The Senate voted early Saturday morning to repeal two laws that prevent many public employees from receiving Social Security, a move that is expected to weigh on the overall solvency of the Social Security system.

The popular measure gives full benefits to millions of people who currently receive them at a reduced level. Critics warn the $196 billion cost will speed up the program’s insolvency.

The Senate is moving to a final vote on a proposal to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, potentially pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year.

Social Security has been a safety net for retirees for decades, but it looked a lot different 60 years ago. Back then, any boost to benefits needed Congress to step in and approve it. That all changed in 1975,

The U.S. Congress early on Saturday passed a measure to boost Social Security retirement payments to some retirees who draw public pensions - such as former police and firefighters - which critics warned will further weaken the program's finances.

The Social Security Fairness act will repeal the penalties on police, teachers and other government retirees and spouses.

Passing the Social Security Fairness Act would increase benefits for over 2 million retired workers and more than 734,000 spouses. But that's going to cost money -- $196 billion to be exact -- and money is something the Social Security Administration doesn't have a lot of right now.

Millions of Social Security recipients will soon see an expansion of their benefits after the Senate on Saturday passed the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act. The measure repeals two tax rules,

The Social Security Fairness Act passed by a vote of 76-20 in the early hours of Saturday. The act eliminates provisions that affect an estimated 3 million individuals. The measure was passed in the Senate after a key amendment,