Summary#
This bill would change federal retirement law so that retired pay for all members of the uniformed services is paid from the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund. It adds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to the fund and to definitions that use the term "uniformed services." The bill amends many parts of title 10, the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002, and the Public Health Service Act to reflect those changes. The Board of Actuaries must, by January 1, 2027, determine the value of future benefits already earned by NOAA and Public Health Service members (the original unfunded liability) and set an amortization schedule. Departments named in the bill (Defense, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Health and Human Services) would have specified roles for contribution and account management. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
What it means for you#
- Retired members of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps would receive retired pay from the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund if the bill becomes law.
- The NOAA and Public Health Service commissioned corps would be treated as part of the "uniformed services" for purposes of retirement funding and related statutes.
- The Board of Actuaries will calculate how much of the Fund’s future benefit payments are attributable to NOAA and Public Health Service service performed before the calculation date and will set a repayment (amortization) schedule.
- Secretaries of the Departments of Commerce and Health and Human Services are added to departments with responsibilities for contributions and accounts related to retirement pay.
Expenses#
- The bill requires the Board of Actuaries to determine the original NOAA and Public Health Service unfunded liability and to set an amortization schedule for paying it off.
- Contributions to the Military Retirement Fund to cover that liability are to be made as provided in existing sections (for example, section 1466(b) of title 10).
- The bill creates or names specific retirement pay accounts for the Department of Health and Human Services (Commissioned officers) and the Department of Commerce (NOAA Corps).
- No publicly available information on total dollar amounts, yearly costs, or net fiscal effects is included in the bill text provided.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.