AFGE Praises Passage of Bill to Reform Retirement Benefits for Federal Law Enforcement Officers
WASHINGTON, June 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees Council of Prison Locals (CPL) applauds the unanimous Senate passage of the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act, a law that removes the unfair 10 percent penalty charged to correctional workers who choose to retire after age 50.
The House of Representatives passed the bill on May 12, with an overwhelming majority. Its companion bill, S 969, was introduced as a bipartisan bill by Senators Pat Toomey and Michael Bennet, where it passed unanimously and was sent back to the House with amendments as HR 2146, where it must pass again. The bill exempts federal law enforcement officers, firefighters and air traffic controllers from paying an arbitrary 10 percent penalty on withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement accounts if they retire after age 50.
"This is a huge victory for correctional workers and for our brothers and sisters in law enforcement," said Eric Young, President of AFGE's Council of Prison Locals. "AFGE and the CPL have worked tirelessly for almost 20 years to ensure that our working men and women are able to retire with the money that they have earned with their blood and sacrifice."
"Retirement is retirement and should not be a punishment for protecting America. AFGE's Council of Prison Locals would like to thank the U.S. Senate, particular Sen. Pat Toomey who authored this bill, for standing up for workers like us," Young said. "We strongly encourage the House of Representatives to work with the Senate to ensure the bill can be sent to the President to be signed into law."
Correctional workers and other law enforcement officers in jobs considered "hazardous" are able to retire at age 50 if they choose. But before the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act was passed, these workers were forced to give up a 10 percent penalty when they went to access their TSP if they retired at 50 with 20 years of service. If the House of Representatives follows the Senate's lead and passes the bill, this arbitrary penalty would no longer be a problem.
"Our brothers and sisters in the Bureau of Prisons, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other law enforcement positions risk their lives day in and day out to keep our communities safe from the most dangerous criminals in the country," said AFGE President J. David Cox, Sr. "We urge the House of Representatives to follow the great leadership of the Senate and pass the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act, and guarantee that our law enforcement officers receive their full retirement benefits the day that they hang up their badge after a career of hard work."
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia, including workers in the Bureau of Prisons.
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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees
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