Federal RuleAug 21
62
DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
117-hr-521117th CongressWALLET
First Responder Fair RETIRE Act
Sponsored By: Representative Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Became Law
Summary
Preserves retirement creditable service and annuity eligibility for certain federal first responders who are permanently unable to return to their covered role because of an on‑duty illness or injury. The law creates a cross‑agency pathway so time spent in a related non‑covered supervisory or administrative job can count as covered service for annuity calculations.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Injured CIA and Foreign Service keep credit
CIA employees in covered jobs and Foreign Service special agents who are injured on duty can keep earning covered retirement credit after moving to a non‑covered role in their organization. The move must have no break in service longer than 3 days, and the credit applies unless you opt out. Your later time counts toward retirement eligibility and withholdings like covered service. This special credit ends if you move into a related supervisory or administrative job. It applies only to qualifying on‑duty injuries or illnesses that happen two years after the law is signed.
Injured federal first responders keep credit
The law lets many injured federal first responders keep earning “covered” retirement credit after moving to a non‑covered job in the same agency. Your move must have no break in service longer than 3 days, and the credit applies unless you opt out. Your later time counts toward retirement eligibility and payroll withholdings like covered service. This special credit stops if you move into a related supervisory or administrative job, or when you reach the mandatory separation age/service for your former covered job. It applies only to on‑duty injuries or illnesses that happen two years after the law is signed.
Agency rules and two-year start date
OPM must issue rules within 1 year, and the CIA and State Department must issue their own rules. Agency heads must certify that the injury happened on duty and makes the person unable to do the covered job but able to keep federal service. Agencies should try to place affected staff into related supervisory or administrative jobs. The law applies only to qualifying injuries or illnesses that happen two years after the law is signed.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 1/28/2021
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 1/28/2021
Rep. Wexton, Jennifer [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/1/2021
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/3/2021
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/11/2021
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/2/2021
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/11/2021
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/15/2021
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 4/21/2021
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/22/2021
Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
NJ • R
Sponsored 6/15/2021
Rep. Manning, Kathy E. [D-NC-6]
NC • D
Sponsored 6/30/2021
Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Sponsored 9/10/2021
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/25/2021
Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/9/2021
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/18/2021
Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/18/2022
Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/29/2022
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/6/2022
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/10/2022
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/1/2022
Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21]
FL • R
Sponsored 7/1/2022
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
TX • R
Sponsored 7/7/2022
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/7/2022
Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large]
GU • D
Sponsored 7/12/2022
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/12/2022
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov