Tester’s Fair RETIRE Act to Support Law Enforcement Officers Signed into Law

Senator's bill will allow federal law enforcement officers, first responders injured in the line of duty to receive their full retirement benefits

Today, President Joe Biden signed into law the First Responders Fair Return for Employees on Their Initial Retirement Earned (RETIRE) Act led by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, which will help federal firefighters, law enforcement officers, Customs and Border Protection officials, and other federal employees with potentially dangerous jobs receive their full retirement benefits if they are injured on duty.

Tester first introduced the bipartisan legislation in the Senate in 2016.

"Every day, law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs are injured in the line of duty, while working to keep our communities safe," said Tester. "I will always stand by Montana and this country's first responders, and I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to ensure that these brave men and women have access to the benefits they have earned no matter how long they served."

The Fair RETIRE Act is also sponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). The bill was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives in July and by the Senate last month.

Because of the physically demanding and dangerous nature of these federal jobs, designated "6c" occupations, Congress created an accelerated retirement system and established a mandatory early retirement age of 57. These employees pay a higher percentage of their wages toward their retirement, and are entitled to an annuity after 20 years of service. Currently, if they are injured at work and unable to complete their mandatory years of service, funds that they've paid into early retirement are eliminated, even if they return to the federal government in a non-6c position.

The First Responders Fair RETIRE Act will allow federal public safety officers to retain their enhanced 6c retirement status when they return to the federal government after getting injured in the line of duty. They would still be able to retire after 20 years of federal service and will also be eligible to receive a lump sum payment of the benefits owed from their 6c retirement funds. The First Responders Fair RETIRE Act is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Federation of Federal Employees, and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Tester is a tireless advocate for the nation's law enforcement and first responders and recently secured a pay increase for federal wildland firefighters through his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. His Putting America's First Responders First Act, which clarifies the current tax code and ensures injured first responders do not have to pay taxes on injury-related compensation, was also signed into law late last year.