RPEC Takes Action to Preserve Federal Retirement Benefits

RPEC Takes Action to Preserve Federal Retirement Benefits

Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 Clears House Budget Committee – Moves To House Vote

Your federal retirement benefits are, again, at risk thanks to legislation that was approved last week in the House Budget Committee and is poised for a full House vote.

In December, RPEC reported about a concerning piece of legislation, the Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 (H.R. 5779), which both the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Retirees and the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) warned could jeopardize funding for both Social Security and Medicare. Last week, on January 18^th, the bill was advanced from the House Budget Committee for a full House vote.  The bill will create a 16-member fiscal commission to search for ways to reduce the national deficit and balance the national budget.

Retiree and senior advocacy organizations fear the Commission will prioritize Social Security and Medicare funding cuts over other federal expenditures based on public comments rendered by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been a vocal advocate for this legislation and the reduction of federal retirement benefits for seniors.

A letter, circulated and signed by 116 House Democrats, is urging Speaker Johnson to oppose the legislation as written. (Amendments were offered in the House Budget Committee that would have protected Social Security and Medicare funding from the scrutiny of the proposed Commission.  Unfortunately, the amendments were not adopted.)

At this juncture, only Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has signed onto the letter from the Washington Delegation.

RPEC is sending official communication to other House delegation members urging them to sign onto the letter, and to stand with retirees in protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits.

A detailed position paper about the proposed debt commission is available at https://retiredamericans.org.