WASHINGTON, DC—Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBPOs) can receive the retirement benefits they were promised when starting their service has advanced in the Senate. The bill addresses a mistake where Customs and Border Protection (CBP) incorrectly informed newly hired CBPOs that they would be eligible for proportional annuity, meaning they would not have to retire at a certain age or reach 20 years of service to qualify for the benefit enhancement. When CBP discovered their error – more than ten years after these officers had started their service – they rescinded these benefits and now require around 1400 officers, including 67 in Michigan, to meet additional requirements to receive the benefits they were initially promised. The bill was approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where Peters serves as the Ranking Member.
“Customs and Border Protection Officers work hard across the country every day to seize illegal drugs, guarantee secure trade and travel, and help keep our communities safe,” said Senator Peters. “These officers planned their retirements based on promises made by Customs and Border Protection when they were first hired. This bill will ensure that after their years of honorable service, these officers can retire with the benefits they have earned.”
“Customs and Border Protection Officers defend our nation’s borders every day, and they deserve a secure financial future. This bill guarantees that officers receive the retirement benefits they were promised,” said Senator Hawley.
The CPBO Retirement Technical Corrections Act would direct CBP to identify and notify eligible individuals of the correction, allow impacted officers to receive retirement benefits aligned with their originally promised coverage, provide retroactive annuity adjustments for eligible individuals who retire before the bill’s enactment, and grant the Department of Homeland Security authority to waive maximum entry age requirements for eligible officers.
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