Legislative
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FEDERAL RETIREMENT FAIRNESS ACT (HR 5995/Rural Carrier "buy back" legislation)
H.R. 5995: "Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA)" On October 19, 2023, Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Don Bacon (R-NE) and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA), more commonly referred to by rural letter carriers as "buy back" legislation. The Federal Retirement Fairness Act would "amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, may be creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System." This would provide rural letter carriers who served as relief employees after December 31, 1988, the opportunity to buy back credit for service. The FRFA impacts not only rural letter carriers, but other federal employees as well, who began their employment as non-career workers and did not have the ability to make retirement contributions. There are currently 89 cosponsors to this legislation including three from Washington State that have joined Representative Kilmer. Join me in thanking Representative Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (D-WA-3), Representative Kim Shrier (D-WA-8) and Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), for their support of Rural Letter Carriers and this crucial legislation. If your representative isn’t listed then write, call and email them and urge them to also cosponsor this bill. Use this template letter as a guide when you write, call and email them.
H.R. 7629: "Protect Our Letter Carriers Act" H.R. 7629 appropriates $1.4 billion to modernize the arrow key with a new electronic version, as well as review the sentencing guidelines of crimes against postal employees, and appoint an assistant U.S attorney with the responsibility of prosecuting crimes against postal employees. There are only 20 cosponsors to this legislation and only one of those is from Washington State. Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1) recently signed her name to this bill after an in-person meeting that our own WARLCA President Eckrem had with the Representative’s assistant in her local office in Kirkland. This just goes to show that taking the time to reach out to your legislators through letters, calls, emails and visits pays off. It only takes a few minutes to make a difference in making your representative aware how important it is to Protect Our Letter Carriers!
H.R. 3721 USPS Shipping Equity Act
Was introduced on May 25, 2023, by Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4) and Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10). This legislation currently has 18 cosponsors including Adam Smith (D-WA-9). This would allow alcoholic beverages to be considered mailable from licensed producers and retailers to ship directly to consumers over the age of 21, in compliance with state and local laws at the delivery location. The US Postal Service already has Adult Signature service available and we have been using it for quite some time. It is estimated this bill could generate over $180 million in revenue for the US Postal Service. If your representative hasn’t yet cosponsored this legislation then consider using this template letter as a guide when you write, call and email them.
H.R. 82 Social Security Fairness Act
Was introduced on January 9, 2023, by Representatives Graves (R-LA-6) and Spanberger (D-VA-7). This legislation would repeal provisions that reduce Social Security benefits for rural letter carriers who receive other benefits such as a state or local government pension. It would repeal the WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and the GPO (Government Pension Offset). The WEP can reduce a retiree’s benefits by as much as $512 per month. The GPO reduces most, and sometimes all, a spouse’s or widow’s benefits for retirees who also receive a pension for non-Social Security work. Currently there are 311 cosponsors on H.R. 82., eight of those cosponsors are from Washington state. The two representative that have not cosponsored are Adam Smith (D-WA-9) and Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (D-WA-3). At this time, there are enough cosponsors to bring this to the floor of the House, so watch the consensus calendar for when a vote may happen. Use this template letter as a guide when you write, call and email them.
Watch the video message from Derek Kilmer to our 2023 State Convention attendees below:
