Bill Overview
Title: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act
Description: This bill specifies that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers who accepted an offer of employment before July 6, 2008, and who started work on or after that date, are entitled to a certain minimum retirement annuity and an exemption from the corresponding mandatory retirement requirements (i.e., proportional annuity).
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers hired around July 2008
Estimated Size: 22000
- The bill specifically targets U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers with employment offers before July 6, 2008, who started work on or after that date.
- CBP officers are a specific subset of federal government employees responsible for enforcing immigration and customs laws at U.S. borders.
- Determining the exact number of affected individuals requires data on CBP hiring during the specified period.
Reasoning
- Since the policy targets a very specific group of people—those who accepted offers before July 6, 2008, and started work on or after that date—the primary impact will be on their retirement planning and financial security.
- This group is estimated at around 22,000 individuals, which is a small fraction of the total U.S. Customs and Border Protection workforce, limiting the breadth of impact across the whole organization.
- The policy is aimed at providing financial assurance to officers nearing retirement who may have found their annuities less favorable due to timing.
- The cost considerations involve the adjustment of retirement annuities and potentially shifting mandatory retirement requirements, which have long-term implications on government pensions.
- There is no significant direct impact on other citizens working in different fields or without connections to government jobs, but potential indirect effects on government pension systems.
Simulated Interviews
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Arizona, USA)
Age: 56 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I was worried about my retirement benefits since I joined right when changes were happening.
- This policy will give me more confidence in my future, knowing I won't receive a lesser annuity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Texas, USA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The timing of my hire has always been a concern financially for retirement.
- I strongly support this policy change as it directly benefits officers like myself.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (California, USA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a relief as I was on the edge of these retirement calculations.
- I hope this sets a precedent for further protections in federal employment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (New York, USA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I just missed out, and it's been tough.
- This adjustment should have been done earlier, but better late than never.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Florida, USA)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm too new for this policy to affect me, but I see its value for veteran officers.
- Policies like these make me feel more secure in my long-term career here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Texas, USA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been stressing over what reduced annuities might mean for my family.
- This policy is exactly what I needed at this stage of my life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Michigan, USA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Unfortunately, I don't qualify for these benefits due to my start date.
- Nonetheless, I see it as a fair adjustment for those caught in the transition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Washington, USA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I wasn't affected by this policy, given my start date, but I support my colleagues who are eligible.
- Proper retirement plans are crucial for morale and retention.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Illinois, USA)
Age: 57 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been uneasy about what retirement would bring financially.
- With this new policy, I can plan my retirement with more peace of mind.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Ohio, USA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy reassures us that the government acknowledges our unique timing issues.
- It's crucial for sustaining motivation among officers nearing retirement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $550000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $600000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $750000000)
Year 3: $650000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $800000000)
Year 5: $750000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $900000000)
Year 10: $850000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The policy addresses a disparity created by an employment cutoff date, impacting officers' retirement benefits.
- Immediate costs are higher, with potential future savings unquantifiable due to the specific nature of benefits.
- The eligible group is estimated at approximately 22,000 officers, representing a targeted concern rather than a system-wide issue.