March 2024 NARFE Magazine

MARCH 2024

VOLUME 100 ★ NUMBER 2

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jenn Rafael

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Beth Bedard

CONTENT MANAGER

Matt Sanderson

ADDITIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN

TGD

EDITORIAL BOARD

William Shackelford, Kathryn E. Hensley, Johann De Castro

CONTACT US

NARFE Magazine

606 North Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314-1914

Phone: 703-838-7760 Fax: 703-838-7781

Editorial: communications@narfe.org

Advertising Sales: Francine Garner advertising@narfe.org

NARFE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

ON THE TELEPHONE: This publication can be heard on the telephone by persons who have trouble seeing or reading the print edition. For more information, contact the National Federation of the Blind NFBNEWSLINE® service at 866-504-7300 or go to www.nfbnewsline.org.

ON DIGITAL AUDIO: Issues of NARFE Magazine are also available in audio format through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). For availability, call 202-727-2142 or your local NLS service provider.

The Association, since July 1970, has been classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt labor organization [not a union]; however, dues and gifts or contributions to the Association are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

NATIONAL OFFICERS WILLIAM SHACKELFORD President; natpres@narfe.org

KATHRYN E. HENSLEY Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org

CHIEF OF STAFF

JOHANN DE CASTRO jdecastro@narfe.org

TO JOIN NARFE, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR FIND A LOCAL CHAPTER:

CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 OR GO TO www.narfe.org

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL

LISTING:

CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 EMAIL memberrecords@narfe.org

OR GO TO www.narfe.org, log in and click on “My Account”

TO REACH A FEDERAL BENEFITS SPECIALIST: EMAIL fedbenefits@narfe.org

NARFE HEADQUARTERS

606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314 703-838-7760

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

REGION I Jeff Anliker (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)

Tel: 413-813-8136

Email: jeff.anliker@outlook.com

REGION II Larry Walton (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania)

Tel: 443-831-1791

Email: rvp2@narfe.org

REGION III Lynn Harper (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Puerto Rico)

Tel: 478-951-3260

Email: lynn_harper@msn.com

REGION IV Robert L. Helfrich (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin)

Tel: 317-501-1700

Email: rlhelfrich@yahoo.com

REGION V Cindy Reneé Blythe (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota)

Tel: 785-256-1450

Email: mrsdocbusyb@yahoo.com

REGION VI Marshall L. Richards (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama and Texas)

Tel: 903-660-2784

Email: pappysdad@cobridge.tv

REGION VII Sharon Reese (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming)

Tel: 575-649-6035

Email: rvp7@narfe.org

REGION VIII Robert H. Ruskamp (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines)

Tel: 703-628-3234

Email: ruskampr@gmail.com

REGION IX Steven Roy (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington)

Tel: 425-344-3926

Email: stevenroy1@yahoo.com

REGION X Robert Allen (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia)

Tel: 757-404-3880

Email: rvp10@narfe.org

NARFE Magazine (ISSN 1948-4453) is published monthly except in February

reasonable precaution is taken. All submissions become the property of NARFE. Copyright © 2024, NARFE. Advertisements in the magazine are not endorsements of products and/or services by NARFE, unless officially stated in the ad. We shall accept advertising on the same basis as other reputable publications: that is, we shall not knowingly permit a dishonest advertisement to appear in NARFE Magazine, but at the same time we will not undertake to guarantee the reliability of our advertisers.

NARFE’S MISSION STATEMENT

To support legislation and regulations beneficial to federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants under any federal civilian retirement system and to oppose those detrimental to their interests.

To promote the general welfare of federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants, to advise and assist them with respect to their rights under retirement, health and other employee and retiree benefits laws and regulations, and to represent their interests before appropriate authorities.

To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.

NARFE-PAC Month Has Arrived!

Since 2002, March has been designated as NARFE-PAC Month, and since 1982, NARFE-PAC has served as the vehicle to protect our earned benefits through the support of our friends in Congress and the party committees. As we head into the campaigns and the November election, your contributions support our advocacy mission, complement our grassroots efforts, and allow the NARFE lobbyists on Capitol Hill to continue their great work on your behalf.

Your NARFE-PAC contributions are significant this election year. They enhance our efforts to support candidates whose voting records indicate support for NARFE.

The results of the November elections could result in changes in both houses of Congress, especially in the House of Representatives. Rest assured that the advocacy department at NARFE headquarters will remain diligent about any changes and continue to work to solidify our relationship. Soon, you’ll receive a letter from me asking you to support NARFE-PAC and strengthen your voice on Capitol Hill. Please give generously.

SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS ACT UPDATE

Thanks to all NARFE members working as grassroots advocates, we continue to gain congressional support for repealing or reforming the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). As I prepared this column last December, there were 301 House cosponsors of the repeal bill, H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act. On the U.S. Senate side, there are 49 co-sponsors of S. 597, which is the counterpart to H.R. 82.

In November, House Ways and Means Committee members held a field hearing in Baton Rouge, La. The hearing was to listen to individuals affected by the provisions of WEP/GPO from the local and state levels, i.e., police officers, firefighters and teachers. Some observers consider this a good sign that our supporters on Capitol Hill are willing to move forward. We’re going to keep the pressure on Congress to act. We’re incrementally gaining support for the Equal COLA Act, H.R. 866, to provide Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees with a full cost-of-livingadjustment (COLA) when inflation is high. As the NARFE national president, I am prepared to testify if requested by the Ways and Means Committee. In the interim, please continue to contact your representatives on the WEP/GPO issues.

NARFE CONFERENCES

During 2023, I learned that NARFE members welcomed the opportunity to return to an in-person format for the Federation conferences following the pandemic. I hope that this trend continues in 2024. With increased attendance at the Federation events, I hope your comfort level increases and you strongly consider joining me and other members of your National Executive Board and NARFE headquarters staff at FEDcon24 in August. This event will be held at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in St. Louis, MO.

As always, please remember that the lines of communication between me and all NARFE members will always be open to suggestions and constructive criticism. I will thank you for your support so that we can move NARFE forward together. The future of NARFE is in our hands. Stay healthy and stay safe!

WILLIAM SHACKELFORD NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT natpres@narfe.org

SAVE MONEY WITH NARFE PERKS

WHETHER you are planning your next vacation or move, buying a gift or planning for retirement, members can save money on everyday purchases with special discounts from our Affinity Partners. Visit www.narfe.org/perks or see p. 50.

Apply for the 2024 NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Program

The deadline to apply for the 2024 NARFE-FEEA Fund Scholarship Awards Program is March 14. Recipients will receive a one-time award of $1,000 to put toward the 2024-25 school year. Applicants must be seniors in high school; children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of NARFE

members are eligible. The deadline to apply is 3 p.m. ET Thursday, March 14.

For more information and to access the application, visit www.feea.org/our-programs/ scholarships/.

The scholarship program is funded by the NARFE-FEEA Fund, supported by NARFE

READ NARFE MAGAZINE ONLINE

Login and read current and previous issues of NARFE Magazine on your computer, phone or tablet. You can also download it to read later. Visit www.narfe.org/magazine-issues.

MISS A WEBINAR?

Catch up on past NARFE Federal Benefit Institute presentations in NARFE’s webinar archive, where you will find videos, slides and transcripts of question-and-answer sessions for webinars dating back to January 2019. Find them at www.narfe.org/ webinar-archive.

members and administered by FEEA.

To support the program, donations to the NARFE-FEEA Fund can be made online at www. feea.org/givenarfe or by check payable to NARFE-FEEA Fund mailed to: NARFE-FEEA Fund c/o FEEA, 1641 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

TSP UPDATE ONLINE

Get the most recent monthly and annual Thrift Savings Plan returns (G, F, C, S, I and L Funds) online at www.narfe. org/tsp-funds

TRACKING RETIREMENT CLAIMS

Find out how many retirement claims OPM Retirement Services receives and processes each month, with average processing times and total inventory, at www.narfe.org/opm-processing

2023 Ends on Positive Note, But Uncertainty Looms

As 2023 drew close, federal workers avoided the prospect of a government shutdown and welcomed news of the 2024 federal pay raise and as well as improved benefits for vets entering the federal civilian workforce.

FEDERAL PAY RAISE

On December 21, President Biden signed the executive order providing a 4.7% increase in federal pay rates across the board and a 0.5% increase in locality pay rates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average 5.2% total tracks with recent changes in private-sector wages and salaries.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Meanwhile, government agencies operated under a continuing resolution signed into law November 16; another continuing resolution was signed in late January. Funding provided by four appropriations bills (Agriculture-FDA, Energy-Water, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Transportation-HUD) was extended through March 1 by the January CR. Funding was covered by the other

eight appropriations bills (Commerce-Justice-Science, Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, InteriorEnvironment, Labor-HHSEducation, Legislative Branch, State and Foreign Operations) extended through March 8. NARFE’s website and NewsLine will provide updates on government funding.

PARENTAL LEAVE FOR VETS

Congress left for the holidays with much business

left unfinished. But both the House and Senate passed, and the president signed into law, the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which included an amendment to expand access to family and medical leave for veterans entering the federal workforce by recognizing their military service when determining their eligibility for such leave. Reps. Don Beyer, D-VA, Chrissy Houlahan, D-PA, Don Bacon, R-NE, Nancy Mace, R-SC, and Chris Smith, R-NJ, led the effort to pass the amendment.

Before the change in law, federal employees had to accrue

MARCH ACTION ALERT: PROTECT MERIT-BASED CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM

Visit NARFE’s Legislative Action Center at www.narfe.org to send a message to your lawmakers urging them to cosponsor the Saving Civil Service Act, H.R. 1002/S. 399. This act would prevent the return of Schedule F, ensuring the public’s expectations of a system that is efficient, fair, free from political interference, and staffed by honest, competent, and dedicated employees. Merit-based civil service rules are integral to preserving institutional knowledge and expertise within the federal government.

12 months of service to obtain eligibility for 12 weeks of paid parental leave or other unpaid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.

However, the law previously only credited civilian service. This amendment added “honorable active service” in

MYTH VS. REALITY

MYTH: Schedule F was implemented to improve government efficiency and accountability.

REALITY: Schedule F could lead to the politicization of the federal workforce, potentially resulting in employees being hired, promoted, or terminated based on political loyalty rather than qualifications. On the other hand, the merit-based system focuses on hiring and retaining individuals who possess the necessary skills and expertise to effectively serve the American people, ensuring the efficient and accountable functioning of government and the protection of federal employees.

a military branch to the list, enabling service members transitioning directly from the military to civilian federal employment to access paid parental leave or unpaid FMLA leave immediately, provided they have completed at least one year of military

service. This amendment ensures that those who have served our country can more easily transition into federal employment while enjoying vital family and medical leave benefits.

—BY JOHN HATTON, STAFF VICE PRESIDENT, POLICY AND PROGRAMS

NARFE Comments in Support of Proposed OPM Rule on Civil Service Protections

NARFE National President William Shackelford submitted a comment letter to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on November 17, 2023, expressing support for its proposed rule titled “Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles” to safeguard civil service protections and merit system principles.

NARFE’s comments emphasized the importance of a competitive, merit-based civil service system, which provides continuity through changing administrations, preserves institutional knowledge, and ensures that federal employees are hired and fired based on competence rather than political affiliations, underscoring the rule’s role in protecting against potential abuse of power by the executive branch.

One key aspect addressed in the proposed rule is the clear statement that competitive service protections cannot be stripped away by reclassifying a position into the excepted service. This clarification aims to prevent the unwarranted removal of accrued competitive service protections without due process, preventing potential violations of the U.S. Constitution and adverse to the statutory framework established to safeguard a meritbased civil service.

NARFE endorsed the proposed rule’s objectives, emphasizing the commitment to safeguard the integrity of the civil service system, and urged prompt finalization of the rule.

Key provisions outlined in the proposed rule include:

• Clarifications Regarding Position Classification: The proposed rule introduces much-needed clarity, explicitly

stating that positions of a “confidential, policydetermining, policymaking, or policy-advocating” nature are exclusively associated with non-career, political appointments. This clarification stresses the critical role qualified civil servants play in providing continuity and expertise between administrations.

• Retention of Competitive Service Protections: The proposed rule offers a vital update. It unequivocally states that individuals retain competitive service protections even if their positions are reclassified into a new excepted service schedule following the rule’s finalization. This ensures compliance with due process procedures.

NARFE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

LEARN MORE about how you can take action to protect your earned pay and benefits by reviewing NARFE Grassroots materials at www.narfe.org/advocacy

New Grassroots Benchmarks Drive Success

In advocacy, evolution is constant, and at NARFE, we wholeheartedly embrace the winds of change. We are thrilled to share engaging initiatives and activities that will shape how we advocate for federal employees and retirees in 2024.

BENCHMARKS: A CATALYST FOR EXCELLENCE

Does your federation provide the best advocacy on behalf of NARFE? Let’s find out.

To motivate engagement and encourage active participation, we have introduced a set of qualitative and quantitative standards across various grassroots activities. The rollout of benchmarks has sparked a wave of excitement among our members. These benchmarks—thoughtfully tailored for federations of all sizes—have ignited a newfound competitive spirit. From bronze to platinum, NARFE federations are eagerly vying for top-tier status and the prospect of a special prize. What sets this apart is the proactive stance of our members, propelling their federation toward a prestigious position in the rankings. Who will rise to the challenge and earn the coveted platinum?

While benchmark evaluations are conducted quarterly, members have wasted no time seizing the moment and actively participating in grassroots activities, ensuring that every month counts.

Even more notable is the enthusiastic willingness of

our members to share their achievements. Through monthly engagement assessments, members have been able to share their success stories, highlighting the tangible impact being made!

ISSUE CAMPAIGNS: A RESONATING CADENCE

Our grassroots endeavors remain dedicated to advancing NARFE’s 2024 legislative priorities and addressing our members’ top concerns. They

PROGRESS IS NOT JUST POSSIBLE BUT ACHIEVABLE THROUGH OUR MEMBERS’ DETERMINATION AND UNITY.

continue to push for critical causes, including but not limited to repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), fighting for equitable cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), preserving the meritbased system within the federal workforce, and opposing any potential cuts to federal retirement benefits.

These campaigns serve as an ongoing call to action, illustrating our members’ dedication to safeguarding federal employees’ and retirees’ rights and interests. As we move through 2024, we are reminded that progress is not just

possible but achievable through our members’ determination and unity.

CULTIVATING EXPERTISE

Education forms the bedrock of effective advocacy, and our members are fully aware. They have taken full advantage of the educational videos designed to enrich their understanding and sharpen their advocacy acumen. These videos cover a range of vital topics, including how to meet with lawmakers effectively, strategies for grasstops leaders to mobilize their base, and harnessing the power of advocacy in a digital world. Through these educational resources, our members have been actively honing their advocacy skills, equipping themselves with the necessary knowledge and expertise to drive change.

COLLECTIVE ACTION

What truly stands out is how our members have embraced these initiatives. They’ve been motivated and coalesced around a common goal–to ensure a better future for our active and retired civil servants. Our members are not merely passive participants; they have become the very backbone of our progress. As we chart the course ahead, we anticipate even more significant strides in grassroots advocacy. With members of such caliber, our potential for achievement is limitless.

—BY IVANA SARA, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM MANAGER

Hearing Marks Progress Toward Repealing WEP and GPO

Acritical development took place last fall in the ongoing effort to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security conducted a vital field hearing with retired public servants in Louisiana, underscoring the urgent need to repeal these provisions that have detrimentally affected more than 2 million federal retirees.

Holding this hearing emphasizes how imperative sentiments are to eliminate the inequities of the WEP and GPO. It’s a sign of new movement in the right direction for the House committee in control of the issue. The hearing provided a platform for affected retirees to present their accounts and demonstrate the tangible consequences of the WEP and GPO, particularly at the state and municipal levels.

During the hearing, oral testimonies from retirees vividly portrayed the severe financial hardships inflicted by these provisions. These public comments bluntly illustrated the struggles faced by retirees whose Social Security benefits have been significantly reduced due to the WEP and GPO. For many, this reduction translated into tough choices, including cutting essential

living expenses, such as basic necessities, and even modern essentials like internet access.

Some retirees were compelled to seek part-time employment to mitigate these financial challenges.

The hearing served as a reminder of a fundamental principle: public servants should not bear the burden of financial

THE

COMMENTS

ILLUSTRATED

THE

STRUGGLES FACED BY RETIREES WHOSE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED DUE TO THE WEP AND GPO.

hardship for dedicating their careers to community service.

The WEP and GPO have created an unjust and disproportionate impact on retirees who have served in the public sector and positions covered by Social Security.

It is encouraging to see substantial progress in the battle against these provisions with the introduction of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, H.R. 82/S. 597. H.R. 82, which has garnered healthy support in the House. By press time, 304

cosponsors are advocating for repeal. Simultaneously, S. 597 is steadily gaining traction in the Senate, with 50 cosponsors as of press time.

Notably, the bipartisan support for repealing the WEP and GPO continues to grow. Policymakers from both sides of the aisle recognize the necessity of addressing this issue, ensuring that those who have devoted their lives to public service can retire with dignity and financial security.

The battle against the WEP and GPO remains ongoing but is gaining momentum. Each cosponsor of H.R. 82 and supporter of S. 597 brings us closer to achieving equity for federal retirees. The recent field hearing underscored the urgency of tackling this issue, guaranteeing that individuals who have served their communities can retire with the financial security they have rightfully earned.

As we continue to advance in this critical endeavor, it is essential to persist in advocating for repeal. The recent hearing marked a significant victory, but the ultimate triumph will be when these unjust provisions are finally overturned, granting federal retirees the Social Security benefits they have earned throughout their years of dedicated service.

—BY IVANA SARA, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM MANAGER

• Establishment of Procedures: The proposed rule introduces essential procedures, including notification, explanation, and appeal rights, to ensure that reclassifications into the excepted service adhere

to merit system principles and objective criteria. These procedures provide much-needed checks and balances, reinforcing the merit-based nature of the civil service.

NARFE argued that the proposed rule, “Upholding Civil

Service Protections and Merit System Protections,” not only underscores the professionalism and nonpartisan character of the civil service but also secures the continued effectiveness of our government.

—BY IVANA SARA, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM MANAGER

OPM RULE FROM P.7

NARFE BILL TRACKER

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.

LATEST ACTION(S)

H.R.159/S.59: Chance to Compete Act of 2023 / Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-NC / Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-AZ

Cosponsors:

H.R. 159: 3 (D) 2 (R) S. 59: 1 (D) 2 (R) 0 (I)

H.R. 1002/S. 399: Saving the Civil Service Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA

Cosponsors:

H.R. 1002: 17 (D) 3 (R) S. 399: 16 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

Implements merit-based reforms to the civil service hiring system that replace degree-based hiring with skills- and competency-based hiring.

Prevents any position in the federal competitive service, created after September 30, 2020, from being reclassified into the excepted service, outside the protection of merit system rules without the express consent of Congress. The bill also requires the consent of an employee to be reclassified, mandates reporting of conversions to the Office of Personnel Management, and places caps on the number of employees converted to the excepted service via Schedule C.

FEDERAL PERSONNEL POLICY

H.R. 1487: The Strengthening the Office of Personnel Management Reform Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA

Cosponsors: H.R. 1487: 1 (D) 0 (R)

Codifies several recommendations for OPM by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), such as clarifying that OPM stands at the center of federal civilian human resource management and ensuring the director of OPM possesses human capital and leadership expertise.

Passed the House under suspension of the rules 1/24/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/24/2023

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 2/15/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2/14/2023

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 3/9/2023

H.R. 3115/S. 1496: Public Service Reform Act / Rep. Chip Roy, R-TX / Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL

Cosponsors:

H.R. 3115: 0 (D) 15 (R)

S. 1496: 0 (D) 1 (R) 0 (I)

Would make all federal employees at-will and enable workers to be removed for good cause, bad cause or no cause at all. The legislation would also abolish the Merit System Protections Board and limit removal appeals to claims of whistleblower retaliation and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints before the US Court of Appeals.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 5/5/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 5/9/2023

NARFE BILL TRACKER

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.

H.R. 82/S. 597: The Social Security Fairness Act / Rep. Garret Graves, R-LA / Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH

Cosponsors:

H.R. 82: 202 (D) 102 (R) S. 597: 40 (D) 7 (R) 3 (I)

H.R. 4260: The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act / Rep. Richard Neal, D-MA

Cosponsors:

H.R. 4260: 102 (D) 0 (R)

SOCIAL SECURITY

H.R. 4583/S. 2280: Social Security 2100 Act / Rep. John Larson, D-CT / Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT

Cosponsors:

H.R. 4583: 182 (D) 0 (R) S. 2280: 4 (D) 0 (R) 0 (I)

H.R. 5342: Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2023 / Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-TX

Cosponsors: 1 (D) 27 (R)

Repeals both the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. 1/9/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance 3/1/2023

FEDERAL ANNUITIES

H.R. 716: The Fair COLA for Seniors Act / Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA

Cosponsors:

H.R. 716: 37 (D) 0 (R)

H.R. 866 / S. 3194: The Equal COLA Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Alex Padilla, D-CA

Cosponsors:

H.R. 866: 43 (D) 3 (R) S. 3194: 5 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

Reforms the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) by providing a monthly rebate of $150 to current beneficiaries (age 62 or older before 2025) and creating a new formula to calculate benefits for future WEP-affected individuals (turning 62 in or after 2025).

Expands and strengthens Social Security benefits, improves solvency of the Social Security trust funds, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provisions and Government Pension Offset, and provides numerous other Social Security related improvements.

Reforms the WEP by providing a monthly payment of $100 to current WEP-affected beneficiaries and $50 for an affected spouse or child. Creates a new formula to calculate benefits for future WEP-affected individuals (turning 62 in or after 2025).

Requires Social Security and federal retirement programs to use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retirement benefits.

Provides Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees with the same annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as Civil Serve Retirement System (CSRS) retirees.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means 6/21/2023

Referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce 7/12/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance 7/12/2023

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means 9/5/2023

Referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Accountability, and Armed Services 2/1/2023

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 2/8/2023

NARFE BILL TRACKER

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.

H.R. 536/ S. 124: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI

Cosponsors:

H.R. 536: 77 (D) 1(R)

S. 124: 19 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

H.R. 856/ S. 274: Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act / Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA / Sen Brian Schatz, D-HI

Cosponsors:

H.R. 856: 35 (D) 3 (R) S.274: 10 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

H.R. 1301/ S. 640: Federal Employees Civil Relief Act / Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI

Cosponsors:

FEDERAL COMPENSATION

H.R. 1301: 3 (D) 0 (R)

S. 640 15 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

H.R. 5883 / S. 3029: Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act of 2023 / Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-AZ

Cosponsors:

H.R. 5883: 0 (D) 1 (R) S. 3029: 1 (D) 2 (R) 0 (I)

H.R. 5995: The Federal Retirement Fairness Act / Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) / Gerry Connolly (D-VA) / Don Bacon (R-NE) / David Valadao (R-CA)

Cosponsors: H.R. 5995: 37 (D) 19 (R)

Provides federal employees with an 8.7% average pay raise in 2024.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 1/26/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/26/2023

Extends paid leave to federal and postal employees for all conditions covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Veteran’s Affairs and House Administration 2/7/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2/7/2023

Protects federal workers and contractors from a variety of civil financial penalties during a lapse in appropriations or a breach of the debt ceiling.

Aims to significantly increase death gratuities and funeral allowances for federal employees who tragically lose their lives while serving the nation. This bill would ensure that the families of dedicated civil servants receive greater financial support during their time of loss.

Allow federal employees who started their careers as temporary workers, but transitioned to permanent work, to buy credit towards retirement for their temporary work. The FRFA enables these workers to make catch-up contributions, ensuring they receive full retirement credit for their service.

Referred to the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration 3/1/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance 3/2/2023

Referred to Committee on Homeland Security & Government Affairs 10/4/23

Referred to House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 10/25/23 NARFE’s Position: Support Oppose No position

oxygen delivery technique used by this device is contraindicated in persons whose breathing during normal resting would be unable to trigger the device. Proper device triggering, setup and operation must be confirmed by an experienced clinician or other respiratory professional. Not for pediatric use. Not for use by tracheotomized patients. WARNINGS: The device produces enriched oxygen gas, which accelerates combustion. Do not allow smoking or open flames within 2m (6.56ft) of this device while in use. If you feel ill or uncomfortable, or if the concentrator does not signal an oxygen pulse and you are unable to hear and/or feel the oxygen pulse, consult your equipment provider and/or your physician immediately. If you are unable to communicate discomfort, you may require additional monitoring and or a distributed alarm system to convey the information about the discomfort and or the medical urgency to your responsible caregiver to avoid harm. Use only spare parts recommended by the manufacturer to ensure proper function and to avoid the risk of fire and burns. To avoid danger of choking or strangulation hazard, keep cords away from children and pets. TALK TO YOUR HEALTH

CARE PROVIDER: The oxygen flow setting must be determined and recorded for each patient individually by the prescriber, including the configuration of the device, its parts, and the accessories. It is the responsibility of the patient to periodically reassess the setting(s) of the therapy for effectiveness. The proper placement and positioning of the prongs of the nasal cannula in the nose is critical for oxygen to be delivered.

Q&A

QI am considering retirement in 2024, and I’ve heard there is a “best date” to retire. Can you help me figure out my best date for retirement?

AFor many years, the “best date” to retire is at or near the end of the leave year (this does not usually coincide with the end of the calendar year). This allows a retiring employee to maximize their lump sum annual leave payment. Someone who carried over 240 hours (or your carry-over ceiling, if different) into 2024 and allowed their 2024 annual leave to accrue throughout the year would potentially have 448 hours “on the books” at the end of leave period 26. The lump sum payout equals the hours of leave multiplied by your hourly pay rate (annual rate divided by 2,087 hours) minus federal, state, Medicare, and FICA taxes, as applicable. The payment will be taxable in the year it is received, and most of it will be paid at the new pay rate for the leave that would have lasted after the January general schedule pay increase if you could have used the leave.

Remember that if you were to retire by close of business on January 11, 2025, you would not be paid a partial retirement payment for January 12 through January 31. Since retirements are generally paid beginning with the first full month following your retirement date, it may be better for employees

covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), including FERS Revised Annuity Employees (RAE) and FERS Further Revised Annuity Employees (FRAE), with long careers to choose Tuesday, December 31, 2024, so that their retirement will commence on January 1, 2025. During the transition to retirement, your initial payments may be delayed due to processing.

For Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and CSRS Offset retirements, the benefit will begin on the first day of the month following the retirement date, like FERS retirements. However, there is an exception for retirements effective on the month’s first, second or third day that will commence on the following day under CSRS. For most federal employees, the 2024 leave year ends on January 11, 2025, and the following year will end on January 10, 2026.

If you are not concerned with cashing in a large lump sum of unused annual leave hours, consider the end of any month or, if retiring under CSRS or CSRS Offset, the first three days of the month. Other factors that employees use when deciding their best date to retire include choosing the first day eligible for an immediate, unreduced retirement benefit to those who wake up one morning and decide it is time. For some employees, it can be health-related due to their or a family member’s needs.

The most important thing is that you are financially prepared and mentally ready for this transition in your life! This may involve

BEST DATE TO RETIRE

consulting with your benefits specialist in human resources, a financial advisor, a tax expert, and possibly a therapist!

MAXIMIZING TSP CONTRIBUTIONS

QWhen I retire partway through the year, can I maximize my contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)?

ATSP contributions must be made by payroll allotment; however, you may contribute any dollar amount or percentage of your biweekly salary that you wish if the payroll office can deduct insurance premiums, retirement contributions and taxes on the remainder.

If you purposely make larger contributions early in the year to maximize your contributions before retirement, be aware that you will not receive the total amount of the automatic 1% and matching agency contributions for the year, as this is done biweekly. The elective deferral limit for 2024 is $23,000. This limit applies to an employee’s traditional (tax-deferred) and Roth contributions during the calendar year. The elective deferral limit does not apply to the agency’s automatic (1%) contributions, agency matching contributions, catch-up contributions, traditional contributions from tax-exempt pay, or amounts transferred or rolled over into the TSP. The catch-up contribution limit for 2024 is $7,500.

FERS RETIREMENT ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT

QI am receiving the FERS retirement annuity supplement (RAS). How does work affect the supplement?

AIf you retired in 2023 or earlier and are entitled to the FERS RAS, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will send an earnings survey to you around May 2024. The earnings limit for 2023 was $21,240. If you earned more than this amount from wages, salaries, or self-employment income following your retirement date, your supplement will be reduced by one dollar for every two dollars you earned over the annual limit. This change in the amount of your RAS will take effect in July, and you will see the difference reflected in the FERS retirement payment you receive on August 1. The annual limit for 2024 is $22,320.

For details of the earnings that need to be reported, visit https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_ fill/ri92-022_2021.pdf.

If your supplement has been terminated and you are no longer earning above the annual limit, you may contact OPM to have your RAS restored if you are under age 62. Suppose you retired under the special provisions for law enforcement officers, firefighters or air traffic controllers. In that case, you will not be subject to an earnings test on your RAS until you have reached the minimum retirement age for FERS (age 57 if you were born in 1970 or later).

RETIREMENT DOCUMENTS

QHow do I request my SF-50s and other documents filed in my Official Personnel Folder (OPF) if I left federal service several years ago?

AYou may get a copy of your SF-50, SF-2809, SF 2810, or a copy of your complete OPF from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For details, visit https://www.archives. gov/personnel-records-center/civilian-non-archival You can also write to:

National Personnel Records Center, Annex 1411 Boulder Boulevard

Valmeyer, IL 62295

To locate civilian personnel records, include the following: full name, date of birth, Social Security number, last employing agency (including duty station) and approximate date(s) of the employment, along with your signature.

COUNTDOWN TO COLA

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased 0.16 percent in December 2023. To calculate the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the 2024 thirdquarter indices will be averaged and compared with the 2023 thirdquarter average of 301.236. The percentage increase determines the COLA. December’s index, 300.728, is down 0.17 percent from the base.

The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services.

For FECA COLA updates, visit narfe.org and search for FECA.

RETIREMENT

SURVIVOR BENEFITS

QI am a federal annuitant who married after retirement. I added my spouse to my FEHB shortly after we married. Will my spouse be able to keep the health insurance after I pass away?

AYour spouse may be able to continue coverage under FEHB if you elect a survivor benefit within two years of the marriage, and your spouse is covered under your FEHB the day you pass away. You may contact OPM’s Retirement Office by phone at 1 (888) 767-6738 or by email at retire@opm. gov. The phone lines are open Monday through Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. If you have difficulty getting through, try to call early or late in the evening when the lines are less busy.

APPLYING FOR MEDICARE

QI am turning 65 during the summer. Should I apply for Medicare?

AT here are a few reasons not to apply for Medicare Part A when you turn 65. You’ve already paid the Medicare tax (1.45% hospital tax) throughout your career, so there is no premium for you or your spouse for this coverage. Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care when needed. Suppose you are not yet receiving Social Security benefits. In that case, you may delay Part A enrollment if you would like to continue contributing to a Health Savings Account and you are in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP)

Part B of Medicare covers outpatient services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient hospital care or observation, home health care, durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, hospital beds, and other equipment), many preventive services (like screenings, shots, or vaccines, and yearly “wellness” visits), etc.

Medicare is the primary payer if you are retired, and your insurance premiums are deducted from a retirement benefit rather than a paycheck. Medicare is the secondary payer if your health insurance is deducted from a paycheck and your (or your spouse’s) employer has 20 or more employees.

The standard Medicare Part B premium is $174.70 (2024). Although higher-income retirees

may be subject to an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), most retirees pay the standard rate.

Some FEHB plan options provide a rebate/ reimbursement of some of the costs of Part B (check your FEHB plan for details). Many FEHB plans will waive your cost-sharing (deductible, copays, and coinsurance) if Medicare is the primary payer for your care, leaving you with $0 out-of-pocket expenses for covered services. Many plans offer these benefits at lower costs if a majority of enrollment is those people with Medicare as primary coverage. Most fee-forservice plans and many HMOs also provide an option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan at no additional cost (other than the requirement to have Medicare A and B and pay any IRMAA surcharges for Part D drug coverage).

Suppose your current employer’s health coverage covers you. In that case, a special enrollment period (SEP) allows enrollment in Part B within eight months of no longer being covered through an employer group plan. To learn more, see this fact sheet: https://www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10012.pdf.

During open season, NARFE presents a variety of webinars on Medicare and FEHB at the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute, included with your NARFE membership, and the ones presented in 2023 are archived at the institute.

PAYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

QHow do I pay for my health insurance if my annuity is insufficient?

AYou can locate OPM Form 2809 at www.opm. gov/forms and use event code “2M,” which allows you to change your FEHB plan when the premium is more significant than your annuity. Contact the OPM to find out how to pay for your health benefit premiums or change to a lowercost plan. See OPM’s contact information in the previous answer above.

SOCIAL SECURITY SURVIVOR BENEFIT

Q I received a CSRS retirement, and my spouse was a FERS retiree. My spouse recently died, and I’ve been collecting the FERS survivor benefit he elected for me. Social Security says I am not eligible to receive a Social Security survivor benefit, and they are allowing me to receive only my own lower-earned Social Security benefit. How can that be, as he paid FICA taxes for over 35 years?

AUnfortunately, you are affected by the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduces your Social Security survivor benefits by two-thirds of your CSRS retirement. For more information, see this fact sheet: https://www.ssa. gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf.

NARFE supports the repeal of the GPO.

DEFERRED RETIREMENT

QHow and when should I apply for deferred retirement?

ACSRS and CSRS Offset employees who left federal service before being eligible for an immediate retirement may file for a deferred retirement at age 62. You must have performed at least five years of creditable civilian employment and did not take a refund of retirement contributions. You may apply for this benefit two months before age 62 using OPM Form 1496a.

FERS employees who left federal service before being eligible for immediate retirement may file for

a deferred retirement at their MRA if they have at least 10 years of service. The benefit will be reduced by 5% for every year (one-twelfth of 5% per month) that you are younger than age 62.

There would be no age reduction if you left with 30 years of service and separated before your MRA or if you left with 20 years or more and delayed your retirement application to age 60.

If you leave with at least five years of service, you may file for your benefit with no age reduction at age 62. You must have at least five years of creditable civilian employment and do not take a refund of retirement contributions. Apply approximately two months before you want the benefit to begin using form RI 92-19. The forms mentioned can be found at www.opm.gov/forms.

To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 800-456-8410 and select option 2 for the Federal Benefits Institute; send the question by postal mail to NARFE Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members may be eligible for two fully covered hearing aids with zero out-of-pocket cost on many models when applying your hearing aid benefit*. Call 1-855-252-0025 to discover more or visit www.blue365deals.com/fep.

Members have access to the latest hearing aid models, styles and technology, including the New Signia Silk Charge&Go IX.

©2024

OWhat Surviving Spouses Need to Know

ne of the benefits of NARFE membership is to guide the surviving spouses of our members. Here is a summary of those benefits:

CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CSRS) AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FERS)

FERS provides an eligible spouse of a deceased federal employee the following benefits:

• Basic Employee Death Benefits (BEDB) payable with at least 18 months of service. This comprises a lump sum payment of a fixed amount ($41,568.31 for 2024) plus half of the employee’s annual salary rate.

• Monthly survivor annuity equal to half the earned annuity payable on the date of death (employee required to have a minimum of 10 years of creditable service).

• If a former employee dies with at least 10 years of creditable service (five years of which must be creditable civilian service), a survivor annuity may be payable.

CSRS provides the surviving spouse of a federal employee with a monthly survivor annuity equal to 55% of the earned annuity payable on the date of death. Contact the personnel office of the federal agency where the employee worked to apply for benefits upon the death of a federal employee.

The surviving spouses of CSRS and FERS retirees will receive the survivor annuity elected at retirement. The value of this benefit is documented in a personalized annuity booklet. You can request a copy of your current

booklet by signing into the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Services Online, clicking “Documents,” and then clicking “Request Booklet,” or contacting OPM by phone at 1-888-767-6738.

Payments to a surviving spouse generally continue for life unless your spouse remarries before age 55 (unless married at least 30 years). If no survivor annuity is payable, the unpaid balance of retirement contributions and the final annuity payment are payable according to the CSRS or FERS Designation of Beneficiary form, SF-3102.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS (FEHB)

Suppose you were enrolled in a self-plus-one or family FEHB plan at your death, and a survivor benefit is payable. In that case, your spouse and eligible dependents can continue your health insurance, and they will pay the employee share of the FEHB premium and continue to be eligible for annual open seasons.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE GROUP LIFE INSURANCE (FEGLI)

Proceeds of FEGLI are distributed based on a valid designation of beneficiary form on file with the agency or OPM at the time of death unless the ownership was transferred to someone else through an

“assignment of life insurance” (generally to comply with a court order or to satisfy a debt). If no valid designation form is on file and there was no assignment, then the benefits are paid according to the statutory order of precedence:

1. Widow or widower

2. If none, to your child or children in equal shares, with the percentage of any deceased child distributed among that child’s descendants.

3. If none, to your parents in equal shares or the entire amount to your surviving parent

4. If none, to the executor or administrator of your estate

5. If none, to your next of kin under the state’s laws where you lived at the time of your death. To update your beneficiary designation, use form SF 2823. Use form FE 6, Claim for Life Insurance, to claim life insurance benefits. Forms are available at www.opm.gov/forms.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM (FEDVIP)

Surviving spouses receiving monthly CSRS or FERS benefits can also enroll in a dental and/or vision plan through FEDVIP. For more details, visit https://www. benefeds.com/

FEDERAL LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM (FLTCIP)

Current enrollment in the FLTCIP may continue if premiums are paid. New registrations in FLTCIP were suspended in December 2022 for

BENEFITS RESOURCES

NARFE OFFERS MEMBERS a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www.narfe.org/federal-benefits-institute.

24 months unless OPM issues a subsequent notice to end or extend the suspension. For more info, visit www.ltcfeds.com.

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP)

When a TSP participant dies, the account is distributed according to the designation of beneficiary on file with the TSP or, if none, according to the statutory order of precedence shown above. A surviving spouse will have a “beneficiary participant” account established, allowing the spouse to continue to maintain a TSP, or they may choose to roll it over to their own TSP account if they have one or choose a distribution option of installment payments, a life annuity or a partial or total distribution. Depending on the type of distribution, a spouse may continue to defer taxes by rolling over the payment to an IRA or eligible employer plan. TSP Book 33, A Guide for

Beneficiary Participants, is available at www.tsp. gov/publications.

SOCIAL SECURITY

A surviving spouse may be eligible for reduced widow’s benefits beginning at age 60 or as early as age 50 if disabled. Contact Social Security at 1-800772-1213 or visit https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/ survivors/ to learn more. NARFE has prepared the following publications available at the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute at www.narfe.org:

• Affairs in Order: Benefits Guidance for Survivors of Federal Annuitants

• Be Prepared for Life’s Events (F-100)

• Top 10 Things a Spouse Should Know About Federal Benefits

—MICHELE BOLLIER IS A RETIREMENT AND BENEFITS SPECIALIST WITH RETIRE FEDERAL.

BUILDING A COALITION TO PROTECT YOUR BENEFITS

BY KHAMARE GARNER

The 2024 election is nearly here. This means the incoming 119th Congress will look radically different with new members, new leadership, and new committee assignments. Power dynamics and legislative priorities will change, but NARFE-PAC will maintain and expand our coalition to preserve your benefits.

What is NARFE-PAC?

NARFE-PAC protects NARFE members’ pay and benefits by raising and spending money to elect members of Congress who support the federal community. The PAC works for you by building solid relationships with lawmakers and providing NARFE with additional opportunities to share our most pressing concerns.

NARFE-PAC is financed through NARFE members’ direct, voluntary contributions to a separate fund. Federal law prohibits NARFE-PAC from soliciting donations from anyone other than NARFE members and the immediate family of these individuals. Any gift received from any other person will be returned to the contributor.

2024 Federal Election

On November 5, 2024, voters will head to the polls to elect the 119th Congress of the United States. With all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 33 seats in the Senate up for

grabs, voters will have a tremendous opportunity to reshape the American political landscape. We must elect lawmakers who will work on behalf of feds everywhere. NARFE-PAC will support candidates who will fight for you and your benefits. With 468 combined House and Senate seats up for election, NARFE-PAC aims to maintain our coalition of incumbent allies and expand it by supporting challengers and open-seat candidates nationwide.

NARFE-PAC assesses whether candidates share similar views on federal workforce issues based on several factors. We utilize a candidate questionnaire and look at past statements for new candidates. We look at incumbents’ track record on key issues for NARFE. No specific act determines support, but past actions related to WEP/GPO repeal, cuts to federal benefits, or securing and improving cost-ofliving adjustments provide insight into whether a candidate will likely account for federal retiree and worker concerns in the future. We also assess an

NARFE-PAC Allies in Congress

In 2023, NARFE supported

238 incumbents with an average contribution of $2,113

There are

469 seats up for election in 2024: 435 House seats 34 Senate seats

Have the Biggest Impact: Sign Up for Annuity Withholding Today

Are you a current NARFE-PAC monthly sustainer via credit card? Or are you simply interested in becoming one of our top supporters? Here’s your opportunity to have your contributions go further with our annuity withholding option. Annuity withholding allows you to contribute to the PAC monthly directly from your federal annuity and is the most efficient way to give to the PAC.

Whether you are a new sustainer or a current monthly sustainer via credit card and interested in switching to annuity withholding, you can quickly start withholding your annuity by registering at www.narfe.org/pac-sustainer.

Visit the link to receive instructions to authorize the withholding on the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Retirement Services Online website. You can also call OPM at 1-888-767-6738 to set up the withholding; just be sure to let NARFE know by giving us a call afterwards at 1-800-456-8410, option 3, so we can update your NARFE member account.

incumbent’s interactions with NARFE locally and nationally. Is the candidate willing to listen to our concerns and account for our views, even if we don’t see eye to eye on every issue completely?

What Can I Do to Help?

Great question! The easiest way to help is by sending in a contribution, especially this March during NARFE-PAC Month. Please consider contributing either online on NARFE’s website at www.narfe.org or through the mail using the contribution form included in this magazine. Doing so is quick and easy and will make sure the PAC has the funds to support our allies in Congress.

Want to be an even stronger supporter of the PAC? Sign up to become a NARFE-PAC sustainer and contribute monthly to the PAC. Sustainers form the backbone of NARFE-PAC, and contributions can be made directly from your annuity or through a credit card.

NARFE-PAC sustainers can forego their credit card information for the convenience and efficiency of an annuity withholding. Annuity withholding allows you to contribute to the PAC monthly directly from your federal annuity, and it is the most efficient way to give to the PAC.

You can quickly start or switch to withholding your annuity by registering at www.narfe.org/pacsustainer. Visit the link to receive instructions to authorize the withholding on the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Retirement Services Online website. You can also call OPM at 1-888-767-6738 to set up the withholding; just be sure to let NARFE know by giving us a call afterward at 1-800-4568410, option 3, so we can update your NARFE member account.

In addition to contributing, there are other things that you can do to show support. One of the best ways to grow the PAC is by speaking about it and encouraging your fellow members to contribute. This is an easy way to boost your support, and it goes a long way in raising awareness of the vital work of the PAC. Make mention of the PAC at your next NARFE event and encourage everyone to contribute. Tell them to read this article so they can find out more.

NARFE-PAC goals for the 2023-2024 election cycle:

We need your assistance to achieve these goals, so please consider contributing to NARFE-PAC today.

q

Signature:

Date:

To comply with federal law, we must use our best efforts to obtain, maintain and submit the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 each calendar year. NARFE-PAC is for the benefit of political candidates and activities on a national level. NARFE members have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal, and NARFE will neither favor nor disadvantage anyone based on the amount of a contribution or failure to make a voluntary contribution. The suggested amounts are only suggestions and not enforceable. Only members of NARFE may contribute to the PAC.

from non-members will be returned. NARFE-PAC contributions are not

for federal income tax purposes.

How NARFE-PAC Makes

Disbursement Decisions

NARFE-PAC uses a consultative process to determine which candidates receive NARFEPAC funds. Several factors are considered, including the candidate’s support of NARFE issues, as indicated primarily through their NARFE voting record.

The recommendation of the federation is also critical in the decision-making process.

Local input is provided by the federation NARFE-PAC coordinator, who is responsible for making a federation recommendation after gathering the NARFE-related thoughts of local chapters. Recommendations should consider the amount and quality of communication with the candidate, along with the candidate’s accessibility to NARFE members.

Other considerations include the influence a legislator can exert in support of NARFE’s goals through committee assignments and leadership positions, the competitiveness of the race, and the overall NARFE-PAC budget. Party affiliation is not a factor used in the decision-making process.

After weighing these considerations, final decisions are made by the NARFE-PAC Board, which is comprised of the two elected national officers and NARFE’s staff vice president of policy and programs.

NARFE-PAC also wants to connect more members with their lawmakers so they can better understand our issues. We’ve set and met goals to increase these interactions and hope to continue that successful trend. If you hear of a fundraiser event for your member of Congress, send word to your chapter NARFE-PAC chair so that information can reach NARFE’s advocacy department. With proper approval, you and other NARFE members can attend an event and represent NARFE. You’ll gain the vital facetime with lawmakers to ensure their elected representatives recognize NARFE’s presence in the district or state.

NARFE-PAC also relies on information from our federations before making a disbursement. If you have interacted with your lawmaker or a candidate, share that information with your chapter PAC chair. NARFE-PAC uses a consultative process to help determine whether a campaign deserves funds, and every bit of information is helpful. You play a critical role in electing Fed-friendly lawmakers.

A Time For Urgency

Simply put, NARFE-PAC can’t do it without you. If the PAC reaches its goals and helps elect fed-friendly lawmakers in 2024, we need NARFE members to contribute and show support. It starts with you. Uncertain times call for bold leadership and definitive action. Choose both by supporting the PAC today.

The election will be here before you know it. The PAC’s support can now work in our favor come election day. Help protect your earned pay and benefits by contributing any amount you can send. Thank you for supporting NARFE-PAC and taking a stand for what you have earned.

—KHAMARE GARNER, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

NARFE’S BIENNIAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

AUGUST 18-20

HYATT REGENCY ST. LOUIS AT THE ARCH

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

JOIN US August 18-20, 2024, in St. Louis, MO, for FEDcon24, NARFE’s biennial national training conference.

The effort to advance NARFE’s mission starts with you.

Gain the knowledge necessary to LEARN how to make the most of your benefits, ADVOCATE to protect those earned benefits, and LEAD the organization that defends them into the future.

Register today at fedcon.narfe.org to take advantage of the early bird discount.

LEARN. ADVOCATE. LEAD.

MOVING GOVERNMENT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE FORWARD

BY DAVID TOBENKIN

The federal government is arguably one of the largest, most complex service delivery organizations in the world, responsible for a wide range of services, including:

• The Transportation Security Administration’s screening of more than 2 million airline passengers per day.

• Medicare’s coverage of more than 60 million people.

• Management of federal student loans for more than 40 million people.

Sometimes interactions with the federal government fall short of expectations. A major push is underway for agencies to improve the services they provide to the public, with some already showing notable improvements to the customer journey.

VA Makes Strides in Service

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made significant progress in customer service, says Amber Chaudhry, senior manager of customer experience at the Partnership for Public Service.

She is the former acting chief experience officer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The VA faces the enormous task of tending to the needs of 9 million veterans each year through its Veterans’ Health Administration health care network. In 2014, the agency was rocked by a scandal when it was discovered that its 14-day patient care wait time goal was far from achieved, and patient wait time records were falsified.

In 2018, the VA made customer experience its top priority through its Veterans Experience Office. Among its improvements, the VA revamped its website, established a single phone number to access benefits and services, introduced the AskVA online customer service system to streamline frequently asked questions, and deployed a chatbot to help customers find needed information more easily, Chaudhry noted.

In 2022, the VA reported that AskVA successfully resolved 98% of inquiries received through its new system, which allowed the agency to improve veterans’ trust in the VA from 55% in 2016 to nearly 80% in 2023, Chaudhry added.

“In fact, VA centers are providing better experiences than their private-sector counterparts,” she said.

The VA publishes trust scores each quarter at www.VA.gov/trust.

Rising Expectations

For more than 10 years, the Partnership tracked high-impact services across the federal government through annual customer experience reports. While every agency’s efforts must be examined on their own merits, there are some general trends, said Chaudhry, citing the Partnership/Accenture December 2022 report, “Designing a Government for the People: Collaborative Approaches to Federal Customer Experience.”

The gains from existing customer experience investments and reforms became apparent during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as agencies

demonstrated the ability to serve customers even as businesses and offices shut down, the report noted. However, despite these achievements and customer experience improvements at the VA and some other agencies, there are still areas where services could be improved. The federal government is attempting to address that by moving toward a broader standard of customer service called customer experience, noted Chaudhry.

“The American public is now comparing their experiences with the government with privatesector entities and wondering why the government lags,” she said. “Now agencies are taking a much more holistic approach by looking at the end-toend journey and using human-centered design methodologies to improve service delivery. The term ‘customer experience’ is the sum of all interactions a person might have with an organization throughout the lifecycle of that relationship.”

In December 2021, the Biden Administration issued a customer experience executive order on “Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government.” The document stressed the need for the federal government to design and deliver services in a more transparent and efficient manner that people of all abilities can navigate.

Do you have a government customer experience story you want to share with NARFE? Visit narfe.org/fedhub-customer-service to share your story on FEDHub.

The administration increased the visibility of its customer experience initiatives by setting up an online dashboard providing measurement of customer satisfaction and trust at https://www. performance.gov/cx/index.html.

Similar to the VA priorities and other agencies mentioned in this story, many are actively trying to implement administration recommendations and improve the customer experiences provided to the American public.

Financial and Political Pressures

Adequate financial resources often determine the level of customer service that can be provided, and agency funding is often insufficient to maintain an optimal customer experience. That is particularly the case where funding is stymied by politicizing an agency’s mission.

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a prime example of such politicization. The IRS has been perennially underfunded and understaffed, often being targeted by politicized legislation that advocates say has harmed its ability to carry out its mission.

In 2022, matters changed after Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which allowed for increased customer experience spending.

“The funding provided by Congress … has already allowed us to make improvements in many areas, including our levels of service on the phones and in person during the 2023 filing season,” said Daniel Werfel, IRS commissioner, in testimony October 24, 2023, before the House Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce. “In tandem with the IRS’s annual discretionary budget, this critical, sustained multiyear funding will allow the agency to transform its operations—through improved taxpayer service, smarter enforcement, upgraded technology and better data security.”

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Werfel noted a vast increase in IRS customer service spending, including hiring more than 5,000 additional customer service representatives (CSR) for toll-free phone lines. At the time, CSRs had already answered more than 15 million calls in 2023, which was 6.5 million more calls than the previous year, he said.

“The American public is now comparing their experiences with the government with private sector entities and wondering why the government lags.”

– AMBER CHAUDHRY, senior manager of customer experience at the Partnership for Public Service.

packages in less than three days. That noted, the Postal Service is also working hard to correct service-related issues in limited areas across the nation through hiring initiatives and improving operational efficiency.”

Lott added USPS has already reversed years of declining reliability and is close to meeting the primary objective of 95% on-time performance across all mail types.

“We have also stabilized our workforce by converting over 150,000 pre-career workers into career positions,” she added.

Service performance in 2023 still ranks as middling compared with previous years, according to the USPS Office of Inspector General.

Customer Service Best Practices

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is another agency that has faced perennial underfunding, in part because USPS generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services. Plus, its revenue has been diminished by other forms of communication and private competitors. The USPS weathered past criticisms of its public services, including repeated increases in the price of postage stamps.

USPS is in its third year of the Delivering for America (DFA) plan, a 10-year initiative to return the organization to financial sustainability and achieve service excellence while maintaining universal six-day mail delivery and expanding seven-day package delivery.

“Throughout 2023, the Postal Service has maintained strong service performance while engaging in numerous transformational initiatives across the organization and the country,” said Felicia Lott, USPS senior public relations representative. “Due to ongoing implementation of the Delivering for America strategic plan, 98% of the nation’s population currently receives their mail and

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a consumer protection agency created in 2011, emphasizes consumer service and responsiveness in all its activities, said Raul Cisneros, public affairs specialist.

“Public engagement is key to our work at the CFPB, whether that’s hearing directly from consumers about the challenges they face in the marketplace, from advocacy groups who surface concerns about emerging issues, or from industry players who are affected by the laws and regulations we enforce,” he said. “Our organizational structure reflects that commitment. One of the largest offices within the CFPB is the Office of Consumer Response, which accepts consumer complaints about financial institutions, works to get responses from companies, and publishes the online Consumer Complaint Database on our website.”

The agency publishes an annual Consumer Response Annual Report. In 2022, the CFPB received approximately 1,287,000 consumer complaints and sent more than 820,000 complaints to approximately 3,200 companies for review and response.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

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The Biden Administration’s 2021 executive order focused on 5 key life events that require interaction with the government:

→ Approaching retirement

→ Recovering from a disaster

→ Navigating transition from active duty to civilian life

→ Birth and early childhood for lowincome mothers and children

→ Facing a financial shock and becoming newly eligible for critical support programs

provides health coverage to more than 160 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace, notes a CMS spokesperson.

“CMS has long worked to improve the customer experience of the Medicare population by responding to questions from people with Medicare, their families, and caregivers,” noted a CMS spokesperson.

The CMS call line, 1-800-MEDICARE, has been in operation since 2003 and handles more than 25 million customer inquiries a year across multiple customer contact channels, such as telephone, mail, email, TDD/TYY, fax, and online chat, enabling multi-channel access and 24/7 customer service. In addition to supporting English and Spanish, 1-800-MEDICARE helps in more than 200 languages through an interpretation and translation service.

“Customer service is integral to our program and, historically, 1-800-MEDICARE customer satisfaction scores are among the highest in the federal government, averaging 95% over the last decade,” the spokesperson added.

A Kaiser Family Foundation October 2023 report found that overall, people with Medicare are more satisfied with their health insurance coverage than adults with other types of insurance.

Technology Challenges

Progress at many agencies hinges upon investing in and successfully implementing technology. That is a top priority at the IRS.

“Work is already underway on many improvements we expect to make over the next several years,” Werfel said. “At the top of our list is to greatly expand scanning of paper returns to create a ‘digital IRS.’ Along those lines, we recently announced the Paperless Processing Initiative. Our goal under this initiative is for the IRS to achieve paperless processing by the 2025 filing season, which means digitalizing all returns filed on paper as soon as the IRS receives them.”

Newer forms of customer service are emerging. Chatbots employing artificial intelligence are being deployed throughout the federal government with direct interfaces to the public. This addition to customer experience aims to reduce staffing costs and allows more rapid responses to basic questions.

Since the pandemic, federal agencies have worked to engage more citizens using artificial intelligence to help with the spike of people seeking information and services. In 2023, President Joe Biden issued an AI executive order that pushes agencies to reduce AI-related risks while leaning into innovation. Chatbots continue to handle responses to customer inquiries. They most commonly appear as a small chat box on the website where you are typing your customer question. Over time, these chatbot replies will likely become more and more detailed to mimic human conversation.

Moving ahead, balancing automation with personalized, human-centered and dedicated resources to a citizen’s experience interacting with federal agencies will remain an ongoing discussion not only for the government but also for global customer support across industries.

—DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC, AREA.

Active and Retired Federal Employees–Join NARFE (or Renew) Today!

The only organization dedicated solely to protecting and preserving the benefits of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE informs you of any developments and proposals that affect your compensation, retirement and health benefits, AND provides clear answers to your questions.

Who Should Join NARFE?

If your future security is tied to federal retirement benefits—federal retirees, current employees, spouses and individual survivors—you should join NARFE. Membership expiring? Renew now!

NARFE MEMBER BENEFITS

• Understand benefit changes and key aspects to stay on top of with NARFE’s monthly webinars, held on a variety of topics such as TSP’s, health insurance options and long term care insurance updates

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• Topical and robust articles on new legislation, and topics like car buying tips and finding your path in retirement, and the ever popular Q&A section addressing your most burning benefit questions in NARFE Magazine

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• Discounts on popular national brands with NARFE Perks

• Powerful advocacy and alerts to take action on important legislation pending in Congress and our advocacy team that protects your benefits every day!

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AA New Option for Excess Money in a 529 Savings Plan

529 savings plan is known for its tax advantages, making it a popular choice among parents and grandparents saving for a child’s education. However, when a 529 is used for non-qualified expenses, the tax advantages may morph into an adverse tax situation, creating a dilemma for 529 owners when money is left over. Fortunately, new rules, which went into effect this year, may help relieve some of the pain when excess money exists in a 529.

The primary appeal of a 529 is tax-free growth when the 529 is used for qualified education expenses. When 529s were first rolled out, only certain college expenses were considered qualified education expenses.

Then, in 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expanded the definition to include qualified tuition expenses for K-12 education (subject to a $10,000 lifetime limit). In 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act expanded the use of 529s further to include qualified expenses of apprenticeship programs and up to $10,000 per beneficiary to pay down student debt.

Even with the expanded potential of a 529, it’s still possible for money to remain in a 529 after a beneficiary has completed their education career.

If a 529 owner uses the excess funds for anything other than qualified education expenses, any earnings associated with a distribution may be subject to income tax and a 10% penalty.

When money goes unused in a 529, owners can change the

EVEN WITH THE EXPANDED POTENTIAL OF A 529, IT’S STILL POSSIBLE FOR MONEY TO REMAIN IN A 529 AFTER A BENEFICIARY HAS COMPLETED THEIR EDUCATION CAREER.

beneficiary of a 529, without tax consequences, to another qualifying family member. As of January 2024, 529 owners now have another choice for avoiding federal income taxes and penalties on the earnings when funds remain in a 529. The SECURE Act 2.0, passed in December of 2022, allows 529 owners to convert money from a 529 tax-free to a Roth IRA owned by the 529 beneficiary.

Many good things in life come with strings attached,

and considering the rules and restrictions regarding a 529 to Roth IRA conversion, this is no exception. For starters, there’s a $35,000 lifetime limit per beneficiary, and a 529 owner may not convert the entire $35,000 in one fell swoop. Instead, any 529 to Roth IRA conversion is subject to the annual Roth IRA contribution limit.

For example, the Roth IRA contribution limit for 2024 is $7,000, which means the maximum amount a 529 owner may convert this year is $7,000. Assuming no inflation adjustments to the contribution limit, it will take 529 owners five years to convert the maximum of $35,000 to a Roth IRA.

While Roth IRA contributions are prohibited when a taxpayer’s income exceeds certain limits, a 529 to Roth IRA conversion is not subject to those income limits. However, a 529 beneficiary must have eligible compensation income at least equal to the amount being converted from the 529 to the Roth IRA.

For example, suppose a 529 owner wants to convert $7,000 in 2024 to the 529 beneficiary’s Roth IRA. The beneficiary must have at least $7,000 of eligible compensation income in this case. If the beneficiary has less, say, $5,000 of qualified income, then the conversion will be limited to $5,000.

It’s also important to note that any amount converted from a 529 reduces the amount, dollar-for-dollar, the 529 beneficiary may contribute to

their Roth IRA. For example, if the 529 owner converts $5,000 to the 529 beneficiary’s Roth IRA this year, the beneficiary could only contribute $2,000 to her Roth IRA.

It’s also important to note that the 529 must be held for the designated beneficiary for at least 15 years before any conversion can take place. If the first 529 for a beneficiary is opened in 2024, the earliest possible year for a conversion will be 2039.

Bear in mind that the rules expanding 529s’ use for K-12 tuition expenses, student loans, and conversions to Roth IRAs are federal laws. As such, certain states may not follow federal regulations and levy taxes on withdrawals used for these purposes. For example, California, Colorado, Illinois,

Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, and Oregon do not consider K-12 education expenses to be qualified.

The option to convert money from a 529 to a Roth IRA is a welcome addition and may provide some relief to those who over-saved in a 529.

MARK A. KEEN, CFP®, PARTNER, KEEN & POCOCK. SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE, INC. (SFA), MEMBER FINRA/SIPC. ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT LLC AND SFA.

MARK KEEN IS A REGISTERED PRINCIPAL OF SFA AND AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE OF SFA AND STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT, LLC. SFA AND STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT ARE AFFILIATED THROUGH COMMON OWNERSHIP BUT OTHERWISE

UNAFFILIATED WITH KEEN & POCOCK. NEITHER STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT NOR SFA PROVIDE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE.

EFive New Grants Awarded for Alzheimer’s Research

very year, the NARFE-Alzheimer’s National Committee determines which research projects will be awarded grants from the NARFE-Alzheimer’s Research Fund.

NARFE has awarded 94 research grants since the NARFE/ Alzheimer’s Partnership began in 1985. In fiscal year 2023, NARFE members donated $1,220,735.00 to the fund. Therefore, at the NARFE Alzheimer’s National Annual Training meeting held November 8-9, the committee awarded two special projects and three new grants totaling $1,220,735.00. This year’s grants are awarded to:

• Alzheimer’s Network for Treatment and Diagnostics (ALZ-NET), $400,000. It is the first network explicitly developed to help clinicians and scientists collect and use real-world data to improve brain health outcomes.

The Alzheimer’s Association has made a significant commitment to launch and sustain ALZ-NET, including its expansion into the broader landscape of clinical data and informatics. In this new era of Alzheimer’s treatment, ALZ-NET will become a single source of centralized, comprehensive, and research-grade longitudinal data spanning the spectrum of the disease continuum, from those at risk to individuals being evaluated for receiving novel Federal Drug Administration (FDA)-approval treatments.

“ALZ-NET is a long-term investment for the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., the association’s chief science officer and

co-principal investigator for ALZ-NET. Carrillo has gathered leaders, including Gil D. Rabinovici, M.D., Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, and Michael S. Rafii, M.D., Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, to partner on the implementation of ALZ-NET.

The ALZ-NET will include deeper clinical data on treatment considerations and decisions and expand to capture real-world data from providers, electronic health records and patients.

• The Alzheimer’s Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER), $400,000, will conduct one of the world’s most extensive clinical trials designed to evaluate whether lifestyle interventions that simultaneously target many risk factors can protect cognitive function in older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline.

About 40% of all dementia cases worldwide are estimated to be preventable by addressing modifiable factors. A growing population of new scientific evidence suggests that people can take some positive steps to protect their memory and thinking. Participants in the Finnish Geriatric Intervention

Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) showed improvements in memory and other thinking skills after just two years of a lifestyle change. This included a healthier diet, more exercise, increased intellectual and social stimulation, and better heart and vascular health management.

This study is building on the last decade of scientific advancement with U.S. POINTER while expanding on the lessons learned in FINGER. It will evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in Americans from a wide range of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds who are at increased risk of developing memory decline and dementia.

• Danielle Gulick, Ph.D., 2023 Alzheimer’s Association research grant, University of South Florida Tampa, Fla., $200,000; fully sponsored over three years for her research titled “How does chronic alcohol use impact Alzheimer’s risk?”

This study will show how chronic alcohol exposure can damage brain cells and reduce brain size. People with alcohol use disorders are at an increased risk of developing brain changes that can contribute to cognitive decline.

Gulick’s team will monitor the behavior and brain activity of mice who experienced constant alcohol exposure before birth. Then, the researchers will measure beta-amyloid and tau levels in brain tissue collected

from mice. Next, Gulick’s team will perform similar analyses in genetically modified mice who consume alcohol daily for two-week periods as young adults, which will serve as a model of binge drinking behavior. Her goal is to determine the type of molecular processes that are most impacted by chronic alcohol exposure.

• Darlingtina Esiaka, Ph.D., 2023 Alzheimer’s Association research fellowship to promote diversity, Rutgers University Biological, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey, $159,452 over two years (fully sponsored) for a study titled “Sleep and Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Among Older African-Americans.”

Could inadequate sleep increase the likelihood of Black individuals developing Alzheimer’s more than white individuals? Esiaka and colleagues will work to investigate the links between poor sleep and dementia risk in Black Americans. They will also work to investigate the links between poor sleep and dementia risk in Black Americans.

About 80 Black individuals (40 male and 40 female) aged 55 and older will be recruited for the study. The researchers will also use a home-based electroencephalography (EEG) system to monitor brain activity during sleep. They will assess the overall health, cognitive ability, exposure to social

determinants of health (such as poor housing or discrimination), brain structure and function.

• Enmanuel Perez, M.D., Ph.D., 2023 Alzheimer’s Association clinician scientist fellowship to promote diversity, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo., is conducting a study titled “Effect of Glial ApoE on TBI and Tau-mediated Neurodegeneration,” $61,283 out of $250,000 (partial sponsorship)

The study focuses on how APOE, produced by support cells, affects Alzheimer’s brain changes after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Perez and his colleagues aim to investigate the role of APOE in nerve cell death after TBI. They will try and use genetically engineered Alzheimer’s-like mice that contain APOE and induce different types of TBI.

Perez and his colleagues will examine the producers of APOE, which are support cells called astrocytes, and microglia, the immune cells in the brain, on whether its APOE production contributes to nerve cell death in Alzheimer ’s-like mice. The specific contribution of APOE produced by microglia to brain cell death following TBI is not understood.

Get More Involved With NARFE Today!

You’ve just joined or NARFE or renewed your membership—now what? Here are three ways to get involved so you can get more out of your membership.

• Looking to get to know feds in your area? NARFE has you covered! Join a local chapter, where you can take part in local advocacy activities, informative meetings and chances to connect with like-minded civil servants. Visit www.narfe.org/chapters to find the chapters in your area, then call 800-456-8410 to join today! Plus, if you’re a new member, your chapter dues are free for the first year.

• Once you’ve connected with your new chapter, it’s time to engage with other NARFE members across your state -- that’s where your federation comes in. NARFE has 54 federations representing all U.S. states, plus Puerto Rico, Guam, Panama and the Philippines. Federations are composed of both members of chapters and national-only members. You can engage with other members from your state in

your federation’s community on FEDHub. To get started, login at fedhub.narfe.org with the same username and password you use for the NARFE website. Once there, click on “Communities” in the menu bar, and go to “My Communities.” You have automatically been assigned to your federation’s community, so it will show up in your list of communities. Got a question about FEDHub? Reach out to communications@narfe.org.

• Grassroots advocacy is a pillar of NARFE’s mission and is fundamental to affecting positive change. A great first step in being a voice for NARFE and your earned benefits is to educate yourself about the issues. You can view NARFE’s grassroots advocacy resources at www.narfe.org/ grassroots to learn how you can make a difference. You can also send letters to your

members of Congress about issues that matter to the federal community through NARFE’s Legislative Action Center. Visit www.narfe.org/ action to get started! We appreciate your membership, and we look forward to your increased involvement.

—BY NORA MACDONALD, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE 2024 NARFE-FEEA SCHOLARSHIPS

The 2024 NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Program is open to high school seniors only. Applicants must be children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of NARFE members. Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. ET March 14. For more information and to access the application, visit www.feea.org/our-programs/scholarships/.

NARFE Director of Membership Engagement Nora MacDonald poses with Leo, a U.S. Capital Police dog, while recruiting at a Capitol Police health fair during Open Season in December. Make sure to post photos of chapter activities on social and tag NARFE!

Enclosed is

Become a Silver Circle Contributor

NARFE offers members a way to give to the association’s General Fund through its donor recognition program, the Silver Circle.

Your contribution to the Silver Circle supports the direct work of NARFE as we continue to provide you resources and advocacy that you rely on and that member dues alone cannot support. When you donate to the Silver Circle, you are ensuring that NARFE has the resources to continue to fight for the financial security and earned benefits for you and the federal community.

NARFE appreciates all financial support you provide to us and would like to recognize you for your generous contributions to our cause.

Donate now to the Silver Circle at narfe.org/silvercircle.

With NARFE’s thanks, you will receive:

• A Silver Circle pin and recognition on NARFE.ORG with a donation of $100 or more.

• A Silver Circle pin, your name plate placed on the Silver Circle plaque at NARFE Headquarters, recognition on NARFE.ORG and recognition at the NARFE yearly conference with a donation of $1,000 or more.

To learn more about the Silver Circle donor recognition program or how to recommend an outstanding NARFE member to the Silver Circle, please visit www.narfe.org/silvercircle or email us at donatenow@narfe.org

Mrs. q Miss q Ms.

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2023 Membership Recruitment Challenge Update

After sorting through our tally from the 2023 Fall Membership Challenge, NARFE is proud to announce that a total of 231 participating recruiters brought in 322 new members, led by Marianne P. Polo. Polo, a member of Chapter 0471 of Nassau County, NY, recruited 20 new members.

Here’s a list of the 18 members who recruited three or more new members during the drive:

• Marianne P. Polo, 20*

• M. Colleen Bonar, 7

• Ronald Richey, 6*

• Yoggi Riley, 6*

• Joni L. Montroy, 5

• Eileen L. Baldwin, 4*

• Beatrice Bull, 4

• Wanda C. Galbraith, 4

• George R. Popp, 4

• Linda A. Suchocki, 4

• Elizabeth Benson, 3

• Phyllis N. Bryan, 3

* Top recruiter during at least one month of the drive

Thanks so much for your dedication in sustaining our membership!

—BY NORA MACDONALD, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT

2024 CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Information as of January 15, 2024:

ILLINOIS: conference September 17-19, Thelma Keller Convention Center, 1202 N. Keller Drive, Effingham. Contact Convention Chair Linda Glasgow, glasgowljg43@aol.com, or visit www.narfe.net/site/IL/ for more information.

IOWA: conference September 17-18, Meskwake Conference Center, Tama. Contact Federation President Dorman Otte, dormanotte@gmail.com, for information.

KANSAS: conference April 29-30, Manhattan. Federation election March 1-April 10. Contact Federation President John Ourada, john.ourada@ cox.net, or visit https://www.narfe.org/site/ks/ for information.

MASSACHUSETTS: virtual conference May 2. Contact Massachusetts Federation Secretary Gene Holt, wgholtjr@verizon.net, or visit www.narfe.net/ma for information.

MICHIGAN: conference May 21-23, Tawas Bay Beach Resort & Conference Center, 300 E Bay St, East Tawas. In-person election of Federation officers will be conducted May 22. Contact Federation President Joseph Desira, videojoe2@yahoo.com, for information.

NORTH CAROLINA: annual meeting April 23-25, Hyatt Place Durham/Southpoint, 7840 NC 751 HWY, Durham. Contact Federation President Thomas E. Link, link.thom@gmail.com, or visit www.narfe.org/ ncnarfe-conference-registration for information.

• Ruthann C. Couch, 3

• William A. Douglas, 3

• Sondra K. Gartner, 3

• Harold F. Kehr, 3

• Joseph J. Kowalik, 3

• Joyce K. Matsuo, 3

OREGON: conference May 12-14, Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn, 3019 N Coast Hwy, Newport. Contact Federation President Ruthann Couch, couchruthanngene@centurylink.net, for information. Election April 1-May 1: Ballots will be available no later than April 1, 2024, for download on the Oregon Federation FEDHub community. Members can also request a ballot by contacting Oregon Federation Secretary Colleen Hewes, hewcol@gmail.com, 541-379-6858 or 70492 Wild Rose Ln, Pendleton, OR 97801-7010.

PENNSYLVANIA: conference and general membership meeting May 19-24, Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg. Contact Federation President Richard Zuck, rzuck@ neo.rr.com, or visit www.narfe.net/site/PA/ for information.

SOUTH CAROLINA: virtual meeting March 20. Contact Federation President Patricia Whitely, pwhitely@sc.rr.com or 843-408-3509, or visit www.scnarfe.org for information.

TENNESSEE: annual meeting April 29-May 1, Ramada by Wyndham Lebanon, 704 S Cumberland St, Lebanon. Contact Federation Secretary Karen Voshel, kykopp@apex.net, for more information.

VIRGINIA: conference and annual election April 7-10, Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center, 710 S Main St, Harrisonburg. Contact Jim Little, 2024Conference@vanarfe.org (request ballots/ registration forms by mail: 11759 Buckley Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192-5725) or visit www.vanarfe. org/conference2024 for information.

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Federal Benefits Institute Manager Joins NARFE

Nicole Blackstone has joined NARFE as the Federal Benefits Institute program manager, developing the current offerings of NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute and brainstorming new resources we can provide to serve our members best.

With two Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and sociology from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University, Nicole brings a solid academic foundation for strategic programming that puts people first. Nicole’s career journey has been marked by a diverse range of experiences in service, including work in a legislative office, program coordination at a non-profit, and program management at a political consultancy.

Following graduation, Nicole left Kentucky for Washington, D.C., where she joined a non-profit called Operation Homefront, which sought to create stronger, more stable, and more secure military families. Nicole implemented three key program areas in this role: Star-Spangled Baby Showers, Back-to-School Brigade, and Holiday Meals for the Military. During her time there, Nicole was able to equip more than 100 expectant mothers with the necessities to prepare for their new arrival, provide more than 6,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to K-12 military children, and gift more than 5,000 military families a complete holiday meal. Looking back on her time there, Nicole is most grateful to have had the opportunity to connect

with the families she served, many of whom were experiencing deployment, and appreciated the acts of kindness shown to them while their service members sacrificed for the nation.

Nicole then pursued another of her service-minded interests and transitioned to health equity, acknowledging the disparity between demographics when accessing trusted health-related resources. In a time where public distrust in health institutions was reaching new highs and vaccine rates were reaching new lows, Nicole worked in partnership with the Infectious Disease Prevention Network (IDPN) to target trusted messengers in vulnerable communities, develop strategic plans to utilize these messengers in combating vaccine hesitancy and implement programming that provided health-related education, as well as resources to countless families in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Florida. In this critical role, Nicole was able to coordinate with health professionals to provide free vaccines, school physicals, and annual exams to the members of these communities, many of whom are low-income, minority, or undocumented. Through a partnership with trusted messengers, Nicole was able to engage at a personal level with individual members of the communities. They told her stories of being turned away from free clinics that had reached capacity, of not being able to go to doctors’ offices because of financial insecurity, and of being too scared to reach out to assistance programs for fear of deportation. As the daughter of an immigrant,

Nicole considers her service with IDPN to be the proudest accomplishment she has had to date.

During these two experiences, Nicole realized she wanted to leave a legacy of bettering the lives of those around her, which brought her to NARFE. In her role at NARFE, Nicole aims to bring her service-minded experience and programmatic strengths to the forefront, focusing on members’ needs as she develops new and innovative ways to ease our members’ navigation of benefits and retirement. Her passion for meeting people where they are and ensuring her service is client-guided aligns perfectly with NARFE’s mission to promote the general welfare of its members.

In her spare time, Nicole is an avid reader, a proud aunt, and a regular at the dog park with her Australian Shepherd, Nova. As a Kentucky native, Nicole can always be found cheering on the Wildcats during any sports season.

“I am honored to join NARFE and assist its members in understanding, navigating, and feeling confident in their retirement,” she says. “After careers of faithful federal service, our members deserve an organization that simplifies retirement so that they can enjoy it.”

—BY MATTHEW SANDERSON, CONTENT MANAGER

What is dues withholding?

NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program

It is a dues-payment method available to retired NARFE members, their spouses and annuitant survivors giving them the option to have their annual NARFE membership dues deducted from their annuities each month.

Advantages

• Save more than 10% off your annual NARFE dues

• Sign up your spouse and double your savings

• You’ll never get another dues reminder from us

• Your monthly payment is affordable and convenient

• You may cancel your dues withholding at any time

NARFE

How does it work?

One-twelfth of your total dues is automatically deducted from your monthly annuity. Your monthly deduction is determined by the following formula:

($42 NARFE dues ÷ 12) + (Chapter dues - if applicable ÷ 12) = total monthly deduction

How do I sign up?

Complete the Dues Withholding Application below. Send no payment. It may take 60 to 90 days before auto-deduction starts. Your membership starts as soon as your application is received. To learn more about dues withholding, call 800-456-8410

Dues Withholding Application for NARFE Members who are Retirees, Spouses of Retirees or Annuitant Survivors

STOP! Complete this section ONLY if you are signing up for Dues Withholding. If so, DO NOT send payment

o YES. I want to enroll in NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program. NARFE dues of $42* and chapter dues, if applicable, to be withheld annually. (*Dues-withholding members save more than 10% off the regular NARFE dues rate.)

Social Security Number (9-digit number)

– –

o

Mr. o Mrs. o Miss o Ms.

Full Name

Street Address

Apt./Unit

City

State ___________ ZIP

Phone (__________)

Email

Date of Birth _________ /_________ /

Civil Service Annuity Number

C S

– – –

(Include prefix, CSA or CSF) (Include any applicable suffix)

NARFE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

NARFE Membership ID

NARFE Chapter Number

o YES. I also authorize my (NARFE member) spouse’s dues to be withheld from my annuity. (Additional annual dues of $42 and chapter dues, if applicable, to be withheld annually. If YES, enter spouse’s information below.)

Spouse’s Name

Spouse’s Membership ID

Spouse’s Email

AUTHORIZATION (Withholding will begin in 60-90 days). Send NO PAYMENT with Dues Withholding Application!

I authorize the United States Office of Personnel Management to make appropriate deductions from my annuity payments, not to exceed the amount certified by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association as the amount of dues for which I am annually obligated, in accordance with elections I made above, and to pay the deducted sum to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). This authorization shall also apply to any and all dues changes certified by NARFE membership in accordance with elections I made. Please allow 60-90 days for processing.

I understand that this authorization shall be valid until NARFE receives and processes my written notice of cancellation in accordance with its agreement with the Office of Personnel Management and that any disputes regarding this authorization shall be a matter between NARFE and myself. I hold the Office of Personnel Management harmless for any erroneous allotment deduction made pursuant to this authorization.

Signature of Annuitant or Survivor-Annuitant Date

Dues payments and gifts or contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

BMG Money |

Use your NARFE Perks and your membership will more than pay for itself!

See how much you can save at www.NARFE.org/memberperks

PRODUCTS

https://www.narfe.org/narfe-perks-for-members/bmg-money/ BMG Money is the better loan solution for federal government employees and retirees who are working on improving their credit scores. Apply in minutes regardless of credit score with instant funding available. All credit scores are encouraged to apply with higher acceptance rates.

GE Appliances Store | Use the link below to start shopping!

Save with NARFE members-only access to the GE Appliances Store! You will enjoy up to 25% off MSRP every day on the latest in high-quality appliances. *Orders can not be shipped to P.O. boxes, APOS, Canada, Puerto Rico, HI, AK or U.S. Territories. https://www.myapstore.com/GEStore/Appliances/ Registration?AuthCode=MONARFE21

LegalShield | 410-419-7130 | Shieldbenefits.com/narfe

Whether it’s big, small or somewhere in between, you have affordable legal help when you need it. Members receive the discounted rate of $18.95 for families of 10 (two adults and up to 8 children) when you sign up through the website above.

ODP Business Solutions | 1-800-650-1222 | www.officediscounts.org/narfe

Because you’re a member of NARFE, you now have access to exclusive members only discounts at ODP Business Solutions (previously Office Depot/Office Max). Members save up to 75% off on ODP Business Solutions Best Value list of preferred products and can take advantage of products discounted off the officedepot.com regular prices. Restrictions may apply so visit officediscounts.org/narfe for details. Product and service discounts may no longer be available for in-store purchases.

Purchasing Power | www.PurchasingPower.com/NARFE

While not a discount program, Purchasing Power is an exclusive purchase program helps members buy brand-name computers, electronics, appliances and furniture via annuity allotment when cash is not an option. No credit check or down payments.

WELLNESS

Active&Fit Direct | https://www.narfe.org/narfe-perks-for-members/activefit-direct/

Stay active from anywhere for $28/mo. Active&Fit Direct includes 12,200+ Gyms, 9,300+ On-Demand Videos and 1:1 Well-Being Coaching. A fitness program with no annual fees and no long-term contracts. Switch gyms anytime. Membership options for your spouse. No Enrollment Fee With Promo Code: FALLFITNESS

Brookdale Senior Living Communities | 877-713-2762 | www.brookdale.com/narfe

As the largest operator of senior living communities in the US, Brookdale has over 1,000 locations all across the country. Members are eligible for 7.5% discount at Brookdale Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care communities and 10% discounts on Brookdale Private Duty Home Care. Discounts are for new move-ins/customers only.

Life Line Screening | 800-324-9906 | www.lifelinescreening.com/NARFE

Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will conduct health screenings using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood. Operator code BKHN075.

PRE-PLANNING

Neptune Society | 800-NEPTUNE (637-8863) | www.neptunesociety.com

Our prearranged plans cover all necessary expenses for one guaranteed price even if the services are not needed for 40 or 50 years. The Neptune Society offers a $100 discount to all NARFE members. *Discounted offer is not valid for residents of Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. Void Where Prohibited.

(Previously Office Depot/Office Max)

1-800-GOT-JUNK? | 800-468-5865 | www.narfe.org/1-800-got-junk

NARFE Members Save 10% with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Do you have old furniture, appliances, electronics, construction debris, yard waste or other junk you need to make disappear? 1-800-GOT-JUNK? can take away almost any material we can fit in our trucks, without you ever lifting a finger—all you have to do is point! Use code NARFE10 when you book. To get started, give us a call or book online.

Coleman Allied | 850-375-0917 | jack.jacobs@colemanallied.com

With over 300 agency partners and an entire team dedicated to a quality move experience, Coleman Allied provides customized discount levels for all NARFE members for Interstate moves. *The NARFE pricing only applies to moves that leave the state you currently reside in.

Wheaton World Wide Moving | 800-248-7960 | narfe@wvlcorp.com

At Wheaton, we know interstate relocation is much more than trucks and boxes. With a network of topquality agents throughout the United States, Wheaton provides peace of mind with every relocation.

TRAVEL, TRANSPORT & ENTERTAINMENT

Choice Hotels International | 800-258-2847 | www.choicehotels.com

With 6,400 hotels throughout the world, Choice Hotels offers something for everyone. As a member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00801967.

Collette Travel | 844-311-6563 | www.narfe.org/gocollette

With over 160 tours to all 7 continents and travel styles varying from small group to river cruising, Collette offers something for everyone. As a NARFE member, you receive an additional $50-$100 off all tours including sales and offers! Just use your member benefit code NARFESAVE or let our reservation agent know you are a NARFE Member when booking.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car® | Book Now! | https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe

When you’re ready to go, Enterprise Rent-A-Car makes it easy. We offer everyday low rates on a great selection of cars, trucks and vans and customers are picked up at no extra cost*. See website for exclusions.

Hotel Engine |

https://members.hotelengine.com/join/narfe175

Hotel Engine, a private booking platform, connects organizations and their members to deeply discounted hotel rates.

Member Deals |

https://memberdeals.com/narfe/?login=1

MemberDeals is your one stop for great discounts on nationwide travel and entertainment! Find exclusive discounts, special offers, preferred seating, and tickets to top attractions, theme parks, shows, sporting events, hotels, and much more. Visit MemberDeals and find savings such as up to 40% on top theme parks nationwide and preferred access tickets to your favorite concerts, sports & more!

National Car Rental® | 800-CAR-RENT | www.nationalcarrental.com

NARFE members receive great rates with National Car Rental! At National, we pride ourselves on always providing you with unsurpassed convenience and choice. https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe

INSURANCE

NARFE Insurance Services | 800-233-5764 | www.narfeinsurance.com

Designed exclusively for NARFE members, (plans administered by AMBA Administrators, Inc.) Senior Age Whole Life Insurance, Senior Term Life Insurance, Hospital Indemnity and Short Term Recovery Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, AssistPlus, Discount Prescription Plan and Pet Insurance.

Member Options | 833-378-8224 | https://www.member-options.com/narfe

Member Options Auto and Home Insurance Program - Save Money with Multiple Quotes! Get quotes from toprated insurance carriers on Auto, Home, Renters, Pet insurance and more in a matter of minutes. Answer a few simple questions online or over the phone with our licensed insurance experts to compare multiple options that meet your specific needs. To review and choose what’s best for you, go to the link above or call 833-378-8224.

ADDITIONAL PERKS

Working in the Panama Canal Zone

This 1953 photo shows chemist Earl C. Orr, who oversaw the production of the Industrial Laboratory, a main supply point for U.S.-controlled Panama Canal Zone residents. Among Orr’s many responsibilities, he made “alcoholic determinations” on beer samples to ensure the alcoholic content was not above the legal limit. The laboratory was established during the canal’s early construction, selling soda pop and ice cream to Americans recruited to help build it. Eventually, it manufactured, mixed, bottled, and re-packaged approximately 200 different types of items, including foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, insecticides, textiles, and many other items used daily by Canal Zone residents. The Canal Zone was abolished in 1979, and the U.S. and Panama jointly operated the canal until Panama regained control in 1999.

PHOTO from the Records of the National Archives, courtesy of the National Archives History Office, in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. To join, visit www.shfg.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

Before problems between the U.S. and Panamanians reached fever pitch in 1959 and 1964 with overt riots and demonstrations against U.S. presence on the Isthmus, the frayed relations over several decades mounted. The canal civilian officials were accused of discriminating against the Panamanian labor force in the Zone, while the U.S. citizens who worked in the Zone, known as “Zonians”, were seen as having colonial attitudes when dealing with Panamanians. The presence of U.S. troops and military installations was seen as an “affront” by the local Panamanians to their sovereignty. Whether Panama was or was not treated as a territory or a colony deeply colored the U.S. relations with Panama and affected social and economic interactions between the countries. Visit https://www.archives.gov/ research/foreign-policy/panamacanal.