MASSACHUSETTS COALITION OF POLICE
“The Only Union for Police Officers and 911 Dispatchers”
Scott A. Hovsepian, President sah@masscop.org
John E. Nelson, First Vice-President jen@masscop.org
Robert W. Murphy, Secretary/Treasurer rwm@masscop.org
(508) 581-9336 fax (508) 581-9564
January 6, 2025
Statement from the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (MassCOP) on President Biden Signing the Social Security Fairness Act into Law
The Massachusetts Coalition of Police (MassCOP) applauds President Biden, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives for delivering retirement fairness to millions of Americans whose social security benefits had been reduced simply because they served as police, firefighters, teachers or other local or state public employees.
In signing the Social Security Fairness Act into law today, President Biden enacts this critical legislation which MassCOP and its law enforcement brothers and sisters nationwide have fought for on behalf of their colleagues and all public service workers for nearly 40 years.
MassCOP President Scott A. Hovsepian and First Vice President John E. Nelson played a key leadership role in this effort on behalf of MassCOP’s more than 5,000 members. They spent weeks on Capitol Hill walking the halls of Congress urging lawmakers to support retirement fairness. The two were part of a delegation of advocates representing law enforcement officers and other public safety employees, including National Association of Police Organizations (N.A.P.O.) President Mick McHale, Executive Director Bill Johnson, and Director of Governmental Affairs Andy Edmiston.
The Social Security Fairness Act eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) rules that impact benefits for millions of public servants. U.S. Representatives Garret Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) were the original co-sponsors. The Social Security Fairness Act had 330 co-sponsors, including seven members of Congress from the Massachusetts delegation.
“Today’s historic action by President Biden, and the great leadership we previously saw on this in both the House and Senate, amounts to a huge victory for law enforcement officers and other public servants in Massachusetts and nationwide,” said MassCOP President Scott Hovsepian. “Retirement fairness has taken the place of financial injustice for millions of hardworking people. It has been a long time coming.”
For decades, the WEP had reduced the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also received a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security. This historically impacted many educators who do not earn Social Security in public schools, but who work part-time or during the summer in jobs covered by Social Security. The GPO affects the spousal benefits of people who work as federal, state, or local government employees including police officers, firefighters, and educators if the job is not covered by Social Security. The GPO reduced by two-thirds the benefit received by surviving spouses who also collect a government pension – often offsetting benefits entirely.
Member of National Association of Police Organization, N.A.P.O.
About MassCOP
MassCOP is the premier law enforcement union in Massachusetts. Our sole focus is on the welfare of our police officers and 911 police dispatchers, resulting in unprecedented membership growth. We are proud to be over 5,000 members strong, serving in more than 180 cities and towns across our Commonwealth. Our long-term strategic planning, seasoned expert leadership, high-powered labor attorneys, dedicated staff, and an elite Legal Defense Program have made us the most powerful and trusted law enforcement advocate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Governed by our peers: We have boots on the ground from the shores of the Vineyard to the scenic Berkshire Hills. By charter, the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (MassCOP) is governed by active and retired police officers serving in our cities and towns. Our Executive Officers are elected by our members at our annual convention.
Aggressive and responsible legal support: The right labor attorneys are essential to the success of our mission. Our organization and membership are represented by the prestigious offices of Sandulli Grace, P.C.
