Bill would boost pensions of injured federal workers

Legislation seeking to boost retirement benefits for federal workers who are injured on the job was introduced this week in the House and Senate.

On Thursday Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., chairwoman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization, introduced H.R. 978, and Sen. George Allen, R-Va., introduced a companion bill, S. 481, in the Senate. The bills would boost the pensions of employees in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) who have received disability payments at some point in their careers to make up for lost contributions.

The bills were introduced after lawmakers learned that Louise Kurtz, a civilian Army employee who was injured in the Sept. 11 attack on the Pentagon, was unable to contribute to Social Security or the Thrift Savings Plan while out of work on disability payments.

"Louise Kurtz and many others are the victims of a tragic circumstance, and their experiences have helped inspire this legislation," Davis said. "It is my hope that this bill will play a role in helping meet the needs of these individuals as well as so many others who can benefit from this FERS adjustment."

During the last congressional session, Allen sponsored similar legislation that received Senate approval, but was never approved by the House Government Reform Committee.