On Thursday, April 2nd, before passing their fiscal 2010 budget resolution the House of Representatives defeated a substitute amendment offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) which would have cut entitlements – like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – by $1.3 trillion over ten years and would have included a reduction of $10.263 billion in federal civil service retirement and health benefits. 

In a letter sent to all 435 members of the House prior to the vote, NARFE President Margaret Baptiste urged lawmakers to oppose the amendment because it would have compelled the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to consider proposals such as cutting or canceling federal annuity cost of living adjustments (COLAs), basing future retiree annuities on the highest five years of salary, shifting a growing share of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) premium costs to workers and retirees and/or requiring workers to double their Thrift Savings Plan contribution to receive the full government share.

The Ryan substitute was defeated 137 to 293.  As we have in the past, the NARFE Legislative Action Center shows how each Representative voted on the Ryan substitute.  (The gateway to the Legislative Action Center is http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  A display of the vote on the Clerk of the House web site is found at: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll191.xml)

The Senate adopted a similar but not identical budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 13) setting the stage for a House-Senate Conference Committee after the Easter/Passover recess (April 5-18).  The House resolution, in contrast to President Obama’s budget proposal, assumes pay parity for federal civilian and military employees.  The Senate resolution is silent on this issue.

On April 1st, the House approved H.R. 1804, legislation which would allow Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees to credit their unused sick leave toward their retirement and would make certain improvements to the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The Legislative Program adopted by delegates to NARFE’s biennial national convention held September 2008 in Louisville, Kentucky includes support for legislation to ensure that all federal civilian retirement programs credit unused sick leave toward retirement.   NARFE played a key role, along with other federal and postal organizations, in the passage of H.R. 1804.

Beyond FERS sick leave, the bill would automatically enroll newly-hired federal employees in the TSP and make them eligible to receive an immediate matching contribution from their employing agency.  Moreover, the measure would widen TSP’s offered plans to include a “Roth” option like many private employers do in 401(k) plans.  Under a “Roth” option, contributions are after taxes have been paid.  Roth plan principal and earnings can be withdrawn tax free.  House passage of this legislation is a victory for federal workers, but it still must be approved by the Senate where the NARFE Legislative Department is already promoting it.

Most Members of Congress especially those planning to seek re-election, leave Washington whenever there is a recess.  The Easter/Passover recess has begun.  The Senate returns Monday, April 20th, the House on Tuesday, April 21st.  These two weeks are an excellent time to meet with Members of your Congressional delegation and their staff.  Face-to-face meetings, either individually or as a group, distinguish NARFE from other organizations.

April chapter meetings and especially April and May federation conventions are the times and places to begin the planning for NARFE Grass-Roots Advocacy Month – formerly known as “Lobby Month.”  The goal of Advocacy Month is to use the summer recess, August through Labor Day, September 7, to conduct visits with every Member of Congress.  In the near future, more information about the August Grass-Roots Advocacy Month will be sent to federation and chapter presidents and legislative officers.