Legislative Update Jessica Klement Legislative Director Agenda - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Legislative Update

Jessica Klement Legislative Director

14th NARFE Legislative Conference

Agenda

• 113th Congress Recap
• NARFE’s 114th Congress Legislative

Program

• 114th Congress
• FY16 Budget Process
• NARFE priorities
• Protect America’s Heartbeat
• NARFE in the News

113th Congress (2013-2014) Recap

• Dec. 2013 budget deal for FY14 and FY15

spared current feds and retirees

• Prevented sequestration-related

furloughs

113th Congress (2013-2014) Recap

• Chained CPI didn’t move forward

First NARFE press conference huge success

– 20 reporters – 7 articles – 40 shoeboxes of coupons – Interviews with NARFE members

113th Congress (2013-2014) Recap

More good news:

• FEHBP self plus one option available in 2016
• Back pay provided to feds furloughed during the

government shutdown

• Phased retirement now available
• Senate postal bill failed to advance
• Extension of reemployed annuitants waiver passed
• Written and oral testimony before Congress

Federal retirees have not had to pay for deficit reduction

113th Congress (2013-2014) Recap

And the bad news…

• 3-year federal employee pay freeze
• Two increases in retirement contributions

for new feds (hired in 2013 and 2014 and beyond)

• Very small federal pay raise in 2014 and

2015

113th Congress (2013-2014) Recap

And the REALLY bad news…

• 16-day government shutdown in October
• 1-10 furlough days for 750,000 feds as a

result of sequestration

– Loss of $1 billion in take home pay

113th Congress (2013-2014) Recap

Contributions from the federal community to date.

$120 Billion!

NARFE’s Legislative Program for the 114th Congress (2015-2016)

How does NARFE decide what to pursue in a new Congress?

• NARFE members approved the 114th

Congress Legislative Program at the National Convention in August.

• Several changes were proposed by the

Legislative Committee and adopted

• Guides the work we do

114th Congress (2015-2016)

Fiscal Environment on Capitol Hill

• Budget fights began in February with release
• f President’s FY16 budget
• House and Senate budgets expected any day
• Reconciliation a strong possibility
• 7 years of sequestration remaining
• Budget fights loom for FY16 and beyond

FY16 Budget Process

FY16 Budget Process

The Standard Process

• President submits

his Budget

February 2

• Congress holds

hearings, meetings, approves Budget Resolution by April 15

February - April

• House/Senate

prepares Appropriations Bills, Reconciliation

May – June

• House/Senate pass

bills, differences are “reconciled”

July - August

• New Fiscal Year

October 1

• Final

Appropriations and Reconciliation sent to President

September

FY16 Budget Process

What to expect in the 114th Congress:

• Opportunity for Reconciliation
• Reconciliation Provides an Opportunity to

Message via Legislation

• 2016 Presidential election politics already

taking shape Political Environment a key driver of budget

FY16 Budget Process

Reconciliation Key Players:

House and Senate Budget Committees

• House Chairman Tom Price, R-GA
• House Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen, D-MD
• Senate Chairman Michael Enzi, R-WY
• Senate Ranking Member Bernie Sanders, I-VT

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

• Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-UT
• Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, D-MD

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

• Chairman Ron Johnson, R-WI
• Ranking Member Tom Carper, D-DE

FY16 Budget Process

What does Reconciliation Mean for NARFE?

• MANDATORY spending measures only

– “Reform” Civil Service Retirement – RETIREE FEHBP Coverage and Premiums – Changes to Social Security, Medicare

114th Congress (2015-2016)

Congress will also look to offset sequestration Federal community has a target on its back

• Increased retirement contributions for current feds
• Chained CPI
• Pay freezes or reduced pay raises
• Elimination of FERS annuity supplement
• High-3 to High-5
• Changing retirement multiplier
• Changes to FEHBP
• Arbitrary workforce reductions
• Government efficiency as a smokescreen for cuts
• Possible civil service reform

114th Congress (2015-2016)

NARFE’s Legislative Priorities

• Fighting attacks to federal pay and

benefits, including FEHBP

• Crafting a USPS reform bill that provides

actual reform

• Preventing Chained CPI from becoming

reality

114th Congress (2015-2016)

NARFE’s Legislative Priorities

• Adequate 2016 federal employee pay

raise

• Paid parental leave for feds
• Repeal of pension increases
• Fighting arbitrary reductions in the

federal workforce

Protect America’s Heartbeat

WHAT is PAH?

• An ongoing grassroots campaign designed to get NARFE

members more engaged in legislation that affects them WHO?

• You!

WHY?

• Because Congress can change your benefits AT ANY TIME

WHERE?

• In your home states and districts, at NARFE chapter meetings

WHEN?

• NOW!

Protect America’s Heartbeat

www.narfe.org/heartbeat

• Updated Toolkits Available!
• 7 Individual Toolkits
• Easier to find information and

print only what you need.

Protect America’s Heartbeat

• Constantly rethinking how NARFE carries out grassroots

activities based on individual factors: – Specific MOCs, chapter abilities, upcoming votes, etc...

• Including legislative information at chapter meetings,

federation events and in newsletters

• Taking steps towards a larger, functioning grassroots program

within NARFE

• Building personal relationships with your members of

Congress is key!

• You are in a unique position to share your experiences as a

federal worker

• All politics is local. Drive it home!

NARFE in the News

699 total press clips (2013 & 2014) including 512 articles in top tier national media 177 letters to the editor

NARFE in the News

QUESTIONS???