[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 1934. A bill to amend the Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000 
to permit certain annuitants of the retirement programs of the United 
States Park Police and United States Secret Service Uniformed Division 
to receive the adjustments in pension benefits to which such annuitants 
would otherwise be entitled as a result of the conversion of members of 
the United States Park Police and United States Secret Service 
Uniformed Division to a new salary schedule under the amendments made 
by such Act; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Federal 
Law Enforcement Pay Adjustment Equity Act. I am proud to be joined on 
this bill by my colleague, Senator Clinton. This legislation amends the 
Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000 to allow retired police officers 
of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division and the United 
States Park Police to receive the same Cost of Living Adjustment, COLA, 
as active officers.
  For almost 80 years, Secret Service and Park Police retirees were 
assured an increase in their pensions whenever their active 
counterparts received an increase by the ``equalization clause'' in the 
District of Columbia Police and Firearms Salary Act, DCRA, of 1958. 
When the Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act passed in 2000, the automatic 
link that ensured retirees of getting the same COLA as active officers 
was severed. This bill would restore that link, guaranteeing that the 
pension for these retired federal police officers keeps up with the 
cost of living.
  The Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000 created a sharp inequality 
in retirement benefits for a small number of retirees, 630 Secret 
Service retirees and 465 Park Police retirees, roughly eleven hundred 
in total. They gave years of loyal service, often in difficult and 
life-threatening situations. They are the only federal retirees who had 
existing retirement benefits scaled back.
  Providing for government retirees and their families has always been 
an important function of the Federal Government. There is no reason why 
the government should go back on its word to provide this small group 
of valuable employees with secure retirement benefits. Restoring the 
Cost of Living Adjustment to the pensions of 1100 Federal retirees will 
have a minimal impact on the Federal budget, but a major impact on the 
quality of life of the people involved.
  When it comes to Federal employees, I believe that promises made 
should be promises kept. These former Secret Service and Park Police 
officers planned for their retirement with the understanding that their 
pension would be enough to live on, even as the cost of living 
increased. They deserve the retirement benefits they were promised when 
they signed up for service.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing support for this bill 
to restore promised retirement benefits to retired officers of the 
United States Secret Service Uniformed Division and the United States 
Park Police.
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