President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, marking his first public bill signing in over two years. This new law is set to increase monthly Social Security benefits for millions of Americans, including retirees, by up to $550.

The changes in the law will impact over 2.5 million people, specifically those who receive foreign pensions or government retirement benefits such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters.

“Americans who have worked hard all their lives deserve to retire with financial security and dignity,” said President Biden during the signing ceremony at the White House. He noted that the previous system denied millions of workers the full benefits they had earned, reducing their retirement income by thousands of dollars annually.

Rare Signing Ceremony Highlights

Sunday’s bill-signing ceremony was a rare public event for President Biden, as public signings have been few during his presidency. It may also be the last such ceremony of his term.

In his early presidency, Biden frequently signed significant laws in public, such as bills for COVID relief, recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and improving veterans’ benefits. However, since Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections, legislative achievements have slowed, making public signing events even rarer.

While Biden quietly signed 48 routine bills on Saturday, the Social Security Fairness Act signing was given public attention, showcasing its importance to his administration.

What Does the Social Security Fairness Act Do?

The Social Security Fairness Act revises the formulas that reduced benefits for certain groups, including:

• Retirees receiving pensions from foreign governments.
• Government employees such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters.

As a result, millions of retirees will see an average monthly increase of $360 in their Social Security payments.

Bipartisan Support

The bill received bipartisan approval, with overwhelming majorities in both the House (327-75) and the Senate (76-20). Despite the White House not being visibly involved during the legislative process, the administration announced the signing of the bill just two days before the event.

A Measure of Presidential Achievements

Public bill-signing ceremonies often reflect a president’s legislative priorities. While most bills are signed privately, public ceremonies highlight the administration’s pride in specific achievements. For example, multiple pens are often used during these events as keepsakes for lawmakers who contributed to the legislation.

With only 27 public signing ceremonies in his first term, Biden has held fewer public events of this kind than any president since George H.W. Bush. For comparison, Donald Trump held 42 such ceremonies in his first term, often pairing them with signing executive orders or proclamations to highlight achievements.

Looking Ahead

During the ceremony, Biden emphasized the importance of the Social Security Fairness Act, calling it a step toward financial security for teachers, nurses, public employees, and their families. “We’re extending Social Security benefits for millions of public employees and their families, ensuring they get the support they’ve earned,” he said.

With this law now in place, millions of Americans can look forward to increased financial stability in retirement.