[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Leahy):

  S. 397. A bill to amend chapters 83 and 84 of title 5, United States 
Code, to extend the civil service retirement provisions of such chapter 
which are applicable to law enforcement officers, to inspectors of the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service, inspectors and canine 
enforcement officers of the U.S. Customs Service, and revenue officers 
of the Internal Revenue Service; to the Committee on Governmental 
Affairs.


       THE HAZARDOUS OCCUPATIONS RETIREMENT BENEFITS ACT OF 1997

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I introduce the Hazardous 
Occupations Retirement Benefits Act of 1997.
  This legislation will grant an early retirement package for revenue 
officers of the Internal Revenue Service, customs inspectors of the 
U.S. Customs Service, and immigration inspectors of the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service.
  Under current law, with the exception of the groups listed in this 
legislation, all Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters are 
eligible to retire at age 50 with 20 years of Federal service. This 
legislation will amend the current law and finally grant the same 20-
year retirement to these members of the Internal Revenue Service, 
Customs Service, and Immigration and Naturalization Service. The 
employees under this bill have very hazardous, physically taxing 
occupations, and it is in the public's interest to tenure a young and 
competent work force in these jobs.
  The need for a 20-year retirement benefit for inspectors of the 
Customs Service is easily apparent. These employees are the country's 
first line of defense against terrorism and the smuggling of illegal 
drugs at our borders. They have the authority to apprehend those 
engaged in such activities and carry a firearm on the job. They are 
responsible for the majority of arrests performed by Customs Service 
employees. In 1994, inspectors of the Customs Service seized 204,000 
pounds of cocaine, 2,600 pounds of heroin, and 559,000 pounds of 
marijuana. They are required to undergo the same law enforcement 
training as all other law enforcement personnel. These employees face 
multiple challenges. They confront leading criminals in the drug war, 
organized crime figures, and increasingly sophisticated white-collar 
criminals.
  Revenue officers struggle with heavy workloads and a high rate of job 
stress, resulting in a variety of physical and mental symptoms. Many 
IRS employees must employ pseudonyms to hide their identity because of 
the great threat to their personal safety. The Internal Revenue Service 
has put out a manual for their employees entitled: ``Assaults and 
Threats: A Guide to Your Personal Safety'' to help employees respond to 
hostile situations. The document advises IRS employees how to handle 
on-the-job assaults, abuse, threatening telephone calls, and other 
menacing situations.
  Mr. President, this legislation is cost effective. Any cost that is 
created by this act is more than offset by savings in training costs 
and increased revenue collection. A 20-year retirement bill for these 
employees will reduce turnover, increase yield, decrease employee 
recruitment and development costs, and enhance the retention of a well-
trained and experienced work force.
  I urge my colleagues to join me again in this Congress in expressing 
support for this bill and finally getting it enacted. This bill will 
improve the effectiveness of our inspector and revenue officer work 
force to ensure the integrity of our borders and proper collection of 
the taxes and duties owed to the Federal Government.
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