, the largest non-partisan, non-profit professional association representing more than 31,000 federal law enforcement officers and agents across 65 federal agencies, issued the following statement today in response to the Senate's passage of H.R. 521, the "Fair RETIRE Act".){kind=link}
President Larry Cosme of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the largest non-partisan, non-profit professional association representing more than 31,000 federal law enforcement officers and agents across 65 federal agencies, issued the following statement today in response to the Senate’s passage of H.R. 521, the “Fair RETIRE Act“.
FLEOA President Cosme praised the measure, saying that it will “bring justice to the retirement benefits granted to the heroic men and women in federal law enforcement who are incapacitated in the line of duty,” as the title of the bill suggests.
All of our members have made it their life’s work to defend and safeguard the United States. They are the frontline of defence against international criminals, drug traffickers, and terrorists both at home and abroad. Our leaders and government are safeguarded against both foreign and domestic dangers by these men and women. They continue to put their lives on the line to defend our constitutional values, as Cosme put it. Officers in the federal government often put their lives in danger and risk injury for the greater good of the country because they are so committed to doing their jobs well. It is completely unacceptable for the government to demand that federal law enforcement personnel risk losing their financial security in the event of a permanent disability sustained on the job. But that is precisely what occurs under the existing federal retirement system.
FLEOA has worked hard to have this measure enacted into law this year, and we are thrilled that we were able to do so.
Senator Jon Tester and Representative Gerry Connolly deserve special recognition for their diligent advocacy on behalf of this measure in Congress. We appreciate their continued support and the strong partnership they’ve maintained with FLEOA as they’ve worked to draught and push this crucial legislation in each Congress. The measure has our support, and we want to see President Biden sign it into law,” Cosme said.