[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               AIR TRAFFIC RETIREMENT REFORM ACT OF 2003

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                         HON. JAMES L. OBERSTAR

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2003

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the Air Traffic 
Retirement Reform Act of 2003. This legislation will grant air traffic 
controllers, and more specifically air traffic controller supervisors, 
the same treatment that Federal firefighters and law enforcement 
officers (LEOs) receive under the Civil Service Retirement System 
(CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
  Both the CSRS and the FERS provide early retirement benefits and 
require mandatory separation for safety-related occupations, including 
Federal firefighters, LEOs and air traffic controllers. Under both CSRS 
and FERS, firefighters/LEOs and controllers are eligible for retirement 
after 25 years of service or after becoming 50 years old and completing 
20 years of service. Additionally, the annuities for firefighters, LEOs 
and controllers are higher than ordinary Federal employees under CSRS 
and FERS.
  However, the current definition of an air traffic controller in both 
CSRS and FERS is limited to people who are actively engaged in 
directing air traffic or their immediate supervisors. As a result, air 
traffic controllers who are promoted to staff specialists or second 
level managers before they are eligible to retire lose all benefits 
currently guaranteed controllers under CSRS and FERS. Yet, firefighters 
and LEOs that are promoted to management positions do not need to make 
a similar sacrifice.
  The Air Traffic Retirement Reform Act of 2003 amends the CSRS and 
FERS to provide a more expansive two-tier definition of air traffic 
controllers. The new definition will include both employees covered 
under the current definition of air traffic controllers and second 
level supervisors. Second level supervisors would be eligible for the 
same retirement benefits available to line-controllers.
  The Air Traffic Retirement Reform Act of 2003 provides fairness and 
parity between air traffic controllers and other Federal safety 
professionals.

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