[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5955-H5959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 FIRST RESPONDER FAIR RETURN FOR EMPLOYEES ON THEIR INITIAL RETIREMENT 
                               EARNED ACT

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 521) to permit disabled law 
enforcement officers, customs and border protection officers, 
firefighters, air traffic controllers, nuclear materials couriers, 
members of the Capitol Police, members of the Supreme Court Police, 
employees of the Central Intelligence Agency performing intelligence 
activities abroad or having specialized security requirements, and 
diplomatic security special agents of the Department of State to 
receive retirement benefits in the same manner as if they had not been 
disabled, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 521

       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 ``First Responder Fair Return 
     for Employees on Their Initial Retirement Earned Act'' or the 
     ``First Responder Fair RETIRE Act''.

[[Page H5956]]

  


     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) it is in the best national and homeland security 
     interests of the United States for Federal agencies to retain 
     the specialized knowledge and experience of individuals who 
     suffer an injury or illness while serving in a covered 
     position (as defined under the amendments made by this Act); 
     and
       (2) Federal agencies should ensure, to the greatest extent 
     possible, that an individual who can no longer carry out the 
     duties of a covered position, and is reappointed to a 
     position in the civil service that is not a covered position, 
     is reappointed within the same Federal agency, in the same 
     geographic location, and at a level of pay commensurate to 
     the position which the individual held immediately prior to 
     such injury or illness.

     SEC. 3. RETIREMENT FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.

       (a) CSRS.--Section 8336(c) of title 5, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3)(A) In this paragraph--
       ``(i) the term `affected individual' means an individual 
     covered under this subchapter who--
       ``(I) is performing service in a covered position;
       ``(II) while on duty, becomes ill or is injured as a direct 
     result of the performance of such duties before the date on 
     which the individual becomes entitled to an annuity under 
     paragraph (1) of this subsection or subsection (e), (m), or 
     (n), as applicable;
       ``(III) because of the illness or injury described in 
     subclause (II), is permanently unable to render useful and 
     efficient service in the employee's covered position, as 
     determined by the agency in which the individual was serving 
     when such individual incurred the illness or injury; and
       ``(IV) is appointed to a position in the civil service 
     that--
       ``(aa) is not a covered position; and
       ``(bb) is within an agency that regularly appoints 
     individuals to supervisory or administrative positions 
     related to the activities of the former covered position of 
     the individual;
       ``(ii) the term `covered position' means a position as a 
     law enforcement officer, customs and border protection 
     officer, firefighter, air traffic controller, nuclear 
     materials courier, member of the Capitol Police, or member of 
     the Supreme Court Police.
       ``(B) Unless an affected individual files an election 
     described in subparagraph (E), creditable service by the 
     affected individual in a position described in subparagraph 
     (A)(i)(IV) shall be treated as creditable service in a 
     covered position for purposes of this chapter and determining 
     the amount to be deducted and withheld from the pay of the 
     affected individual under section 8334.
       ``(C) Subparagraph (B) shall only apply if the affected 
     employee transitions to a position described in subparagraph 
     (A)(i)(IV) without a break in service exceeding 3 days.
       ``(D) The service of an affected individual shall no longer 
     be eligible for treatment under subparagraph (B) if such 
     service occurs after the individual--
       ``(i) is transferred to a supervisory or administrative 
     position related to the activities of the former covered 
     position of the individual; or
       ``(ii) meets the age and service requirements that would 
     subject the individual to mandatory separation under section 
     8335 if such individual had remained in the former covered 
     position.
       ``(E) In accordance with procedures established by the 
     Director of the Office of Personnel Management, an affected 
     individual may file an election to have any creditable 
     service performed by the affected individual treated in 
     accordance with this chapter without regard to subparagraph 
     (B).
       ``(F) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to apply 
     to such affected individual any other pay-related laws or 
     regulations applicable to a covered position.''.
       (b) FERS.--
       (1) In general.--Section 8412(d) of title 5, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (B) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``An employee''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2)(A) In this paragraph--
       ``(i) the term `affected individual' means an individual 
     covered under this chapter who--
       ``(I) is performing service in a covered position;
       ``(II) while on duty, becomes ill or is injured as a direct 
     result of the performance of such duties before the date on 
     which the individual becomes entitled to an annuity under 
     paragraph (1) of this subsection or subsection (e), as 
     applicable;
       ``(III) because of the illness or injury described in 
     subclause (II), is permanently unable to render useful and 
     efficient service in the employee's covered position, as 
     determined by the agency in which the individual was serving 
     when such individual incurred the illness or injury; and
       ``(IV) is appointed to a position in the civil service 
     that--
       ``(aa) is not a covered position; and
       ``(bb) is within an agency that regularly appoints 
     individuals to supervisory or administrative positions 
     related to the activities of the former covered position of 
     the individual;
       ``(ii) the term `covered position' means a position as a 
     law enforcement officer, customs and border protection 
     officer, firefighter, air traffic controller, nuclear 
     materials courier, member of the Capitol Police, or member of 
     the Supreme Court Police.
       ``(B) Unless an affected individual files an election 
     described in subparagraph (E), creditable service by the 
     affected individual in a position described in subparagraph 
     (A)(i)(IV) shall be treated as creditable service in a 
     covered position for purposes of this chapter and determining 
     the amount to be deducted and withheld from the pay of the 
     affected individual under section 8422.
       ``(C) Subparagraph (B) shall only apply if the affected 
     employee transitions to a position described in subparagraph 
     (A)(i)(IV) without a break in service exceeding 3 days.
       ``(D) The service of an affected individual shall no longer 
     be eligible for treatment under subparagraph (B) if such 
     service occurs after the individual--
       ``(i) is transferred to a supervisory or administrative 
     position related to the activities of the former covered 
     position of the individual; or
       ``(ii) meets the age and service requirements that would 
     subject the individual to mandatory separation under section 
     8425 if such individual had remained in the former covered 
     position.
       ``(E) In accordance with procedures established by the 
     Director of the Office of Personnel Management, an affected 
     individual may file an election to have any creditable 
     service performed by the affected individual treated in 
     accordance with this chapter without regard to subparagraph 
     (B).
       ``(F) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to apply 
     to such affected individual any other pay-related laws or 
     regulations applicable to a covered position.''.
       (2) Technical and conforming amendments.--
       (A) Chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (i) in section 8414(b)(3), by inserting ``(1)'' after 
     ``subsection (d)'';
       (ii) in section 8415--

       (I) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph 
     (1), by inserting ``(1)'' after ``subsection (d)''; and
       (II) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking ``(d)(2)'' and 
     inserting ``(d)(1)(B)'';

       (iii) in section 8421(a)(1), by inserting ``(1)'' after 
     ``(d)'';
       (iv) in section 8421a(b)(4)(B)(ii), by inserting ``(1)'' 
     after ``section 8412(d)'';
       (v) in section 8425, by inserting ``(1)'' after ``section 
     8412(d)'' each place it appears; and
       (vi) in section 8462(c)(3)(B)(ii), by inserting ``(1)'' 
     after ``subsection (d)''.
       (B) Title VIII of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
     U.S.C. 4041 et seq.) is amended--
       (i) in section 805(d)(5) (22 U.S.C. 4045(d)(5)), by 
     inserting ``(1)'' after ``or 8412(d)''; and
       (ii) in section 812(a)(2)(B) (22 U.S.C. 4052(a)(2)(B)), by 
     inserting ``(1)'' after ``or 8412(d)''.
       (c) CIA Employees.--Section 302 of the Central Intelligence 
     Agency Retirement Act (50 U.S.C. 2152) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(d) Employees Disabled on Duty.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `affected employee' means an employee of the 
     Agency covered under subchapter II of chapter 84 of title 5, 
     United States Code, who--
       ``(i) is performing service in a position designated under 
     subsection (a);
       ``(ii) while on duty in the position designated under 
     subsection (a), becomes ill or is injured as a direct result 
     of the performance of such duties before the date on which 
     the employee becomes entitled to an annuity under section 233 
     of this Act or section 8412(d)(1) of title 5, United States 
     Code;
       ``(iii) because of the illness or injury described in 
     clause (ii), is permanently unable to render useful and 
     efficient service in the employee's covered position, as 
     determined by the Director; and
       ``(iv) is appointed to a position in the civil service that 
     is not a covered position but is within the Agency; and
       ``(B) the term `covered position' means a position as--
       ``(i) a law enforcement officer described in section 
     8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(ii) a customs and border protection officer described in 
     section 8331(31) or 8401(36) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(iii) a firefighter described in section 8331(21) or 
     8401(14) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(iv) an air traffic controller described in section 
     8331(30) or 8401(35) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(v) a nuclear materials courier described in section 
     8331(27) or 8401(33) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(vi) a member of the United States Capitol Police;
       ``(vii) a member of the Supreme Court Police;
       ``(viii) an affected employee; or
       ``(ix) a special agent described in section 804(15) of the 
     Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4044(15)).
       ``(2) Treatment of service after disability.--Unless an 
     affected employee files an election described in paragraph 
     (3), creditable service by the affected employee in a 
     position described in paragraph (1)(A)(iv) shall be treated 
     as creditable service in a covered position for purposes of 
     this Act and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, 
     including eligibility for an annuity under section 233 of 
     this Act or 8412(d)(1) of title 5, United States Code, and 
     determining the amount to be deducted and withheld from

[[Page H5957]]

     the pay of the affected employee under section 8422 of title 
     5, United States Code.
       ``(3) Break in service.--Paragraph (2) shall only apply if 
     the affected employee transitions to a position described in 
     paragraph (1)(A)(iv) without a break in service exceeding 3 
     days.
       ``(4) Limitation on treatment of service.--The service of 
     an affected employee shall no longer be eligible for 
     treatment under paragraph (2) if such service occurs after 
     the employee is transferred to a supervisory or 
     administrative position related to the activities of the 
     former covered position of the employee.
       ``(5) Opt out.--An affected employee may file an election 
     to have any creditable service performed by the affected 
     employee treated in accordance with chapter 84 of title 5, 
     United States Code, without regard to paragraph (2).''.
       (d) Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System.--
     Section 806(a)(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
     U.S.C. 4046(a)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(D)(i) In this subparagraph--
       ``(I) the term `affected special agent' means an individual 
     covered under this subchapter who--
       ``(aa) is performing service as a special agent;
       ``(bb) while on duty as a special agent, becomes ill or is 
     injured as a direct result of the performance of such duties 
     before the date on which the individual becomes entitled to 
     an annuity under section 811;
       ``(cc) because of the illness or injury described in item 
     (bb), is permanently unable to render useful and efficient 
     service in the employee's covered position, as determined by 
     the Secretary; and
       ``(dd) is appointed to a position in the Foreign Service 
     that is not a covered position; and
       ``(II) the term `covered position' means a position as--
       ``(aa) a law enforcement officer described in section 
     8331(20) or 8401(17) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(bb) a customs and border protection officer described in 
     section 8331(31) or 8401(36) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(cc) a firefighter described in section 8331(21) or 
     8401(14) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(dd) an air traffic controller described in section 
     8331(30) or 8401(35) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(ee) a nuclear materials courier described in section 
     8331(27) or 8401(33) of title 5, United States Code;
       ``(ff) a member of the United States Capitol Police;
       ``(gg) a member of the Supreme Court Police;
       ``(hh) an employee of the Agency designated under section 
     302(a) of the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act (50 
     U.S.C. 2152(a)); or
       ``(ii) a special agent.
       ``(ii) Unless an affected special agent files an election 
     described in clause (iv), creditable service by the affected 
     special agent in a position described in clause (i)(I)(dd) 
     shall be treated as creditable service as a special agent for 
     purposes of this subchapter, including determining the amount 
     to be deducted and withheld from the pay of the individual 
     under section 805.
       ``(iii) Clause (ii) shall only apply if the special agent 
     transitions to a position described in clause (i)(I)(dd) 
     without a break in service exceeding 3 days.
       ``(iv) The service of an affected employee shall no longer 
     be eligible for treatment under clause (ii) if such service 
     occurs after the employee is transferred to a supervisory or 
     administrative position related to the activities of the 
     former covered position of the employee.
       ``(v) In accordance with procedures established by the 
     Secretary, an affected special agent may file an election to 
     have any creditable service performed by the affected special 
     agent treated in accordance with this subchapter, without 
     regard to clause (ii).''.
       (e) Implementation.--
       (1) Office of personnel management.--Not later than 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
     Office of Personnel Management shall promulgate regulations 
     to carry out the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b).
       (2) CIA employees.--The Director of the Central 
     Intelligence Agency shall promulgate regulations to carry out 
     the amendment made by subsection (c).
       (3) Foreign service retirement and disability system.--The 
     Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations to carry out 
     the amendment made by subsection (d).
       (4) Agency certification.--The regulations promulgated to 
     carry out the amendments made by this Act shall include a 
     requirement that the head of the agency at which an affected 
     employee or special agent (as the case may be) incurred the 
     applicable illness or injury certifies that such illness or 
     injury--
       (A) was incurred in the course of the employee's or special 
     agent's duties; and
       (B) permanently precludes the employee or special agent 
     from rendering useful and efficient service in the covered 
     position but would not preclude the employee or special agent 
     from continuing to serve in the Federal service.
       (5) Agency reappointment.--The regulations promulgated to 
     carry out the amendments made by this Act shall ensure that, 
     to the greatest extent possible, the head of each agency 
     appoints affected employees or special agents to supervisory 
     or administrative positions related to the activities of the 
     former covered position of the employee or special agent.
       (6) Treatment of service.--The regulations promulgated to 
     carry out the amendments made by this Act shall ensure that 
     the creditable service of an affected employee or special 
     agent (as the case may be) that is not in a covered position 
     pursuant to an election made under such amendments shall be 
     treated as the same type of service as the covered position 
     in which the employee or agent suffered the qualifying 
     illness or injury.
       (f) Effective Date; Applicability.--The amendments made by 
     this Act--
       (1) shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act; 
     and
       (2) shall apply to an individual who suffers an illness or 
     injury described in section 8336(c)(3)(A)(i)(II) or section 
     8412(d)(2)(A)(i)(II) of title 5, United States Code, as 
     amended by this section, section 302(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the 
     Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act, as amended by 
     this section, or section 806(a)(6)(D)(i)(I)(bb) of the 
     Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended by this section, on 
     or after the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment 
     of this Act.

     SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Keller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 521, the First 
Responder Fair RETIRE Act, which was introduced by the chairman of the 
Government Operations Subcommittee, Representative Connolly, along with 
Representatives Fitzpatrick and Langevin.
  This bipartisan bill makes an important change to the law governing 
certain retirement programs which cover Federal first responders and 
law enforcement officials in the event that they become disabled on the 
job and continue government service in a different capacity.
  Currently, these Federal employees are enrolled in and pay into a 
system with mandatory retirement at the age of 57, or after 20 years of 
service. This system also requires greater retirement contributions 
from the employee.
  Under current law, when these employees become injured and disabled 
in the course of their work--which is inherently dangerous--they lose 
the benefits they earned before they became disabled.
  H.R. 521 would allow employees in positions covered by enhanced 
retirement programs to retain their original benefits if they are 
injured and disabled on the job and choose to continue working for the 
Federal Government.

                              {time}  1500

  The employees covered under this bill include law enforcement 
officers, firefighters, nuclear materials couriers, and diplomatic 
security special agents. These are, by definition, high-risk jobs. 
Denying them the retirement that they were guaranteed when they entered 
public service is deeply unfair.
  The men and women who sign up for dangerous jobs to serve our Nation 
should not be punished if they sustain injuries on the job--especially 
when, despite these injuries, they choose to continue their career in 
public service in a new capacity. These people should be rewarded, not 
punished.
  I commend Chairman Connolly for his leadership on this bill which 
enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important

[[Page H5958]]

bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, our Federal law enforcement and safety officers should 
not have to risk losing their retirement benefits if they are disabled 
in the line of duty. Likewise, Federal agencies should not lose 
talented employees who could otherwise continue their service in an 
alternative capacity.
  Fortunately, this narrowly tailored bill fixes a technological flaw 
for Federal law enforcement officers who are injured on the job. The 
First Responder Fair RETIRE Act gives disabled public safety officers 
the option to continue serving their country in a different capacity. 
This bill covers first responders, including special agents, Customs 
and Border Protection officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, 
nuclear materials couriers, CIA agents, and members of the Capitol 
Police and Supreme Court Police.
  To be clear, H.R. 521 only applies to injuries sustained while on 
duty and as a direct result of the performance of such duties. 
Moreover, it only applies to officers who choose to continue Federal 
service and continue to pay into the accelerated annuity system as they 
did prior to their injury. If they leave Federal service, they are not 
eligible for this benefit.
  In conclusion, the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act ensures that our 
Federal law enforcement officers are not penalized when they make 
sacrifices in service to our Nation. H.R. 521 will also ensure the 
Federal Government agencies who employ these American heroes are able 
to retain their talent and skills for continued public service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support this bill, I urge my colleagues 
to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time 
as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Connolly), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Government 
Operations.
  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the chairwoman of the 
full committee, and my friend, Mr. Keller from Pennsylvania, for their 
strong support for righting a wrong.
  Federal firefighters and law enforcement officers put their lives on 
the line every day for us. America depends on brave men and women to 
serve in these demanding, arduous, and hazardous duty positions. These 
individuals face the very real daily potential that an on-the-job 
injury could leave them disabled and unable to return to their previous 
service.
  Given the hazardous nature of the job required of Federal first 
responders, Congress recognized that risk and created an accelerated 
retirement system for these positions and established a mandatory 
retirement age of 57.
  Referred to as 6(c) for the section of the law in which this system 
was created, Federal first responders are qualified for an annuity 
after serving 20 years and reaching the age of 50. They pay a greater 
percentage of their salaries into this retirement system, and their 
annuity amount is calculated at a higher rate than other Federal 
employees recognizing the risks they take.
  Unfortunately, not all Federal first responders can complete those 20 
years of service. In cases where Federal first responders become 
injured and are no longer able to complete the essential functions of 
their jobs, they can be placed in civil service positions that don't 
qualify for 6(c) benefits. Any Federal first responder transferred to 
the FERS retirement system loses their eligibility to retire after 20 
years of service no matter how many years they have got in the system 
or how much they paid into it.
  Additionally, the employee is not reimbursed for the higher 
contributions required of them to be in the 6(c) system. The years of 
service are credited as if the Federal first responder who is injured 
had been in the normal 30-year retirement system for the Federal 
employees.
  The First Responder Fair RETIRE Act offers a correction to current 
law and rights this wrong, authorizing Federal first responders to stay 
in 6(c) retirement if they are placed in a position outside of that 
system after returning to work from a duty-related injury. The bill 
also allows those employees to receive a refund of their accelerated 
contributions should they be separated from service.
  The First Responder Fair RETIRE Act allows the Federal Government to 
uphold the retirement promise it made to its first responders. These 
first responders are Capitol Police officers, Secret Service agents, 
and other Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters across 
numerous Federal agencies.
  For example, Bob Beckley was a smokejumper out West with the U.S. 
Forest Service. He parachuted out of a plane in 1985, and he landed in 
a tree in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness area in Idaho trying to stop 
a blaze. The tree's branches broke, dropping Mr. Beckley 80 feet and 
breaking his back in five places. He died twice before he could be 
revived and evacuated.
  After--thank God--his recovery, Mr. Beckley, 10 years into his 
firefighting career, chose to work for the Forest Service in another 
position, but the reward for his bravery, his injury, and his service 
was his removal from the 6(c) retirement system. He watched his 
firefighter brothers and sisters all retire with full benefits at the 
20-year mark that he no longer qualified for.

  I will also highlight the story of Justin Moore, a U.S. Capitol 
Police officer right here in the U.S. Capitol. He was severely injured 
by being beaten right here in this Capitol on January 6. I heard 
firsthand from Justin and his colleagues about their heroism defending 
each and every one of us from a violent mob. Justin was beaten from 
behind with a blunt object suffering severe concussions, contusions, 
and several crushed vertebrae in his neck. In just a few weeks, Justin 
will undergo what is likely career-ending surgery. He may no longer be 
physically able to perform his law enforcement duties. Seventeen years 
into his career, Justin--a veteran and father of three--will lose the 
retirement benefits he has paid into when he is reassigned to a 
civilian position just 3 years short of qualifying.
  We want to incentivize our first responders to continue their service 
to this Nation. We shouldn't punish them for injuries they sustained 
protecting us, and we should reward their actions with continued 
inclusion in the retirement system they signed up for at the start of 
their service.
  This bill is endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers 
Association, the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National 
Federation of Federal Employees, the International Association of 
Firefighters, the National Association of Police Organizations, the 
National Treasury Employees Union, and the Senior Executive 
Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank our 22 bipartisan cosponsors, and, in 
particular, my original cosponsors: Brian Fitzpatrick and   James 
Langevin. I thank the chairwoman for her leadership and support on this 
important endeavor.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania has no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to help advance the First Responder Fair 
RETIRE Act through the House. This legislation ensures that our Federal 
law enforcement and public safety officers can continue their service 
to our Nation after being injured in the line of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 521, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 521, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GOOD of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.

[[Page H5959]]

  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________