[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           MANDATORY RETIREMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

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                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 11, 1999

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing legislation today, 
H.R. 1748, which will raise the mandatory age for the retirement of law 
enforcement officers from 57 years of age to 60 years.
  Under current law those who want to retire may do so at age 50 years.
  My bill only affects the mandatory age of the law enforcement 
officers. I believe that it is too restrictive. Law enforcement 
officers should be allowed to stay in at least until age 60 years which 
is the mandatory age for air traffic controllers.
  With the mandatory age of retirement for law enforcement at 57 years, 
in the next 5 years the Criminal Investigation Division of the U.S. 
Treasury alone will lose 1,350 special agents.
  Allowing these senior agents to stay on, if they wish, another three 
years will be both cost effective as well as help to keep our best, 
most highly qualified workforce.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1748.

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