Golden's effort to restore retirement benefits for CBP officers advances to House floor

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced his bipartisan U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act, had passed the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform unanimously by a vote of 40-0.

Golden is the lead Democratic sponsor on the bill, introduced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). The legislation corrects a CBP error that caused certain officers to lose enhanced retirement benefits they were promised and planned around. The bill restores those benefits, adds accountability safeguards, and is supported by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

“What’s fair is fair, and clerical screw-ups shouldn’t be allowed to stand between federal law enforcement officers and the benefits they were promised,” Golden said. “This bill is a simple solution to ensure the federal government lives up to its word. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this bill to restore fairness for these essential federal workers.”

“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. I will always stand with the men and women who protect America, and look forward to bringing this bipartisan fix to the House floor. I am grateful to Congressman Golden, Chairman Comer, NTEU, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their unanimous support.”

"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. We appreciate Reps. Fitzpatrick, Golden, and the entire House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for standing up for our CBP workforce,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Ensure eligible officers receive the enhanced retirement and annuity treatment they were promised;
• Require the Department of Homeland Security to identify and notify eligible officers;
• Direct the Office of Personnel Management to make the necessary annuity corrections, including retroactive adjustments for eligible officers who have already retired;
• Allow necessary waivers to ensure eligible officers can receive the corrected retirement treatment; and
• 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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act now heads to the House floor for consideration.

Read the full bill here.

Background:

In 2008, CBP officers became eligible for enhanced law enforcement retirement coverage. During that transition, a limited group of officers received tentative job offers before the effective date but entered duty afterward, and were told they would remain eligible for proportional annuity treatment. Based on that guidance, they planned their careers and retirements around benefits they were later told they could not receive. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act corrects that error, restores the retirement treatment these officers were promised, and requires a GAO review to strengthen oversight and prevent similar failures in the future.