Raskin, Bacon and Dexter Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Pension Payments for NOAA Corps, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08), alongside his colleagues Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), introduced bipartisan legislation that safeguards the pensions of an estimated 8,000 retired uniformed servicemembers. The Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act would secure parity between retired members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps and the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and all other federal retirees, ensuring they continue receiving pension payments during a government shutdown. “NOAA Corps officers and USPHS Commissioned Corps officers have made immeasurable sacrifices for the health and safety of our people over decades of public service,” said Rep. Raskin. “Our bipartisan legislation will mean these patriots will get the pensions they earned so they don’t go hungry or struggle to pay their rent or mortgage during a government shutdown ." “The Commissioned Officers Association is pleased to endorse this important legislation, which would provide a stable and reliable financial foundation for retirement pay for members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps,” said CAPT. Jacqueline Rychnovsky, USN (Ret.), Executive Director of the Commissioned Officers Association of the United States Public Health Service. “Transitioning from annual discretionary appropriations to the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund — which currently supports retirement pay for the other six uniformed services — would help ensure that USPHS and NOAA Corps retirees are never again at risk of missing a paycheck during a government shutdown.” “All who serve our nation in uniform have earned their benefits, to include consistent and reliable retirement payments," said Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, USAF (Ret.), President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America . "MOAA strongly supports this legislation, which takes an important step toward ensuring parity across all uniformed services by aligning retirement funding for the USPHS and NOAA commissioned officer retirees with the existing Military Retirement Fund.” “ I served 27 years in uniform as a Commissioned Corps Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, ” said Sharon Gershon, a constituent of Rep. Raskin’s and retired USPHS Captain. “Serving in the USPHS was the honor of a lifetime. When I retired, I depended on my federal pension as my primary source of income, and thus became upset to learn that I wouldn't receive it during the last government shutdown. After reaching out to Rep. Raskin's office with my concerns, they responded quickly and I am so grateful the Congressman is introducing legislation to close this loophole and get a permanent fix to protect the pensions of the thousands of retired Commissioned Corps Officers like me.” “NOAA Corps and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers serve our nation in moments of crisis, from hurricane response and environmental disasters to disease outbreaks at home and overseas,” said Rep. Bacon. “These uniformed officers have answered the call in national emergencies and times of war, and they deserve a retirement structure that recognizes that service. I’m pleased to co-lead the bipartisan Pensions for Uniformed Services Retirees Act with Rep. Raskin to ensure all members of the uniformed services are treated fairly.” “Last year, I heard from a constituent and retired United States Public Health Service officer who went weeks without a pension during the government shutdown,” said Rep. Dexter. “These are the public health professionals who respond to disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and health emergencies across the country, and they should never have to worry about missing a paycheck they earned through a lifetime of service. This bipartisan bill closes a harmful loophole and ensures retired USPHS and NOAA officers can count on the retirement security they deserve.” Rep. Raskin learned about this loophole in federal law by listening to concerns from his constituents in Maryland’s Eighth Congressional District who depended on their pension payments and feared for their ability to make ends meet during the recent government shutdown. This legislation would protect the pensions of more than 1,166 Maryland residents and more than 7,500 people across the country. Established upon the outbreak of World War I, NOAA Corps Officers command ships and aircraft and support emergency response efforts, including hurricane response and oil spill mitigation. They lead a fleet of vessels and aircraft used for everything from deep ocean research to flying into hurricanes, and they can be brought into the armed services whenever the President requires their expertise. The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was established in 1889 to root out smallpox and yellow fever and is now the largest public health program in the world. Driven by a passion for public service, the Commissioned Corps officers respond to public health crises and national emergencies such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and terrorist attacks, both at home and overseas. The Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act is endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America and the Commissioned Officers Association. Read the full legislation here. ###