NARFE Legislative Hotline – February 3, 2012

MESSAGE FROM NARFE PRESIDENT JOSEPH A. BEAUDOIN

“On February 1, we saw the federal community again singled out for a further year of frozen pay, when the House passed legislation, H.R. 3835, to extend the current two- year pay freeze for another year. The bill also includes pay for members of Congress and their staff. There are several actions NARFE members can take. These are outlined below.” (To see how your representative voted, use http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2012/roll019.xml)

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1)  NARFE PRESIDENT TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE

On February 1, NARFE President Joseph A. Beaudoin testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia.  NARFE’s testimony is available from the NARFE home page or use  http://www.narfe.org/pdf/Testimony_Federal_Retirement_Processing_2-1-12.pdf and the video link is http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/subcommittees/oversight-of-government-management/hearings/federal-retirement-processing-ensuring-proper-and-timely-payments)

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2)  SENATE FLOOR MAY CONSIDER BILL WITH NARFE-OPPOSED FECA PROVISION

The Senate may take up controversial legislation to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service, S. 1789, as early as the week of February 6. This legislation includes a NARFE-opposed provision to drastically change the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). NARFE President Joseph A. Beaudoin’s letter to all senators argues for removing the FECA provision. The letter is available to NARFE members on our website, www.narfe.org. (The URL for NARFE letters to Congress (please bookmark) is: http://www.narfe.org/departments/legislation/articles.cfm?ID=2653  The specific text is posted at: http://www.narfe.org/pdf/Opposing_S_1789.pdf

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3)  USE LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER TO PROTECT AMERICA’S HEARTBEAT

NARFE’s members made January 2012 one of the best months ever in the use of our Legislative Action Center.  Still, the stakes are higher and the environment more difficult than ever before.  NARFE President Joseph A. Beaudoin urges you, if you have not already done so, to use the link below to send NARFE’s new (1/19/12) message to your congressional delegation. CLICK HERE or use http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=60428501  You can edit the message if you like.  6,397 members have already acted.  We urge you to join them now by CLICKING HERE!

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4)  NARFE HOUSE TESTIMONY AVAILABLE ON WEBSITES

David Snell, director of NARFE’s Retirement Benefits Service Department, testified before the House Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and Labor Policy.  To view archived video of the January 25 hearing, use

http://oversight.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1566%3A1-25-2012-qretirement-readiness-strengthening-the-federal-pension-systemq&catid=15&Itemid=26

C-SPAN’s Video Library has archived this hearing. To view the hearing, use http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/303897-1#

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5)  NARFE CALL CONGRESS DAY PLANNING REMINDER

Here (again) is the step-by-step process for NARFE’s Call Congress Day on February 15.  President Joseph A. Beaudoin asks each NARFE member to save the date of Wednesday, February 15, and share this step by step plan with all NARFE members via chapter newsletters and other communication channels.

Step 1: Call the Capitol using NARFE’s toll-free number, 866-220-0044.  Ask the operator to connect you to your representative's and/or senators' office.

Step 2: Tell the staff person who answers the telephone next where you live, so they know you are a constituent, then say:

·        "I am a retired/active federal employee and member of NARFE." [Tell the staff person a little about your work.]

·        "[Senator or Representative X] represents thousands of federal workers and retirees and their survivors. Any plan that pays for two-thirds of the payroll tax holiday by taking money out the pockets of fewer than 2 percent of America's middle class is unacceptable, unfair, and certainly isn't shared sacrifice." 

·        "Federal workers, retirees and survivors have already done their part, saving the federal government $50 billion through a two-year pay freeze. Making $65 billion in further cuts to pay, earned health and retirement benefits, or making changes to cost-of-living adjustments, would unfairly single out those who protected our nation, including many now on a fixed income."

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OBTAINING THE HOTLINE:  Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703-838-7780 and toll-free at 877-217-8234); posted on NARFE's website, www.narfe.org; made available to NARFE-Net Leaders; and sent to nearly 71,000 GEMS email addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.