PHX Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – On June 23, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) signed on to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that all federal law enforcement officers get their full retirement benefits.

“Because of a loophole in current law, tens of thousands of hardworking federal officers are not receiving fair pay and retirement benefits. I’m proud to sign on to this bipartisan legislation that will finally ensure law enforcement officers from across the federal government can get the enhanced retirement benefits they’ve earned,” said Rep. Gallego.

Specifically, the Law Enforcement Officers' Equity Act:

• Provides federal officers with 6(c) retirement benefits and the ability to retire after 20 years of service at the age of 50, or after 25 years of service at any age.
• Allows incumbent law enforcement officers federal service after the enactment of this Act to be considered service performed as a law enforcement officer for retirement purposes.
• Expands the definition of “law enforcement officer” for retirement benefits to include all GS-0083 officers. That change would grant law enforcement officer status to the following:
  • employees who are authorized to carry a firearm and whose duties include the investigation and/or apprehension of suspected criminals;
  • employees of the Internal Revenue Service whose duties are primarily the collection delinquent taxes and securing delinquent returns;
  • employees of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and
  • employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are department police officers.

The Law Enforcement Officers' Equity Act is supported by the American Federation of Government Employees, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the National Association of Police Organizations.

Support for this legislation builds on Rep. Gallego’s work to ensure all first responders get the benefits they need and deserve.

In May, Gallego held a press conference to tout his support for the Honoring our Fallen Heroes Act which would add a presumptive benefit under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program for exposure-related cancers that firefighters are more likely to suffer from because of their profession. 

Original source can be found here.