What People Think
 |
 |
67% For, 33% Against
Take Action
| Vote on this Bill | |
  |
For |
  |
Against |
| Speak Out | |
  |
Comment on this Bill |
  |
Alert Your Friends and Colleagues |
  |
Write Your Representative in Congress |
| Save & Share | |
 |
del.icio.us |
 |
Digg |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Yahoo! |
H.R. 1073, The Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act (38 comments ↓)
H.R. 1073 would 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.
()
Learn More
Trackback URL: http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/trackback/110_HR_1073.html
RSS Feeds for This Bill
Keep yourself updated on user contributions and debates about this bill! (Learn more about RSS.)
Visitor Comments
Ron Clifton
THis bill will level the playing field for our brother law enforcement officers.
J
Lots of legacy INS and Customs are leaving the agency, and lots more will be leaving.I have met new CBPO's that have been on the job for months and are already departing for other agencies. CBP is a failure.
J
I beleive whats happening here is that DHS is kind of opening there eyes as to what new management and the department is doing to the officers. CBP is a stepping stone, and that is all it is. We carry guns,handcuffs a baton but if we have to use it, we will probably end up getting canned. And if a passenger get roudy with us we MUST have a smile and be customer service freindly. Lots of the troops are fed up with this "Mickey Mouse" mentality and jumping ship to ICE/Invest./IEA anything. To speak frankly even with the 6(c) coverage I still think there will be troops leaving CBP.
legacy customs
I don't know why legacy was not included in hr 1684, we were doing this jobs before DHS was formed and we are the ones training the new cbpos. In a real police department you have uniformed officers and dectectives who both share the same benefits, yet our uniformed officers do not share these benefits with the special agents who are like police detectives. Give us our due.
Mark
I have been a DOD police officer for about two years. People on my installation always complain about the type of individuals that get hired. We have hired many good officers. However, they soon leave because they are not treated like police officers. If you want to retain good people you MUST give them a reason to stay and not kick them in the teeth.
U.S. DVA-POLICE
VA Police have statutory arrest authority granted by Title 38 USC 902 and officers carry firearms, handcuffs, OC spray and batons, while in the commission of their Official Duties. They arrest and detain individuals for violations of Federal laws (USC) and VA Regulations-CFR 1.218(b) and enforce state traffic laws of the state where their facility may be located. VA Police, also enforce State and local criminal laws adopted under The-Assimilated-Crimes-Act (18 USC 13) The VA Police Department cannot keep good officers because of low pay, no upward mobility, and no 6C retirement! Now factor-in, that we are not treated like Police Officers by any one and are paid 10-20k a year less than other Federal, State and Local, Law Enforcement Officers! Under the current system we are not considered law enforcement officers for retirement purposes. Please support this Bill because the current one is in desperate need of repair.
reilley
You guys crack me up. Filner introduces the same bill every two years and then lets it die without being addressed.
Look up HR 1002 (109th Congress)
and HR 2442 (108th Congress)
Filner is too busy fighting for the "rights" of the undocumented and the business sector in the San Diego area and only does this as a token gesture to make believe he is behind us. Remember, he is the one who called us "Keystone Cops" a few years ago.
T
It is time to authorize and FUND LEO status for CBP officers (GS-1895).
Do it in the 2008 budget.
M. Sanchez
The sad truth is that many Federal Law Enforcement Officers have to work 30+ years in order to receive a mediocre pension that doesn’t even measure up to that of a large metropolitan city police officer, school teacher or even that of a garbage man’s retirement after 20 years. Currently, Officers that are not covered under the 6c retirement provision are literally forced to work well into there 70’s and 80’s because they can’t afford to retire and the sad reality is that many of these dedicated Officers may end up being killed in the line of duty or dying from old age before they can even collect a single retirement check. This issue has been on the table with congress off and on for over 10 years with the same end result. Eventually, it gets re-introduced and nothing happens.
CBP AQI
Well now that CBPOs maybe getting 6c how is it that the AQI inspectors, which have gone to school and mostly at minimum have a B.A. or B.S. in a Science field are going to be paid and treated. CBP AQI many times do the same jobs as a CBPO in several ports yet they dont get anything. Furthermore, AQI gets pulled from the Farm Bill 2007 from going back to USDA. If CBPO's can do CBP AQI's job, then why are the entry requirments to be an AQI different and why is it that in their training you must pass all test with a minimum of 80% vs 70% at Glynco? What gives the scientist get paid less and the high school grads show boat. I'd really like to see when a CBPO will use a trinket from their "batman" like utility belt. Remember that even the terrorists living inside this country need to eat.
CBP AQI2
Not everybody have a B.S and can apply to be an aqi but how many can apply to be a CBPO, u dont need a B.S just high school and know how to pull a triger and do exercise, we should get the same benefits or even more, thas the reason we are a specialists.
legacy I's
AQI??? are you freakin kidding?...whens the last time a food threatened the nation??.. you want 6c.?. k9's can do AQI's job any day..when has an aq1 spec arrested or deported anyone?...oh but watch out for those killer fruit flies!! gimme a break..
G-Police Man
It is all a bunch of junk! Congress has dangled 6c retirement over our heads for over 15 years to see how high we can jump!Congress doesn't care about us (Federal PO's) or anyone else that put their lives on the line everyday. It's all an ACT/Publicity Stunt! All they care about is cash contributions, career endorsements, votes, media attention and how the public perceives them and the Federal Government!
Fedcop 423
It sounds like to me! That the federal government should get only what they are willing to pay for. a fat, dougnut eating, lazy tub of crap who does not give two s***s about anything except his lunch. Maybe then they would see the light.
cbp5209
it aint gonna happen
Steve Guercio
I think congress members should listen to the people who elect them to their positions. Public safety/ Law Enforcement officers and Firefighters are the majority of the workforce in this country. They protect and serve, provide emergency care in all cases. Law Enforcement and firefighters take a lot of abusive. They shouldn't have to hope and wish for these benefits. When we're performing our duties Congress or any other U.S. Citizen can rest knowing that were going to be there to protect them. They won't have to hope or wish for that service or benefit.
Stamp Monkey
Don't count on it to happen.
Agent Orange 1811
If it were a bill to raise their salaries or another useless/senseless bill such as: the renaming of roadways, postal service facilities and giving convicted felons the right to vote in Federal Elections or Federal Tax increases - It would pass immediately! This bill makes absolute sense as to why it should be passed and with that being said, We FLEO's can definitely count on one thing from Congress in Washington D.C. that many of us protect everyday and that is nothing but endless talk and suggestions that ultimately ends up no -where.
Fed - up
What is wrong with the leaders of our country? Do they even read the newspapers, watch the news or even listen to the public or the people who even vote them in anymore? Law Enforcement Officers (in America) are attacked, assaulted and killed on-duty and off-duty everyday! As economic, cultural and social strain is becoming more prevalent in American society our environments are destined to become more hostile, and congress doesn't want to pass bill H.R. 1073 or S. 1354 and support their own Federal Law Enforcement Officers? That is just simply ridiculous, arrogant and stupid!
1895er
This has happened every year since I started in 2000. Everyone gets excited, and the bill gets shot down. I expect this round to be no different. Call me skeptical, but I'll believe it when I'm retired @ 50 on the 9th hole @ Pebble Beach.
1895er
CBP Officer morale is in the toilet. Stepping stone isn't even the right term anymore, these guys are out the door before they even work their first day. An officer just passed away that was working at JFK, God Bless him, he was 58 years old. He didn't even get to collect a penny of his retirement or enjoy a moment of it. They don't want to invest in this retirement and benefits package for CBP Officers, but they're willing to let them take the job, go through the training (at over $30K per student) and then watch them walk out the door for a 20 year job. Not very smart.
1895er
The general public has this view of U.S. Government benefits as "the best." That couldn't be more wrong. We don't even get real dental insurance. Optical is a joke. New York City Teachers, while certainly underpaid for the job they do, they have stellar medical benefits. New York City Transit workers (Bus Drivers, Subway Conductors) have equally good medical benefits AND THEY GET TO RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS! AT HALF PAY! CBP Officers enforce every law in the book, deal with assaults from drug smugglers, alien smugglers, illegal entries, fraud, counterfeiting, ID Theft, Credit card fraud, money laundering, arrest warrants, searches and seizures, the list goes on and on. We have firearms, body armor and work weekends, holidays, 24 hour rotating shifts. Why can't anyone in Washington DC understand what we are going through, and give us the motivation and job satisfaction we so desperately need? Morale has never been lower, and will only get worse if this keeps up.
From I.I. to ICE
The Gov't knows to give CBP coverage would be like shooting yourself in the foot. It's almost impossible to keep staff now. Raising the entry requirements and having a 37 y/o age cap would severly limit who could apply. This would mean no more hiring retired state and local Law Enforcement, who retire with 20 years of service in their early 40's. Also, CBP can't afford to have all their employees forced to retiring at age 57. The irony is if CBP gets Law Enforcement retirement all those employees forced out at 57 would probably look for a second career after leaving. And the perfect job for you as a retired cop would be something like...CBP/Inspections.
Fed - up
They (retired state and local Law Enforcement, who retire with 20 years of service in their early 40's)will always have a job waiting on them as a VA Police Officer. It is no secret that the VA takes no pride in its police force and has no intentions on giving them any type of LEO-retirement. CBP and NTEU pushed for their budget to pass thus ensuring that their old and new officers would be getting a better retirement for 2008.
Huss
I am under the impression that only the officers that hire in AFTER this legislation is enacted will benefit the LEO retirement package. Is this true? Are we gonna disrespect the ones that have been serving our country and cater to the ones that have not done anything yet?
CBPer
July 2008 will be the start date. Example: CBPO with five years on the job can retire with 25 years of service istead of 30 and also get the benefit of a much higher pension. Unfortunately the guys with 15-20 will only benefit from the extra contributions they will recieve in the final years of employment. Is this fair? Probably not. But this is a good start, and should be welcomed by all. At my port their is only about 4 guys left with 12+ years on the job, and they are soooo disgruntled by the merge...nothing will ever make them happy.
CBPer
Oh and by the way, its already passed, we are now going to be covered. So all the whine asses can stop their bitching. Stamp Monkey? You must work at an airport. At my Land border crossing, we make daily drug busts, seize money every week, and refuse countless dirtbags everyday. If you don't like what you do.....PLEASE do the rest of us a favor and quit.
American Citizen
Did it pass? THOMAS.loc.gov shows the appropriation bill passed. I can't find CBP LEO status in it. The bill that contains LEO for CBP shows as not being passed yet.
American citizen
I have seen the union letter saying it was passed. Has anyone seen it in the press, in a public affairs release, or better yet, in the law itself. It might be hidden within the amendments to the amendments, but I doubt it. The original bill, (HR 1684?) shows now action in the senate since this summer.
Sorry Charlie
American Citizen
FAT Fingers typo
shows NO action...
American Citizen
an 1895, 1816, 1802, 0085, 0305.
State corrections officer, Sheriff's deputy jailer, 11B30.
Among other things.
VA-Police don't apply
VA Police Officers leave the VA Police because the AFGE-is absolutely useless! Eligible Candidates for employment with the VA Police do not even apply (It is not a good stepping stone) or waste your time with this agency because you will end up being trapped with no way out! Many of the other agencies that once accepted VA Police will not now because most of the “GOOD” agencies are now receiving some form of 6C-retirement that their unions and employers enacted and as a VA Police officer you will not be able to lateral into any other Federal Law enforcement agency because we are not covered. Neither the VA nor the AFGE give a rats a** about any of their officers-GET OUT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE! Now that CBP got their retirement (which was about 80% of the supporters pushing for this legislation to pass) This bill will be forgotten about.
CBP time wasted
It passed alright. It's a watered down version of 6c. No LEAP, no AUO and it screws anyone with 1895 time already as far as the 20 year retirement because it's not retroactive. The NTEU site says one of the reasons it was not retroactive was because CBPOs would have to pay .5% of each year salary for buy back like people wouldn't be willing to do that. Please! I would pick up cans and sell blood if I had to!
VAPD SGT
Look at the bright side “you don't work for the VA Police" where we get absolutely nothing, I mean “NOTHING” from our employer or congress and we never will! Instead we receive endless disciplinary actions and are threatened with the possibility of termination for just about anything, with next to no representation, from our union The American Federation of Government Employees-AFGE. God Bless America.
Ex - VA Police Officer
VA Police Officers are getting a royal F**king by The Federal Government, The DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS and their own union the AFGE! I worked as a municipal police officer in two different high crime districts and a correctional officer with the DOJ - BOP before joining the VAPD. As a VAPO for three years, I had well over 100 physical altercations with DRUNKS, MENTAL PATIENTS, MURDERES, CHILD MOLESTERS, WANTED FELONS, EMPLOYEES, THIEVES, COMBAT VETS ETC; I left because “That job is too dangerous to be treated like crap” for low pay and no 6C retirement!
Timothy E. Rollins
Exactly, many people think that VA Police do nothing, but sit around and pretend to be the police. They have no idea what it's like to wrestle with combat vets that suffer from PTSD and want to injure, hurt or kill anyone in a uniform-especially Police! VA's can be and are dangerous at times which is why they have their own exclusive police force and that alone justifies a 6C retirement package.
Almost Hired
What are the differences in the VA Package and CBP Packages?2s92h
Todd
Looks like Congress is doing it to another law enforcement group. To bad Congress cant retire under our retirement system. How long do you think they would last. S 1357 & H 1661 has been in the works for over 7 years and Congress has done nothing. Cops in general are getting screwed over on their retirement, if not for one reason or another. They can raise taxes for more teachers, fireman & cops but dont want to pay them there due when is comes times.I wonder how if they could do our jobs. To bad we dont have a retirement like Congess has.