social Security Fairness Act repealing the WEP and GPO. These provisions unfairly target government retirees who are eligible for benefits they have paid for and also receive a governmental pension. The House passed the Social Security Fairness Act by a vote of 327 to 75 on November 12, 2025. The bill will be sent to the President, who has pledged to sign the legislation. We thank all who supported the enactment – FOP, IAFF, NARFE, NLCU, AFT, AFL-CIO, and others.

2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE RETIRED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION OF JACKSONVILLE

President
John Keane

1st Vice President
Terry Wood

2nd Vice President
Darryl Patterson

Secretary
Greg Radlinski

Treasurer
Tom Waarum

Chaplain
Leona Spann,

Sergeant-At-Arms
Larry Johnson

Members at Large
Al Saffer
Charlene West
Laura English-Williams

Immediate Past President
Eric Smith

General Counsel
Paul Daragjati
Ombudsman
MaryAnne Anders

General Employees Pension Trustee
Eric Smith

General Employees Pension Fund Advisory Committee
Kent Mathis

Police and Fire Pension Fund Advisory Committee
Tom Lumpkin

Police and Fire Trustee
Terry Wood

Advisory Panel
Emily (Flo) Clark
Sheila Caulkins
Pete Ison