The Inflation Reduction Act passed in the Senate along party lines would put $80 billion toward IRS enforcement operations. Image: S-F/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffSeveral bills affecting federal employees and agencies reached floor votes in Congress as it prepared to recess through Labor Day including:
The Senate joined the House in approving and sending to President Biden HR-521, to preserve the special retirement benefits of federal first responders who become disabled. The bill would allow them to remain under the special retirement provisions for them if they are placed in another federal position outside of that system after returning to work from a work-related injury or illness.
The House passed HR-5118, to establish a GS-6 starting wage with parity for federal firefighters, annual adjustments, disability annuity, hazard duty pay, and 7-day mental health leave and to require a report to Congress on compensation comparable to state and local federal firefighters.
The House passed HR-3952, to establish new qualifications for the position of chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and to specify that the official is responsible for ensuring that agency employees and contractors adhere to the agency’s scientific integrity policies.
Also, passed in the Senate – the Inflation Reduction Act – would put $80 billion toward IRS enforcement operations. That bill now is headed to the House where another party line vote is expected to send it to the White House. (The bill has $45.6 for enforcement, $4.8 billion for systems modernization, $25.3 billion for operations and just over $3 billion to services – with a projected personnel increase of more than 86,000 through 2031.)
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See also,
Your FERS Annuity is Worth More Than You Think
OMB Previews Potential Changes in Pay, Benefits Law
The Process of Retiring – OPM’s Benefits Determination Process
House Republicans Revive Retirement Benefit-Cutting Proposals
