Lower Bucks Today

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Jamie Raskin, Juan Ciscomani, and Steven Lynch have introduced the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act to address an error that resulted in the removal of retirement benefits for newly hired officers. The bill aims to rectify the mistake made by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and ensure that officers receive the benefits they were promised.

Congressman Fitzpatrick emphasized the importance of supporting Customs and Border Protection officers, stating, “We must do right by the dedicated Customs and Border Protection officers who defend our ports of entry and work every day to keep our nation safe. I am proud to be able to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Reps. Raskin, Ciscomani, and Lynch to fix this error and give our officers the retirement benefits they earned during their years of service to the United States.”

Ranking Member Raskin highlighted the significance of correcting the error, stating, “A decades-long error should not mean that 1,200 Customs and Border Patrol Officers are denied the retirement benefits they were promised. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act will ensure that these officers—who protect the American people and secure our borders—receive the benefits they earned.”

Rep. Ciscomani emphasized the dedication of Customs and Border Protection officers, stating, “Every day they put on the uniform, our Customs and Border Protection officers and agents put their life on the line defending our country, with many of them dedicating their careers to protecting our homeland. This bipartisan legislation takes the necessary steps to ensure our officers can retire comfortably and receive the benefits they were promised.”

Rep. Lynch underscored the critical role of Customs and Border Protection officers, stating, “Our Customs and Border Protection officers carry out critical public safety and national security duties on behalf of the American people. They are responsible for safeguarding our ports of entry, disrupting transnational criminal activity and illegal narcotics, and preventing terrorist activity and human trafficking. I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to ensure that these dedicated law enforcement officers receive the retirement benefits that they have paid for and earned.”

Chairman James Comer expressed support for the bill, stating, “Our nation’s Customs and Border Protection officers serve the American people every day as they seek to secure our border and ports of entry from illicit activity and promote lawful travel and trade. These brave men and women are owed the retirement benefits they deserve.”

Doreen Greenwald, National President of the National Treasury Employees Union, commended the bill, stating, “The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Retirement Technical Corrections Act is more than just fixing a clerical error. This bill will give 1,500 CBP Officers we represent the law enforcement retirement benefits they were promised. NTEU is grateful to Reps. Fitzpatrick, Raskin, Ciscomani, and Lynch for their support of the federal employees who have dedicated their careers to protecting our country while facilitating trade and travel through our nation's ports.”

The bipartisan legislation aims to address the oversight that led to the removal of retirement benefits for Customs and Border Protection officers, ensuring that they receive the benefits they rightfully earned during their service to the United States.