[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3444-S3445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Inouye):
  S. 718. 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 United States Customs Service, and revenue 
officers of the Internal Revenue Service; to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.


         Hazardous Occupations Retirement Benefits Act of 1999

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I introduce the Hazardous 
Occupations Retirement Benefits Act of 1999. 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, most Federal law enforcement officers and 
firefighters are eligible to retire at age 50 with 20

[[Page S3445]]

years of Federal service. Most people would be surprised to learn that 
current law does not treat revenue officers, customs inspectors and 
immigration inspectors as federal law enforcement personnel.
  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 have a young and 
competent work force in these jobs.
  The need for a 20-year retirement benefit for inspectors of the 
Customs Service is very clear. 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 
these crimes. These officers carry a firearm on the job. They are 
responsible for the most arrests performed by Customs Service 
employees. The Customs Service interdicts more narcotics than any other 
law enforcement agency--over a million pounds a year. In 1996, they 
seized 180,946 pounds of cocaine, 2,895 pounds of heroin, and 775,225 
pounds of marijuana. They are required to have the same law enforcement 
training as all other law enforcement personnel. These employees face 
so many challenges. They confront 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. Some IRS employees must even employ pseudonyms to hide their 
identity because of the great threat to their personal safety. The 
Internal Revenue Service currently provides it's employees with a 
manual 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 
critical employees will reduce turnover, increase productivity, 
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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