CBP/IRS 6c

[foreman212]

Another bill for 6c coverage for CBP and IRS to move to 20 year retirement. I know it probably never happen but hey it doesnt hurt to send off a quick note. A pre filled letter is available at www.cbpunion.com and takes only a minute. Please show your support and help our agency retain the few good bodies it has left.
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Senator Mikulski introduces new LEO legislation
Email your Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 3652, the Law Enforcement Officers Retirement Equity Act


Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) has introduced legislation that would extend to Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPOs) the designation of federal law enforcement officer. S. 3652, the Law Enforcement Officers Retirement Equity Act is a companion measure to a bipartisan proposal in the House—H.R. 1002—introduced by Reps. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) and John McHugh (R-N.Y.).

Every day CBP Officers stand on the front lines in the war to stop the flow of drugs, pornography and illegal contraband into the United States. Concurrently Revenue Officers of the IRS face dangerous situations as they enforce the United States Tax Code and collect delinquent taxes. Given the significance of these jobs, it is vitally important that CBP Officers and IRS Revenue Officers remain competitive with other state and local law enforcement agencies.

Please email your Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 3652 that would provide law enforcement officer status to CBP Officers in DHS and Revenue Officers of the IRS.

[VACOP1]

Did you know that this bill for VA, CBP, IRS already has 153 CO-Sponsors.
H.R.1002
Title: To amend the definition of a law enforcement officer under subchapter III of chapter 83 and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, respectively, to ensure the inclusion of certain positions.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/1/2005) Cosponsors (153)
Latest Major Action: 3/1/2005 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.

[formerNOPD]

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0706/071406r1.htm


Senators take new stab at redefining law officer jobs
By Karen Rutzick
krutzick@govexec.com

Two Maryland Democrats introduced a Senate bill on Thursday to grant more federal employees an early retirement option by expanding the definition of federal law enforcement officer.


Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Paul Sarbanes offered a companion version of the House's bill (H.R. 1002), which would provide Customs and Border Protection officers, police officers at the Veterans Affairs Department and other employees not defined as law enforcement officers the ability to retire at age 50 with 20 years of service. Standard federal employees are not eligible until they have 30 years or more of service and are at least are 55 years old.


Federal law enforcement officers receive a higher annuity upon retirement. An officer retiring at age 50 with 20 years of service and a $65,000 salary would receive $22,000 more annually in retirement benefits than a standard federal employee retiring under the Federal Employee Retirement System, according to the American Federation of Government Employees.


"We need to make sure that all federal law enforcement officers earn the pay and benefits that they deserve," Mikulski said. "These brave men and women...have the same law enforcement training as all other law enforcement personnel and face the same risks and challenges."


Federal labor unions have been lobbying Congress for a decade to grant CBP officers and others law enforcement status. In November, a group of Republican House lawmakers released a concept paper aimed at providing pay equity for federal law enforcement officers.


Despite optimism before its release, the unions ultimately opposed the proposal because it would grant the Office of Personnel Management too much discretion in defining law enforcement positions, they said.


Instead they have focused on H.R. 1002, and now its companion Senate bill, to bring parity.


"Our increased national awareness of and emphasis on port security and related matters is helping to focus on the clear law enforcement nature of the work of CBP officers," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "The continual denial of LEO status is harming the ability of the federal government to recruit and retain the dedicated employees we need."


NTEU recently won a union election for representation of all CBP employees over AFGE, which is contesting the results, charging that CBP management skewed the election toward NTEU.