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Norton Reintroduces Bill to Improve Retirement System for Certain Public Servants Under D.C. Revitalization Act

July 30, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she has reintroduced a bill that would correct a retirement issue for several categories of workers who used to be under the District of Columbia retirement system.

Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, commonly referred to as the Revitalization Act, Congress transferred several categories of workers who participated in D.C.'s defined contribution plan from 1987 to 1997 to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). However, those workers' service from 1987 to 1997 was not counted for purposes of creditable service or annuity amount in FERS. In 2009, an enacted Norton bill gave these employees the right to have that service counted for creditable service. Norton's new bill would allow those workers to buy into the FERS annuity amount for 1987 to 1997 by paying 1.3% of their base pay plus interest, essentially the employee contribution for that time.

"When receiving their retirement benefits, these workers should be able to have all of their service recognized and counted in determining the amount of annuity they receive," Norton said. "This bill will ensure that they have the full benefits they deserve and are entitled to in return for the invaluable public service they have provided for our community."