H.R. 1522: Federal Retirement Fairness Act
Sponsor
Gerald Connolly
Democrat · VA-11
A 1989 cutoff quietly erases years from federal pensions
Why it matters
Under FERS, every year of creditable service adds 1% of your highest three-year average salary to your pension, for life. Temporary civilian work done before 1989 can be bought back and counted. The identical work done in 1990 cannot. H.R. 1522 deletes that cutoff, and it carries 157 cosponsors, 22 of them Republicans.
The change is one deleted phrase. Current law makes civilian service in a temporary position creditable under FERS only if it was "performed before January 1, 1989." H.R. 1522 strikes those words. Temporary civilian service performed any time after 1988 could then count toward your federal pension.
It is neither free nor automatic. Credit for service that never had retirement withheld from it comes through a deposit, meaning you pay into the retirement fund for years you were never deducted on. The bill does not set a rate for the newly eligible years. OPM's existing deposit for pre-1989 temporary service is 1.3% of what you earned in those years, plus interest.
Temporary employees of the United States Postal Service are named in the text, so USPS time is covered.
There is one hard limit. The change applies to people who are federal employees or Members of Congress on or after the day it becomes law, so someone who has already left government is not reached by the text.
The Office of Personnel Management would write the regulations and push notice down to agency Chief Human Capital Officers, who would tell workers they may be eligible to make a deposit.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jul 22, 2025
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Randall asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1522, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
H.R. 1522 Bill Summary
What H.R. 1522 actually does.
Temp years after 1988 can finally be bought back
The bill strikes the phrase limiting creditable temporary civilian service to work performed before January 1, 1989. Service after that date becomes eligible for FERS credit.
You have to still be in government when it passes
The change applies to anyone who is a federal employee or a Member of Congress on or after the date of enactment. People no longer in one of those roles are not covered by the text.
Postal Service temps are named in the bill
The text specifically includes temporary employees of the United States Postal Service among those the change applies to.
Your agency has to tell you you are eligible
OPM's Director must notify agency Chief Human Capital Officers or other appropriate officials so they can give notice to employees and Members who could make a deposit.
OPM decides how the process actually works
The Director of the Office of Personnel Management is directed to write regulations carrying out the Act, which would set how service is documented and how deposits are handled.
Who benefits from H.R. 1522?
Career federal employees who started as temps
Temporary and term appointments are a common on-ramp into permanent federal work. If yours came after 1988, those months or years currently sit outside your FERS service total.
Postal workers who did temporary stints
The Postal Service leans on temporary and seasonal labor, especially around peak mail periods. The bill names those employees directly.
Anyone sitting just short of a retirement threshold
FERS eligibility turns on service-year counts. Recovering even one or two years can change the date you are allowed to retire, not just the size of the check.
Members of Congress with earlier temporary civilian service
The text applies to Members as well as employees, using the same definitions FERS already relies on.
Who is affected by H.R. 1522?
Workers who would have to pay to claim the time
The credit runs through a deposit. You would need to locate decades-old employment and earnings records and decide whether the payment plus interest is worth the added annuity.
Former federal workers and current retirees
The bill applies to individuals who are employees or Members on or after enactment. Someone who left federal service before the bill becomes law is not covered by the text.
Agency HR and payroll offices
Agencies would have to verify old temporary service, route eligibility notices, and process deposit paperwork alongside their existing retirement casework.
The Office of Personnel Management
OPM would write the implementing regulations, notify Chief Human Capital Officers government-wide, and absorb the added service-credit volume.
The Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund
More creditable service means larger annuity payments out of the fund, with worker deposits flowing in against that.
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 1522 has come up 29 times in the Congressional Record so far.
H.R. 1522 also appeared in 2 more House floor references and 27 routine cosponsor filings.
HR1522 Legislative Journey
House: Introduced
Jul 22, 2025
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Randall asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1522, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
House: Committee Action
Feb 24, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
About the Sponsor
Gerald Connolly
Democrat, Virginia's 11th congressional district · 16 years in Congress
Committees: Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform
View full profile →
Cosponsors (157)
This bill has 157 cosponsors: 136 Democrats, 22 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 35 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 32 more.
David Valadao
Republican · CA
Nikki Budzinski
Democrat · IL
Don Bacon
Republican · NE
Nanette Barragán
Democrat · CA
Yvette Clarke
Democrat · NY
Delia Ramirez
Democrat · IL
Brian Fitzpatrick
Republican · PA
Mikie Sherrill
Democrat · NJ
Steve Cohen
Democrat · TN
Eleanor Norton
Democrat · DC
Rick Larsen
Democrat · WA
Young Kim
Republican · CA
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Oversight and Government Reform Committee
16 of 47 committee members cosponsored
7 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1522 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Oversight and Government Reform
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Government Operations and Politics
- Introduced
- Feb 24, 2025
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Randall asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1522, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Jul 22, 2025
Official Sources
Official status, text, actions, and the full cosponsor list for the Federal Retirement Fairness Act.
The statute the bill amends. Paragraph (3) is where the phrase "performed before January 1, 1989" currently sits.
Defines "employee" (paragraph 11) and "Member" (paragraph 20), the two terms that decide who the change reaches.
OPM's plain-language explanation of which service already counts toward a FERS annuity, including the pre-1989 temporary service rule.
How deposits for service that had no retirement deductions withheld actually work, which is the mechanism a newly eligible worker would use.
OPM's operating manual for deposit service, including the 1.3% deposit rate and how interest is charged.
The FERS formula that turns recovered service years into annuity dollars, at 1% of high-three average salary per year.
The council of agency Chief Human Capital Officers that Section 2(c) directs OPM to notify so agencies can tell eligible workers.
H.R. 1522 Common Questions
What does H.R. 1522 actually change?
It deletes four words. Today, temporary civilian service only counts toward a FERS pension if it was performed before January 1, 1989. H.R. 1522 strikes that limit, so temp work done after 1988 could be credited too.
How much would it cost me to buy back the time?
The bill does not set a rate. OPM's existing deposit for pre-1989 temporary service is 1.3% of what you earned in those years, plus interest. Two years at $25,000 would run roughly $650 before interest.
How much would one recovered year add to my pension?
FERS pays 1% of your highest three-year average salary per year of service. If your high-three is $90,000, each recovered year adds about $900 a year to your annuity, for the rest of your retirement.
Do USPS temporary employees qualify under H.R. 1522?
Yes. The bill names temporary employees of the United States Postal Service directly in the text describing who the change applies to.
I already retired from federal service. Does this help me?
Probably not. The change applies to people who are federal employees or Members of Congress on or after the date the bill becomes law. Someone who has already left is not reached by the text.
Would the credit be added to my record automatically?
No. You would have to make a deposit to claim it. OPM would notify agency Chief Human Capital Officers, who would in turn tell eligible employees and Members they can pay for the time.
Where does H.R. 1522 stand right now?
It is in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with 157 cosponsors, 22 of them Republicans. Rep. Gerald Connolly introduced it in February 2025; Rep. Emily Randall assumed first sponsorship that July.
Based on H.R. 1522 bill text
H.R. 1522 Bill Text
“To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, may be creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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