Federal Retirement Fairness Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1522
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-22: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Randall asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1522, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T08:09:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522) aims to make temporary civilian service in federal positions after December 31, 1988, eligible for credit toward retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). This addresses a previous limitation that excluded such service from counting toward pensions, promoting fairness for affected workers.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Creditable Service Rules: Modifies Section 8411(3) of Title 5, United States Code, by removing the restriction that limited creditable service to temporary positions performed before January 1, 1989. (Creditable service refers to work time that counts toward calculating retirement benefits.)
- Applicability: The change applies to current federal employees (as defined in Section 8401(11) of Title 5, including temporary employees of the U.S. Postal Service) and Members of Congress (as defined in Section 8401(20)) on or after the date the Act is enacted.
- Notification Requirements: The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must inform agency Chief Human Capital Officers or other officials, who will then notify eligible employees and Members about the opportunity to make a deposit (a payment to "buy back" prior service for retirement credit).
- Regulatory Authority: OPM is required to issue regulations to implement the Act and its changes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, temporary federal civilian service after 1988 does not count as creditable service for FERS retirement calculations, even if the employee later becomes a permanent federal worker. This Act eliminates that cutoff date, allowing post-1988 temporary service to be credited upon making the required deposit.
- No other major alterations to FERS are introduced; the focus is narrowly on expanding eligibility for temporary service credit.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies and Employees: Federal agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service, may see increased administrative workload for processing deposits and notifications. Eligible temporary employees (past and present) could receive higher retirement annuities by crediting prior service, potentially improving retention and morale among federal workers.
- On Citizens: Primarily benefits current and former federal employees who served in temporary roles, allowing them to enhance their retirement security without broader effects on taxpayers (as deposits offset costs to the retirement fund).
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation is domestic and focused on U.S. federal personnel.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Employees: Especially those in temporary positions after 1988, including U.S. Postal Service workers, who can now credit service for retirement.
- Members of Congress: Eligible if they have qualifying temporary service history.
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM): Responsible for notifications, regulations, and oversight of implementation.
- Federal Agencies: Involved in notifying staff and handling deposit processes through human resources offices.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens equity in the FERS by closing a gap in creditable service rules, potentially reducing future litigation from employees denied credit for temporary work. OPM's regulatory role ensures smooth integration without disrupting existing retirement calculations.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; the Act operates within Congress's authority to regulate federal employee benefits under Article I.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from 25 representatives across parties) signals broad support for federal workforce fairness. It could set a precedent for addressing similar retirement inequities but is unlikely to spark major controversy due to its targeted scope.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Cosponsors (153)
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Bynum, Janelle [D-OR-5], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] and 103 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-22: ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Randall asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1522, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Federal Retirement Fairness Act — issued 2025-02-24 — PDF (2 pages)