1. Federal Employee, We were where you are, We are where you will be. Come join us in preserving your Retirement Benefits. The members of NARFE

2. Who is Looking Out for Your Retirement Benefits ?

4. Founded in 1921 by 14 federal workers. Now a major force on Capitol Hill and across the nation. Highly respected legislative voice for federal workers and retirees. NARFE…

5. … 269,347 strong and 22,404 of them are Active Federal Employees. We represent 4.6 million plus federal employees and retirees. … The only association of federal workers and retirees united to preserve and improve the economic security and well-being of federal employees and their families in retirement NARFE is…

6. FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT Benefits are earned through long term government service and your contributions

7. Protect income security Protect health benefits Receive fair and equal treatment NARFE Goals:

8. “Everything we gain, everything we lose, is by act of Congress.” LEGISLATION IS A MAJOR FOCUS

9. A Top legislative staff Close contact with Congress and OPM Nationwide network of legislative activists NARFE is highly respected Because of:

10. NARFE has helped to bring you: Survivor Benefits (1950s) Creation of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (1960s) Thrift Savings Plan and Federal Employee Retirement System (1980s) Long Term Care (1990s)

11. NARFE will: Sponsor and support needed legislation Oppose adverse legislation Foster public recognition Cooperate with other organizations to accomplish goals Preserving Your Retirement Benefits

12. Inform members about relevant issues – Retirement income, health care benefits, taxation and COLAs. Strengthen political influence through NARFE-PAC. Partner with OPM to answer questions about retirement. Preserving Your Retirement Benefits (2)

13. F SOME CONTINUING ISSUES BEFORE CONGRESS: For years, NARFE has fought to: Repeal or modify Government Pension Offset (GPO) legislation affecting CSRS Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) legislation affecting CSRS and FERS Include FEHBP Premium Conversion for Annuitants Tax Equity in Legislation

14. Why are these important? GPO affects 464,537 S.S. beneficiaries – 77% women 43% widowed GPO prevents CSRS retirees from collecting both federal annuity and any Social Security Benefit based on spouse’s work 75% lost entire benefit (GPO and WEP in place since 1983)

15. Why are these important? WEP causes loss of up to 50% of retiree S. S. benefits WEP affects 972,000 S.S. beneficiaries – 2/3rds were Men 20% had paid into S.S. for at least 21 years. (GPO and WEP in place since 1983)

16. NARFE SUPPORTED ISSUES IN 111th CONGRESS: Automatic TSP Enrollment “Roth” Option for TSP Allow surviving spouse to retain TSP rights Allow agencies to temporarily hire retirees without affecting annuities FERS Sick Leave Credit

17. HOLDING THE LINE Actions to reinstate or add new benefits are important, but – Our first legislative priority is to prevent any loss of current benefits. Until recently, NARFE has been successful in fending off attempts to cut back or curtail funding of our current benefits.

18. BUT, OTHER PRESSURES HAVE BEEN GROWING…

19. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK July 23, 2009 (Was a member of the Entitlement Commission) “By the way, if you are a federal employee and unhappy with me trying to defeat this amendment, you should pay attention to something. There is no guarantee to your federal pension based on the economics we face today in this country. If you think it is guaranteed, you have another thought coming because the world economic system is going to determine whether we can honor that pension. That is what is coming. We are very close.”

20. Then…GOP Fiscal 2012 Budget Resolution Elements April 2011 Freeze federal salaries, bonuses, and other compensation for five years Cut the federal workforce by 10% (1-for-3 replacement rate Reform FEHB Retiree Defined Benefit Plans to Increase Cost Sharing for Federal Civilian Retirees from 8% to 50%. Use highest 5 years to calculate civil service pensions Ask federal workers to contribute ½ the cost (not 1/14th) of retirement

21. NARFE ISSUES IN 112th CONGRESS: Little progress, mostly holding actions Signed into Law: Federal pay freeze extended to Mar 28, 2012 Phased Retirement Unresolved Issues (As of Dec 1, 2012)  Increasing Retirement Contributions  Changes to FECA  Workforce Reductions  Repeal of GPO and WEP  Hatch Act Modernization  Postal Reform

22. Then… On February 17, the U.S. Senate and House voted to extend the payroll tax holiday by forcing newly-hired federal workers to pay the government 2.3 percent more of their paychecks.

23. In Response… NARFE President Joseph A. Beaudoin, released the following statement: “It is wrong that our nation's federal workers continue to be the only group called on to make sacrifices. Members of Congress must stop picking the pockets of America's middle-class federal workers every time they need more funds…

24. Beaudoin “…In addition to financing the payroll tax holiday, Congress this year has proposed using federal worker paychecks to pay for the highway bill, to bail out the U.S. Postal Service, and to avoid cutting the Pentagon budget. Ultimately, these attacks on federal workers will take a toll on public services that will take us decades to overcome.”

25. MAJOR NARFE PRIORITIES For 113th CONGRESS (2): NARFE Opposes  Increasing FEHBP participants’ premiums by capping government contribution  Reductions to federal retirement annuities or increases in employee retirement contributions without corresponding benefit increase  Changing formula to calculate COLAs from CPI-W to chained CPI- U – but supports change to CPI-E  Any effort to extend federal pay freeze  Arbitrary reductions in the federal workforce without a strategic plan to manage the workload

26. MAJOR NARFE PRIORITIES For 113th CONGRESS: NARFE Supports:  Actions to protect, promote and enhance the integrity and affordability of the FEHBP.  Adequate COLA adjustments for federal retirement annuities and Social Security  Annual pay adjustments to close pay gap between public and private sector workers

27. WHAT’S NEXT? NARFE will stay alert and continue to work with Congress

28. How Can You Help? Learn more about NARFE and what it does Stay up on what is happening in Congress Go to www.protectAmericasHeartbeat.com to send letters and other information to your Legislators and to tell your personal story. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper Pass information about NARFE and this effort to your Federal Employee co-workers Join us in NARFE

29. OTHER NARFE PROJECTS Alzheimer’s Research (over $ 10,109,429) Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000 scholarships) NARFE-PAC

30. WHO CAN BELONG? Active employees Former employees Retirees Survivors Spouses Former spouses “ Civilians who are or will be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs”

31. WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES? Grass Roots Chapters Federation convention of delegates National convention of delegates Focus on issues Political, but non-partisan

32. WHERE CHAPTERS ARE In Washington State: 1348 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico

33. MEMBER BENEFITS: Effective voice in Washington DC NARFE monthly magazine Liaison with Office of Personnel Management Insurance Perks Social contacts

34. The Magazine

35. The Web Sites www.narfe.org www.enarfe.org Legislation Retirement Tips NARFE Magazine Member Discounts Q & A Current Federal Employee Info Insurance Benefits

36. NARFE: A key source for answers on retirement issues Most chapters have a Service Officer State Service Centers Online assistance through www.narfe.org www.enarfe.org Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP Notification of death Survivor benefits All services provided without cost to user!

37. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BELONG? New membership dues are $45 the first year which includes chapter dues The following year dues will be $40 plus chapter dues E-Chapter dues are $40 Payment options include bill pay, credit card, & money order

39. Protect Your Benefits Through NARFE!

40. “Be Prepared for Life’s Events Useful NARFE Publication Lets you log important information for your beneficiaries