[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF ``HEALTHCARE ENHANCEMENT FOR LOCAL PUBLIC SERVANTS ACT 
                               OF 2009''

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 2009

  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, along with my New York colleague, John 
McHugh, I am pleased to introduce the ``Healthcare Enhancement for 
Local Public Servants Act of 2009'' or HELPS II legislation to provide 
a pre-tax deduction of up to $3,000 to retired public servants for 
health or Long Term Care (LTC) insurance premiums.
  This legislation builds off the successful language added to the 
Pension Protection Act (P.L. 109-280), which included a provision 
permitting retired public safety officers to take up to $3,000 in pre-
tax income and use it for health care costs or long term care expenses.
  Today, we expand this successful measure to all retired public 
employee.
  This concept was born several years ago during the 108th Congress in 
the Portman-Cardin pension bill (H.R. 1776) which included language to 
provide the ability of all retirees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for 
health plan premiums. Unfortunately, this provision and H.R. 1776 did 
not become law, and so today we introduce this as a free standing bill.
  This language will benefit our nation's hard working public sector 
retirees.
  The average monthly pension benefit of a retired public servant is 
$1,725 and many do not have Social Security benefits. A significant 
portion of a retired public servants' monthly pension check is going 
towards health or Long Term Care insurance premiums. In many cases, the 
retired public servant is using the entire pension benefit to pay for 
health insurance premiums.
  Additionally, HELPS II would streamline the administrative 
requirements of the program so that it will run more smoothly for those 
who already enjoy this tax benefit our nation's retired public safety 
officers.
  Therefore, we are pleased to introduce this legislation and will work 
for its enactment to ensure that all of our nation's retired public 
safety officers and all of our nation's retired public servants have a 
streamlined ability to pay for health and long term care costs in their 
golden years.

                          ____________________