[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE 
                              ACT OF 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 16, 2018

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Federal Employee 
Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2018, which will help provide 
financial relief for federal employees who have a short-term injury or 
disability, become pregnant, or develop a pregnancy-related illness. 
This bill will offer federal employees short-term disability insurance 
at no cost to the federal government. Employees will be responsible for 
100 percent of the premiums, and will be able to receive disability 
insurance benefits for up to one year, which would replace a portion of 
their lost income due to a non-work related injury or illness or 
pregnancy. These benefits will be particularly beneficial to ensure 
that our federal employees, who do not yet enjoy paid maternity leave, 
are able to utilize the 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave permitted by 
federal law while continuing to pay their bills, buy groceries and make 
their mortgage, car and other loan payments without having to deplete 
their retirement or other savings accounts. Too many federal employees 
do not take advantage of federal unpaid maternity leave because they 
have no way to replace the lost income.
  I decided to investigate how we could provide short-term disability 
insurance for federal employees after learning that many of them 
already buy short-term disability insurance as individuals in the 
private market at high individual rates. Although federal employees 
have good health insurance, federal health benefits do not replace lost 
income if employees are unable to work. Moreover, while federal 
employees may have available sick or annual leave days, they may not 
have enough such days to pay the bills if they have to be out of work 
for an extended period. Although there are long-term disability options 
for federal employees who become permanently disabled, federal 
employees do not qualify for such benefits until they have worked for 
the federal government for at least 18 months. My bill does no more 
than put federal employees in the same position as their private-sector 
counterparts, who often have access to disability insurance through an 
employer at group rates. This bill will not allow participating 
insurance companies to exclude persons based on preexisting conditions. 
Because of the federal government's purchasing power, this bill will 
provide these benefits at a more competitive rate than is available if 
an employee sought such insurance as an individual, as many do.
  According to the Social Security Administration, a 20-year-old worker 
has a one-in-four chance of becoming disabled by retirement age. The 
majority of disabilities are not caused by major accidents, but by 
injuries or illnesses, such as back injuries or cancer, according to 
the Council for Disability Awareness. There is every reason to allow 
our federal employees to take advantage of the federal government's 
group rates to obtain the most reasonable price if they choose to 
purchase short-term disability coverage on their own at no cost to the 
federal government.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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