Skip to main content

Letters From NARFE

NARFE regularly sends letters to Congress and the Administration on issues affecting the pay and benefits of the federal community. Sending these letters, either independently or with our coalition partners, is an important way NARFE ensures the voices of federal employees and retirees are heard. Access NARFE’s most recent letters below.

118th CONGRESS (2023-2024)

February 26, 2024-NARFE Letter Opposing Fiscal Commission, H.R. 5779/ S. 3262

February 6, 2024 – NARFE Letter to House Oversight Committee in Support of DRUG Act, H.R. 6283

January 18, 2024- NARFE National President Sends Letter to House Committee on Ways and Means to Markup The Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82

November 20, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Submits Testimony for the Record for WEP/GPO Field Hearing

November 17, 2023 – NARFE National President Sends Letter in Support of OPM Proposed Rule Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles

November 8, 2023 – NARFE National President Letter in Opposition to Ogles Amendment #84 to Defund Proposed Rule Protecting Merit Based Civil Service

September 28, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Support for a Bipartisan Continuing Resolution to Avoid a Government Shutdown

September 13, 2023 – NARFE Joins Federal-Postal Coalition Allies Urging Congress to Fund Government to Avoid a Shutdown

September 12, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to House Committee Regarding Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Premium Increases

September 12, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Senate Committee Regarding Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Premium Increases

September 7, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Congress Urging Them to Avoid a Government Shutdown

July 24, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Senators Regarding Amendments to the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act

July 10, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Congressional Appropriators in Response to the House of Representative’s Financial Services and General Government Bill

June 1, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Submits Comment Letter to the Office of Personnel Management Regarding the Interim Final Rule Establishing the Postal Service Health Benefits Program

May 5, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter Urging Congress to Raise the Debt Limit

April 26, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Submits Statement for the Record to House Subcommittee on Social Security Regarding Repeal of WEP/GPO

March 30, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Requesting Support for OPM’s Retirement Services Division and a Federal Employee Pay Raise.

March 8, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Submits Statement for the Record to House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Regarding Hearing on the Office of Personnel Management

March 7, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Letter to OPM re: Do Not Pay Implementation

January 31, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter Endorsing the Fair COLA for Seniors Act

January 23, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Them to Vote In Favor of the Chance to Compete Act of 2023

January 23, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023

January 13, 2023 – NARFE National President William Shackelford Sends Letter to President Biden Requesting Actions in Support of Federal Workers and Retirees

117th CONGRESS (2021-2022) 

December 22, 2022 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Lawmakers Regarding Potential Rules for the 118th Congress

December 2, 2022 – NARFE National President Sends Letter to House Leadership Requesting Year-End Action on the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset

November 17, 2022 – NARFE National President Sends Letter to Senators Urging Support for Particular Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act Amendments

October 28, 2022 – Coalition Letter Urging Congressional Leaders to Protect Nonpartisan Civil Service

September 28, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Vote in Favor of the Chai Suthammanont Healthy Federal Workplaces Act of 2022

September 28, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Vote in Favor of the Chance to Compete Act of 2022

September 20, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Ways and Means in Support of the Social Security Fairness Act

September 14, 2022 – Federal-Postal Coalition Send Letter to Representatives Urging them to Vote in Favor of the Preventing a Patronage System Act

September 12, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Vote in Favor of the Preventing a Patronage System Act

August 8, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Oppose H.R. 8550, the Public Service Reform Act

August 2, 2022 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senate Committee Urging Them to Favorably Report the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act

July 28, 2022 – NARFE Sends Letter to House of Representatives Urging them to Vote Against Rule that Negatively Affects WEP and GPO Repeal Legislation

July 13, 2022 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House of Representatives in Favor of Amendment Protecting Merit-Based Civil Service

July 12, 2022 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Them to Vote in Favor of the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act

July 11, 2022 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Congressional Appropriators in Support of Pay Parity

July 11, 2022 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Rules in Favor of Amendment Protecting Merit-Based Civil Service

July 8, 2022  – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Congress In Support of Suspending Required Minimum Distributions In 2022

July 7, 2022  – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to OPM re: FLTCIP Premiums

June 7, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Asking for Support of the Social Security Fairness Act

June 7, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senators Asking for Support of the Equal COLA Act

May 24, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in Support of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act

May 11, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of the Next Gen Feds Act and First Responder Fair RETIRE Act

May 10, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives in Support of the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act

April 29, 2022 – Federal-Postal Coalition Members Send Letter to Representatives Urging them to Support the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act, H.R. 7376

April 21, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senate Committee on Financial Services and General Government Urging the Inclusion of Language to Ensure Greater Transparency Regarding the Operations of the Office of Personnel Management’s Retirement Services Division

April 21, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Financial Services and General Government Urging the Inclusion of Language to Ensure Greater Transparency Regarding the Operations of the Office of Personnel Management’s Retirement Services Division

April 20, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Education and Labor in Support of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act

April 5, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of the Chance to Compete Act of 2022 

April 5, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of the Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act

March 29, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Support H.R. 2954, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022

March 28, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board In Support of Proposed Rule to Provide a Mutual Fund Window

March 24, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Oppose H.R. 7095, the Accountable Feds Act

February, 14, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senators Urging them to Support H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022

February 8, 2022 – Federal-Postal Coalition Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Support H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, as Amended

February 3, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging them to Support H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, as Amended

February 1, 2022 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Congress Urging Passage of Full-Year FY22 Appropriations Bills

December 7, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Subcommittee on Social Security Urging Support for New Bill, Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust

September 28, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter Urging Congressional Leaders to Avert Government Shutdown

September 24, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House and Senate Leaders Urging the Preservation of Provisions Requiring Federal Employee Health Benefits Plans to Take Advantage of Lower Prescription Drug Prices

July 19, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act 

June 28, 2021 NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter Urging House Committee on Appropriations to Amend FSGG Spending Bill to Include a Federal Pay Increase of 2.7 Percent

May 24, 2021 NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Sharing Views on New Postal Reform Legislation

May 12, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform Sharing Views on New Postal Reform Legislation in Advance of Committee Markup

April 19, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives urging them to vote in favor of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act

March 23, 2021 – NARFE and Coalition Partners Send Letter Urging the Biden-Harris Administration to Restore Quorum to the Merit Systems Protection Board

March 19, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act

March 12, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal in Support of the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2021

March 3, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senate in Support of Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

February 26, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House of Representatives in Support of Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

February 23, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter Outlining NARFE’s Views and Concerns in Advance of House Oversight and Reform Committee Hearing on Postal Reform

February 22, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Subcommittee on Government Operations in Advance of a Hearing Examining Ways to Revitalize the Federal Workforce

February 18, 2021 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to President Biden Requesting Actions in Support of Public Service

February 3, 2021 – NARFE and Coalition Partners Send Letter Urging Congress to Renew and Expand Leave Provisions Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

116th CONGRESS (2019-2020)

November 20, 2020 – NARFE and Coalition Partners Send Letter Urging Congress to Block Executive Order 13957

November 2, 2020 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter Urging Congress to Nullify Executive Order that Undermines Merit-Based Civil Service

September 8, 2020 – NARFE and the Senior Executives Association Send Letter to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Noting Key Topics to Consider in Advance of OPM Director Nomination Hearing

August 18, 2020 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Letter to Congress Urging Preservation of Postal Service

August 13, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to President’s Pay Agent in Support of an Adequate Federal Pay Raise for 2021

July 14, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Appropriations in Support of a Federal Pay Raise in 2021

June 30, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House of Representatives Urging a Modest Pay Raise for Federal Employees in 2021

June 24, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Subcommittee in Support of the Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, in Advance of Hearing Addressing the Role of Federal Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 24, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House of Representatives Supporting Washington D.C. Statehood in Advance of Vote on the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, H.R. 51

May 11, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Congress Urging WEP/GPO Repeal or Reform in Future Economic Stimulus Package

May 4, 2020 – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Congress Celebrating Public Servants and Their Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

April 20, 2020 ­ – NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Assist Federal Employees on the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Crisis

April 14, 2020 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Secretary of Treasury Urging Expeditious Distribution of COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments to Federal Retirees and Survivors

April 14, 2020 – Federal-Postal Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Address COVID-19 Challenges for Federal and Postal Employees and Retirees

April 1, 2020 – NARFE and Partners Urge the President and Congress to Use Final Report of National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service as Blueprint for Legislative Improvements to the Federal Workforce

March 20, 2020 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Congress Urging Suspension of RMDs From Retirement Accounts in Wake of Market Instability Resulting From Coronavirus Crisis

February 10, 2020 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of DC Statehood

February 4, 2020 – NARFE National President Sends Letter to House of Representatives in Support of the USPS Fairness Act

December 10, 2019 – NARFE National President Sends Letter to Congress Urging Support for FY20 NDAA Conference Agreement

September 24, 2019 – NARFE National President Sends Letter to Senate Urging Support for Paid Family Leave for Federal Workers

September 18, 2019 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Reform in Support of DC Statehood

September 11, 2019 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in Support of 3.1 Percent Federal Pay Increase, and Language Blocking Reorganization of OPM

July 24, 2019 – NARFE National President Sends Letter to House Committee on Ways and Means Urging Social Security Fairness

July 17, 2019 – Federal-Postal Coalition Letter to House of Representatives in Support of the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act

July 10, 2019 – NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Them to Support Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to block the OPM Reorganization Plan

July 8, 2019 NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Them to Support Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to Provide Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Benefits

June 24, 2019 NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Them to Support Appropriations Legislation to Provide a 3.1 Percent Average Increase to Federal Pay Rates and Deny Funds to Carry Out the Proposed OPM Reorganization Plan

June 10, 2019 NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to House Committee on Appropriations in Support of 3.1 Percent Federal Pay Increase, Blocking OPM-GSA Merger

January 29, 2019 NARFE National President Ken Thomas Sends Letter to Representatives Urging Them to Support the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, H.R. 790

January 4, 2019 NARFE President Ken Thomas Sends Letter Urging Senators to Pass Legislation to End the Partial Government Shutdown and Provide Federal Employees a 1.9 Percent Average Pay Increase

115th CONGRESS (2017-2018)

September 13, 2018 NARFE President Richard G. Thissen Sends Letter to Conference Committee for H.R. 6147 Urging Them to Include a 1.9 Percent Pay Raise for Federal Employees in the Final Version of the Bill

September 4, 2018 NARFE Amicus Curiae Brief to Supreme Court in Dawson v. Steager

August 24, 2018 NARFE President Richard G. Thissen Sends Letter to the Office of Personnel Management Deputy Associate Director for Pay and Leave, Employee Services Brenda L. Roberts in Support of the Federal Salary Council’s Locality Pay Recommendations for 2019

July 25, 2018 NARFE President Richard G. Thissen Sends Letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management to Voice NARFE’s Concerns in Advance of a Hearing Examining Administration Proposal to Transfer Office of Personnel Management Functions to the General Services Administration and the Executive Office of the President

July 17, 2018 NARFE President Richard G. Thissen Sends Letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to Share NARFE Views and Concerns in Advance of a Hearing Examining the President’s Reorganization Plan

June 26, 2018 NARFE President Richard G. Thissen Sends Letter to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to Share NARFE Views and Concerns in Advance of a Hearing Examining the President’s Reorganization Plan

June 18, 2018 NARFE National President and Oklahoma Federation President Send Letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Chairman James Lankford Requesting a 2019 Federal Pay Increase

June 11, 2018 NARFE President Richard G. Thissen Sends Letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen Requesting a 2019 Federal Pay Raise as Part of the FY19 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill

May 18, 2018 NARFE President Sends Letter to Office of Personnel Management Director Jeff Pon Addressing Mischaracterizations Made Before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Regarding Federal Annuity COLAs

Oct. 3, 2017 NARFE Letter to House of Representatives Opposing Budget Resolution Targeting Feds

July 25, 2017 NARFE President Sends Letter to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Support of the TSP Modernization Act

July 18, 2017 NARFE President Sends Letter to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in Support of the TSP Modernization Act

July 17, 2017 NARFE President Sends Letter On Tax Reform to Senate Finance Committee

June 23, 2017 Federal-Postal Coalition Letter to House Budget Committee Opposing Cuts to Federal Retirement and Health Benefits in the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Process

June 23, 2017 Federal-Postal Coalition Letter to Senate Budget Committee Opposing Cuts to Federal Retirement and Health Benefits in the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Process

June 7, 2017 NARFE President Sends Letter to Senate Budget Committee Opposing President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

June 7, 2017 NARFE President Sends Letter to House Budget Committee Opposing President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 Budget

January 30, 2017 NARFE Urges Committee to Oppose Misguided “Tax Accountability” Legislation

114th CONGRESS (2015-2016)

November 30, 2016 Federal-Postal Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Fix 2017 Medicare Part B Premiums

September 27, 2016 NARFE Joins 75 National Organizations Urging Congress to Fix 2017 Medicare Part B Premiums

July 13, 2016 NARFE Urges Committee to Oppose Changes to WEP Reform Legislation.

July 11, 2016 NARFE President Urges Committee to Oppose Misguided Postal Reform Legislation.

July 6, 2016 NARFE President sends letter opposing H.R. 4361, which would limit federal employees due process rights.

May 18, 2016 NARFE signs letter opposing provisions of the so-called “Veterans First Act” that would undermine due process protections and merit-based service protections for federal employees and allow for undue political influence over the workforce.

May 10, 2016 NARFE letter and statement for the record to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in advance of hearing on U.S. Postal Service reform.

March 9, 2016 NARFE President sends letter to Appropriations Committee requesting they include a 3.9 percent pay raise for federal employees in the fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill

March 9, 2016 NARFE President sends letter to House Budget Committee requesting they omit proposals singling out the federal community in their fiscal year 2017 budget

February 1, 2016 NARFE signs letter opposing H.R. 4293, which would weaken protections for retirement savers receiving investment advice.

January 20, 2016 NARFE President expresses views on USPS reform in advance of Senate hearing.

January 11, 2016 NARFE Joins with Federal Managers to Advocate Changes to the Federal Probationary Period.

December 2, 2015 NARFE President sends letter to President Obama requesting he omit proposals to reduce workers’ compensation benefits in his fiscal year 2017 budget

September 30, 2015 Joint Ltr to Committees Part B Premiums Deductible

September 9, 2015 The Employee Thrift Advisory Council (ETAC), of which NARFE is a member, sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking any changes to the TSP be kept out of budget negotiations.

July 15, 2015 The Employee Thrift Advisory Council (ETAC), of which NARFE is a member, sent a letter to the Senate opposing changes to the TSP in the Highway bill.

July 15, 2015 NARFE signs Federal-Postal Coalition insisting changes to the TSP negatively impacting participants stay out of the Highway Trust Fund.

July 14, 2015 NARFE President sends letter to the Senate opposing changes to the TSP G Fund in order to pay for the Highway Trust Fund reauthorization

June 17, 2015 NARFE letter to the House in support of a Department of Labor proposed rule regarding fiduciary standards for retirement advice

May 20, 2015 NARFE President sends letter to House Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management in advance of civil service reform hearing.

April 20, 2015 NARFE President sends letter to Budget Conferees ahead of budget report.

April 20, 2015 Federal-Postal Coalition sends letter to Budget Conferees ahead of budget report.

March 25, 2015 Federal-Postal Coalition letter to the House in opposition of Budget Resolution, H.Con.Res.27

March 25, 2015 NARFE letter to Senate in opposition to Budget Resolution, S.Con.Res.11

March 24, 2015 NARFE Letter to House of Representatives Urging Opposition to Budget Resolution, H. Con. Res. 27

February 18, 2015 NARFE Sends Letter to House and Senate Budget Committees in Advance of Budget Release

January 27, 2015 NARFE Sends Letters to President Obama Requesting 3.8% Pay Raise for Federal Employees

January 13, 2015 Federal-Postal Coalition letter endorsing legislation providing a 3.8% federal employee pay raise in 2016

Previous letters to Congress are archived here