Walorski works to ensure federal firefighters receive accurate retirement benefits

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) on Feb. 14 introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide for a more accurate calculation of retirement benefits for firefighters employed by the United States government. 

Rep. Walorski is the original cosponsor of the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, H.R. 1255, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA). U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) on Feb. 19 joined Rep. Walorski as a cosponsor of the measure.

“The bipartisan bill will ensure these brave and hardworking first responders get the full compensation and benefits they deserve,” Rep. Walorski said on Friday.

According to the text of H.R. 1255 provided by the congresswoman’s office, certain firefighters employed by the federal government are required by law to work a regular “tour of duty” lasting 72 hours per week; 19 of those hours are considered mandatory overtime hours for purposes of computing pay. 

However, the pay computed for those weekly 19 overtime hours doesn’t accurately account for how the firefighters’ retirement benefits are computed, according to the text, and “those inaccurate computations have led to reduced retirement benefits for federal firefighters.”  

If enacted, H.R. 1255 would correct how their retirement benefits are computed to account for pay earned for regularly scheduled overtime hours during a normal tour of duty, according to the bill. 

“Thousands of federal firefighters across America – including many at Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana – risk their lives every day to keep people safe and protect our national security,” Rep. Walorski said. “We have a responsibility to make sure they are treated fairly in retirement.”

Rep. Connolly added that H.R. 1255 “fulfills that responsibility and ensures that our retired federal firefighters are compensated fairly and fully.”

H.R. 1255, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee, already has garnered support from both the International Association of Fire Fighters and the American Federation of Government Employees.

H.R. 1255 stems from inaction by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during the previous 115th congressional session on the same-named H.R. 3733, for which Rep. Walorski again was the original cosponsor of Rep. Connolly’s bill.