[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E938-E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS EQUITY ACT OF 1999

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                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 1999

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the President of the United 
States, William Jefferson Clinton, I am pleased to introduce the 
``Federal Employees' Benefits Equity Act of 1999.'' This proposal 
eliminates certain inequities under the Civil Service Retirement System 
(CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), with respect 
to computation of benefits for certain employees. The legislation also 
corrects an inequity created by the court decision. Wassenaar v. OPM, 
that affects benefits for survivors of law

[[Page E939]]

enforcement officers and fire fighters who die as federal employees.
  Under current CSRS and FERS law, certain employees (i.e. air traffic 
controllers, fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and nuclear 
materials couriers) qualify for an immediate enhance annuity if 
separated from service after reaching age 50 and completing 20 years of 
service. The enhanced annuity, however, requires that they make 
retirement contributions that are 0.5 percent higher than employees 
generally.
  The legislation addresses an inequity that occurs when an employee in 
one of these occupations is forced to retire because of a disability, 
or is involuntarily separated (not for cause), before reaching age 50, 
the employee only receives a regular annuity (and not the enhanced 
annuity), even if he or she has had 20 years of service in the 
occupation.
  The bill fixes this problem by providing the enhanced annuity to 
employees, who after 20 years of qualifying service, regardless of age, 
are forced to retire due to involuntary separation, or for disability. 
The measure also provides for a refund of the additional 0.5 percent 
retirement contribution, with interest, when employees in these 
occupations retire or die before attaining eligibility for the enhanced 
annuity.
  By supporting this legislation, you support federal firefighters, law 
enforcement officers, and others, who work in these very demanding 
occupations.

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