NATIONAL DEBT/ACTION

Debt Deal Spares Fed Pay, Benefits – for Now: Thanks in part to the efforts of NARFE members, the debt limit compromise (Public Law 112-25) passed by Congress and signed into law by the President does not make any reductions in the retirement, pay or health benefits of federal employees and annuitants.

NARFE members made some 25,000 phone calls and sent over 215,000 e-mail messages to their legislators. These contacts, along with the face-to-face meetings they conducted with lawmakers and letters to the editor they submitted to their local newspapers, were key to this victory.”

I would like to thank all the efforts of the NARFE members of the Ormond Beach Chapter for their letters and their e-mail messages plus the many phone calls. THANK!

But the overall threat has NOT disappeared: Federal civilian retirement and health benefits continue to be vulnerable because the new law creates a bipartisan “Super Committee” of Congress with a mandate to cut spending by an additional $1.5 trillion before the end of this year. The new law requires Congressional Leadership to appoint lawmakers to the Super Committee by August 16, 2011.

NARFE members will continue to be asked to urge their lawmakers to defend the integrity of federal retirement and health benefits, especially those who are constituents of Super Committee members.