Bipartisan legislation that would restore enhanced retirement benefits to certain U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers passed the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform recently.
Introduced by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), the legislation, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act, would correct a CBP error that caused some of its officers to lose benefits they were promised. The legislation restores those benefits, and adds accountability safeguards. The legislation passed out of committee by a vote of 40-0.
“Our CBP officers stand on the front lines of America’s security every day—protecting our ports of entry, stopping illicit activity, facilitating lawful trade and travel, and helping keep our communities safe,” Fitzpatrick said. “When these officers relied on guidance from their own agency, they made career and retirement decisions in good faith. This is not special treatment. It is basic fairness, government accountability, and keeping faith with those who serve our country. A bureaucratic error should never erase benefits these officers were promised, planned around, and earned. This bill corrects the record, restores fairness, and honors their service to our nation.”
The legislation would ensure the officers receive the enhanced retirement and annuity treatment they were promised, require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to identify and notify officers who were eligible for the enhanced benefits, and direct the Office of Personnel Management to make the necessary annuity corrections, including retroactive adjustments for eligible officers who have already retired. The legislation would also require the Government Accountability Office to review CBP hiring practices, internal controls, personnel-file policies, and training related to enhanced retirement benefits to help prevent similar errors in the future.
The legislation is supported by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).
“NTEU is proud to support the US Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act. This bipartisan, common-sense legislation will fix a longstanding error affecting approximately 1,500 CBPOs who have planned their retirements around guidance they were given when they were hired. H.R 8844 fixes this error and makes sure the government keeps its promise to these workers,” NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald said.