[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E180-E181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       EQUAL STATUS FOR DS AGENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 1997

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to 
introduce today legislation in support of the agents of the Bureau of 
Diplomatic Security within the U.S. Department of State.
  Despite performing traditional law enforcement activities and being 
placed in high-risk security situations on behalf of the United States 
at home and abroad, Diplomatic Security [DS] agents of the State 
Department are currently treated differently than all other Federal law 
enforcement agents in regard to their retirement annuity calculations. 
The security functions that DS agents carry out every day include 
protecting U.S. personnel and the security of vital U.S. information 
and installations both domestically and internationally. Their duties 
are critical to the viability of overseas operations of the United 
States and to the protection of thousands of U.S. citizens around the 
world.
  Agents of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security are charged with the 
security of American diplomatic personnel overseas. These agents also 
protect Members of Congress and their staffs while on official business 
overseas. We have seen time and time again the threats that DS agents 
face protecting America's interests. In the last few years alone, 
Diplomatic Security agents have been placed in harm's way while on duty 
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Liberia, and Haiti. These dedicated 
security agents deserve to be fairly compensated.
  In order to rectify this inequity I have introduced this bill that 
will classify DS agents as equivalent in status to Federal law 
enforcement personnel for the purpose of retirement annuity 
calculations. This measure will change the amount of Federal employee 
deductions and matching contributions of DS agents for retirement 
purposes. My bill will simply bring DS agents into accord with other 
Federal law enforcement agents whose retirement annuities are 
calculated at a rate of 7\1/2\ percent payroll deduction, the current 
rate for all other Federal employees is 7 percent; the rate for Members 
of Congress is 8 percent.
  Under the bill, future agents of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security 
would be eligible to receive the law enforcement retirement annuity 
calculation 6 months after the date of enactment of the legislation. 
Current DS agents would be required to make an election based on the 
calculation of the individual's annuity which is attributable to 
service preceding the effective date of the legislation. Consequently, 
current DS agents electing to be covered under the new annuity rate 
would have to make a special monetary contribution or have an actuarial 
reduction to compensate for the shortfall in employee contribution 
levels for service prior to the date of enactment.
  U.S. AID Inspector General investigators and Capitol Police officers 
have both received this designation through congressional action in 
recent years. In recognition of the physical strain and mental stress 
caused by the performance of life-threatening work, designated

[[Page E181]]

Federal law enforcement personnel may retire with bull benefits after 
20 years, while paying slightly more out of each paycheck for these 
increased benefits. While DS agents may currently retire at age 50 with 
20 years of service, their annuity calculation is based on the smaller 
level of contribution.
  My bill helps correct a basic matter of fairness. Diplomatic Security 
agents perform the functions of law enforcement officers, and they 
should receive the benefits associated with those responsibilities.

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