NTEU reacted sharply to White House proposals to repeal the newly-enacted—and long-overdue—enhanced retirement benefit for CBP Officers, and to eliminate $50 million in funding from the current budget.

Congressional authorization and funding for this vital program both were included in the fiscal 2008 omnibus appropriations bill, signed by the president in late December.

“This is an outrageous attempt to undercut the bipartisan will of Congress,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. The union led the years-long fight for Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) status and the enhanced retirement benefit. “There can be no longer any real debate over the importance of LEO status and enhanced retirement benefits to the successful accomplishment of this agency’s mission,” Kelley said.

Key House and Senate lawmakers recently reiterated their strong support for the program. They expressed that support—as well as calling for the inclusion of additional funding for the program in the fiscal 2009 budget submission—in a letter to Jim Nussle, director of the Office of Management and Budget.

“On a daily basis,” they wrote, “CBP Officers perform as front-line law enforcement officers in support of our homeland security mission that is critical to our nation’s security. These enhanced retirement benefits were enacted with the bipartisan and bicameral support of Congress and will greatly aid CBP’s continued recruitment and retention of the best and brightest CBP Officers, build a vigorous workforce for the future, and enhance vital border security at our nation’s ports of entry.”

The letter was signed by Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Peter King (R-N.Y.), chairman and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

President Kelley said she welcomes the support—from across the political spectrum—reflected in the letter and promised to work to defeat any efforts to repeal the LEO program or eliminate its funding. The LEO program becomes effective on July 6.