WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 1804, The Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009

Comment by wb (September 29, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

YES,I hope it passes.I need out of this on my 60th BD....

Comment by E.C. Aumueller (August 4, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

I would be happy if the OPM would just deposit my annuity on time, instead of putting me in default once every year. Whatever they pass doesnt matter if ya dont get the annuity....

Revision by webmaster (June 26, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1804 would amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Detailed Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 - Title I: Provisions Relating to Federal Employees Retirement - Subtitle A: Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement - Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 - (Sec. 102) Requires the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to provide for: (1) automatic enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) at a specified default percentage (between 2% and 5%) of basic pay of anyone appointed, transferred, or reappointed to a position in which that individual is eligible to contribute to TSP; (2) the inclusion in TSP of a qualified Roth contribution program and (3) the addition of a self-directed investment window under TSP, if it would be in the best interests of participants, limited to low-cost, passively-managed index funds that offer diversification.

Authorizes the Secretary concerned, for members of the Armed Forces, to: (1) provide for delayed automatic enrollment; or (2) preclude or suspend the application of automatic enrollment.

(Sec. 105) Directs the Board, by June 30 of each year, to submit to Congress an annual report on TSP operations and make a copy available to the public through an Internet website. Requires the Board to include in periodic statements provided to participants the amount of fees or expenses paid with respect to each TSP investment fund and option.

(Sec. 106) Requires acknowledgement of risk by investors in investment funds or options, other than the Government Securities Investment Fund.

Subtitle B: Other Retirement-Related Provisions - (Sec. 111) Requires the total service of an employee who retires eligible for an annuity under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) or who dies leaving a survivor entitled to benefits to include the employee's days of unused sick leave for annuity computation purposes (as is currently the case for employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System [CSRS]).

(Sec. 112) Exempts: (1) repayments of CSRS refunds made between October 1, 1990, and February 28, 1991, from the requirement that they include interest in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered; and (2) a federal employee's part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, from proration requirements for purposes of annuity computation under CSRS.

(Sec. 114) Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the cost, and the effect on recruitment and retention, of providing a matching payment for TSP contributions by members of the Armed Forces.

(Sec. 115) Authorizes the repayment of refunds of retirement deductions under FERS in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered.

(Sec. 116) Entitles any individual who is treated as a federal employee under CSRS or FERS to have certain qualifying District of Columbia service included in calculating that individual's creditable federal service for specified purposes, including annuity eligibility.

Title II: Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance for Surviving Spouses of Armed Forces Members - (Sec. 201) Increases the monthly indemnity allowance for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces affected by the required survivor benefit plan annuity offset for dependency and indemnity compensation.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 307 , H.R. 1804 is laid on the table.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Comment by AJ (June 16, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

hope it passes soon i want out...

Comment by P.T. BARNUM (June 15, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Get real. This bill will never pass. The Federal managers want full time only not part time workers. The workers affected by this bill would be the one's in the last years of their career. They would be more productive part time than full time. The federal managers do not want this efficiency. They want their federal payroll costs as high as possible. They want to build an empire. Having part timers, even though more efficient, would not help them build an empire. If they give up payroll dollars, they will not get it back next year. Use it or lose it, sounds familiar. If you think that this bill will ever pass, than I have a bridge for you to buy. Wake up and realize this subject has been around for many years. Like it has been quoted in past years. "Part Time not this Time." If you believe this bill will pass in the 111th congress, than please remember what PT Barnum said....

Comment by M Smith (June 10, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

"a federal employee's part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, from proration requirements for purposes of annuity computation under CSRS." I believe that the April 7, 1986 date is when a bill was passed to enact proration for annuity of part-time work -- part time work prior to that time should not be considered for proration in annuity computation....

Comment by Margaret R (June 6, 2009, 01:00:00)

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The sick leave credit for FERS employees would certainly be one incentive for eligible people to retire, especially good for the postal service right now....

Comment by Mike in Texas (June 4, 2009, 01:00:00)

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

It means that people like myself who worked for the government, left the government, cashed in their FERS retirement, then returned to federal employment. The legislation would allow us to buy back our time....

Revision by webmaster (June 3, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1804 would amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Detailed Summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Authorizes the Secretary concerned, for members of the Armed Forces, to: (1) provide for delayed automatic enrollment; or (2) preclude or suspend the application of automatic enrollment.

(Sec. 106) Requires acknowledgement of risk by investors in investment funds or options, other than the Government Securities Investment Fund.

(Sec. 115) Authorizes the repayment of refunds of retirement deductions under FERS in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009: Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Comment by BJTexas (May 23, 2009, 01:00:00)

Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

What does this mean? "Authorizes the repayment of refunds of retirement deductions under FERS in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered."...

Comment by GT (April 17, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

DoD should be the same as any other federal employee. They should have the same rights. They shouldn't have to go to Iraq and have the retirement benefits at retirement. Thank God CIA finally went to DoD!...

Comment by Ron Jones (April 14, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

This is something that should have been done from the first, please contact your Senators and get this bill passed, we need our senior folks at work and not using their sick leave as they near retirement!...

Comment by Syed Bokhari (April 13, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

This is already very late, I am glad the House has passed it expeditiously, Senate must follow....

Comment by NIKOPOLIS (April 10, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

I'm glad this passed the House. Now on to the SENATE for passing. I hope this expedites and does not get lagged down or tied into/with other Senators' interests. Please all FERS (Federal Employees) contact your Senators and ask them to support this to pass. Thanks...

Comment by thomas A Narcavage (April 8, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Why Isnt Anyone Attempting To Repeal The Windfall Penalty Act.Afterall We Paid Into Social Security And Are Being Penalized Because We Are CSRS Employees...

Comment by Forrest Carper (April 8, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Not sure what you mean. Federal Employees under the CSRS retirement system did not pay into Social security unless they took the offset. Am I wrong?...

Comment by Anne Wagner (April 8, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

How does this bill change the way part-time service under CSRS is calculated? It is my understanding that part-time service prior to April 1986 is already exempt from the calculation. The problem lies in the calculation for current CSRS employees who have part-time work AFTER April 1986. I believe there is another bill H.R. 1256 that does address the calculation....

Revision by webmaster (April 2, 2009, 01:00:00)

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1804 would amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Detailed Summary

Federal Retirement Reform Act of 2009 - Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 - Requires the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to provide for: (1) automatic enrollment in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) at a specified default percentage (between 2% and 5%) of basic pay of anyone appointed, transferred, or reappointed to a position in which that individual is eligible to contribute to TSP; (2) the inclusion in TSP of a qualified Roth contribution program and (3) the addition of a self-directed investment window under TSP, if it would be in the best interests of participants, limited to low-cost, passively-managed index funds that offer diversification.

Requires the total service of an employee who retires eligible for an annuity under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) or who dies leaving a survivor entitled to benefits, to include the employee's days of unused sick leave for annuity computation purposes.

Exempts: (1) repayments of Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) refunds made between October 1, 1990, and February 28, 1991, from the requirement that they include interest in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered; and (2) a federal employee's part-time service performed before April 7, 1986, from proration requirements for purposes of annuity computation under CSRS.

Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the cost, and the effect on recruitment and retention, of providing a matching payment for TSP contributions by members of the Armed Forces.

Authorizes the repayment of refunds of retirement deductions under FERS in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered.

Entitles any individual who is treated as a federal employee under CSRS or FERS to have certain qualifying District of Columbia service included in calculating that individual's creditable federal service for specified purposes, including annuity eligibility.

Increases the monthly indemnity allowance for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces affected by the required survivor benefit plan annuity offset for dependency and indemnity compensation.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009: Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of April 2, 2009

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/2/2009: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 307 , H.R. 1804 is laid on the table.

Revision by webmaster (April 1, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1804 would amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

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Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (April 1, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1804 would amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 3/31/2009: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (April 1, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1804 would amend title 5, United States Code, to make certain modifications in the Thrift Savings Plan, the Civil Service Retirement System, and the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Detailed Summary

Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the cost, and the effect on recruitment and retention, of providing a matching payment for TSP contributions by members of the Armed Forces.

Authorizes the repayment of refunds of retirement deductions under FERS in order to receive retirement credit for the service covered.

Status of the Legislation

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

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Status as of April 1, 2009

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/1/2009: Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

Status as of March 31, 2009

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT

3/31/2009: Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.