[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22783]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     CONGRESS MUST ADDRESS INEQUITIES SUFFERED BY FEDERAL RETIREES

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to commend the Congress and 
the President on the recent enactment of S. 2420, the bill to provide 
long-term healthcare insurance for federal employees. As the nation's 
largest employer, we have set an example for the private sector in 
establishing a long-term care insurance program for federal workers and 
retirees. At least thirteen million people are expected to benefit from 
this far-sighted effort, but there is more work to be done on those 
issues affecting current and former Federal employees. Today, I wish to 
highlight three proposals on which I have received much correspondence 
from my constituents: repeal of the Government Pension Offset, GPO, 
elimination of the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision, WEP; 
and, health insurance premium conversion availability.
  I am a cosponsor of S. 717, Senator Mikulski's proposal to reform the 
GPO. Additionally, I am a supporter of initiatives in the House of 
Representatives to eliminate the WEP. Both pieces of legislation 
alleviate current laws that block Federal annuitants and their spouses 
from collecting full Social Security benefits. Because of the current 
budget rules requiring the offsetting of spending cuts or tax 
increases, passage of these reforms have been complicated.
  We should not penalize people who have worked hard and contributed to 
the country simply because they worked for the Federal government and 
receive a Federal pension. This Senate must consider these bills a 
priority, and seriously review the offsets necessary to achieve these 
essential and fair changes. I believe that we need to enforce a budget 
discipline which will balance the budget without borrowing payroll tax 
dollars from the Social Security trust fund and any other federal trust 
funds. However, now that the budget is balanced, we should first 
restore the change that helped bring us toward fiscal soundness.
  Finally, I wish to address the availability of health insurance 
premium conversion arrangements. As my colleagues may be aware, no 
Senate legislation has been introduced, but H.R. 4277 has been 
introduced in the House. Under the provisions of this bill, the Office 
of Personnel Management, OPM, would be directed to take necessary 
measures to ensure that enrollees have the option to paying charges out 
of pre-tax earnings. This would ensure equal premium tax treatment for 
federal workers and retirees. I urge my House and Senate colleagues to 
provide full consideration to this legislation, and bring Federal 
employees and retirees pay and benefit equity and fairness.
  Mr. President, these are just three issues of concern to me and my 
constituents. While enactment of the long-term care bill was a great 
step forward, I must reiterate my call for more work to be done. I am 
hopeful that we may make a serious effort on this legislation on the 
few remaining days of the 106th Congress. These concerns will not go 
away, and I know we will surely be hearing about the GPO, WEP, and 
premium conversion in the next Congress is we do not take action this 
year.

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