Description:
H.R. 1364 would reduce retirement benefits for current and former federal employees who spend large portions of their work days representing federal unions and union members. In some circumstances, the bill also would require federal employees who spent time representing unions to repay bonuses and would prohibit federal employees from engaging in political or lobbying activities during the time they spend representing federal unions while on the job. CBO estimates that the bill would reduce direct federal spending on retirement annuities and health benefits by $30 million over the 2019-2028 period. We also estimate that implementing the bill would cost $100 million over that same period, assuming the necessary funds are appropriated. Because enacting H.R. 1364 would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1364 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029. H.R. 1364 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). The bill would impose private-sector mandates on certain federal employees by reducing the value of earned pension benefits and by retracting certain bonuses. CBO estimates that the cost of the mandates would fall well below the private-sector threshold established in UMRA ($160 million in 2018, adjusted annually for inflation).
