[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7751-S7752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself and Mr. Sarbanes):
  S. 2612. 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. 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 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 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 created a sharp inequality in 
retirement benefits for a small number of

[[Page S7752]]

retirees--600 Secret Service retirees and 470 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 
COLA to the pensions of 1,100 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. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2612

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Law Enforcement 
     Pension Adjustment Equity Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. PERMITTING ADJUSTMENT IN PENSION BENEFITS FOR UNITED 
                   STATES PARK POLICE AND UNITED STATES SECRET 
                   SERVICE UNIFORMED DIVISION ANNUITANTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 905 of the Law Enforcement Pay 
     Equity Act of 2000 (sec. 5-561.02, D.C. Official Code) is 
     amended by striking subsection (f).
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Law 
     Enforcement Pay Equity Act of 2000.
                                 ______