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Congressman Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.) introduced legislation yesterday to ensure United States Capitol Police (USCP) officers who have transferred their service to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) are able to access the benefits they have earned. 

Currently, USCP officers are not eligible for enhanced retirement benefits upon transfer to a FLETC facility without a break in coverage. This is based off a precedent set by a court case which overturned the policy of enhanced coverage for USCP officers serving as instructors or in an administrative role at FLETC.

Carter's legislation, the Law Enforcement Retirement Enhancement Act, ensures USCP officers that transfer to FLETC without a break in service are eligible for the same enhanced retirement benefits as other federal law enforcement officers. The legislation requires those who want to participate to contribute the proper share to receive the benefits.

"I introduced this legislation because I heard straight from a FLETC employee," said Carter. "This employee served as a Capitol Police officer and paid into his retirement fund, but because of a separate court case, he is no longer eligible for the benefits he was promised and has paid for simply because he transferred his service to FLETC. This is a problem for several reasons. First, our law enforcement officers who have put their lives on the line deserve better. Second, we need to attract the best talent possible to FLETC. The federal government should not be putting up road blocks to new, top-notch instructors. 

"I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation as soon as possible to ensure FLETC employees are able to access the benefits they have paid for and deserve."

Background:

In 1990, Congress passed the United States Capitol Police Retirement Act (PL 101-428), granting the officers enhanced law enforcement officer retirement benefits afforded to other federal law enforcement agencies, including US Secret Service and US Park Police. Previously, Capitol Police officers who transferred to a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) without a break in service were granted enhanced law enforcement retirement coverage consistent with other federal law enforcement officers. However, due to a separate case that was challenged and lost in the Court of Appeals, officers who had complied with the previous laws lost enhanced coverage, including those who had already paid into it.

Original cosponsors include Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Tom Cole (R-Ok.), Gene Green (D-Tx.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Mimi Walters (R-Ca.).