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 of 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???