FLEOA®, founded in 1977, is a volunteer
organization. Born out of necessity by a group of concerned agents from
Customs, IRS-CI, TIGTA, FBI and INS, FLEOA's primary tenet was, and still is,
legal assistance and representation is only a phone call away.
FLEOA provides a legislative voice
for the federal law enforcement community, and is frequently called upon to
provide testimony at congressional hearings. FLEOA monitors legislative issues
that may impact federal law enforcement officers, and encourages its membership
to contact their elected officials to express their concerns.
The FLEOA
Legislative Machine prevailed with the hard-fought passage of H.R. 2146 (TSP
bill), P.L. 114-26). On June 29th, 2015, the FLEOA initiated TSP bill,
Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act, was signed into law. Those
under the law enforcement retirement system will now be able to access their TSP
at age 50 without incurring the IRS 10% penalty; same as our state and local
counterparts.
Congress also passed the Investigative Assistance
for Violent Crimes Act of 2012, an initiative strongly supported by FLEOA and
the FBIAA. The bill authorized the Attorney General and DOJ and DHS law
enforcement agencies to assist in investigating mass killings and other violent
acts in public places. The bill was passed on January 1, 2013 after FLEOA
advocated for the removal of an anonymous hold. The President signed it
into law on January 14, 2013.
FLEOA accomplished a legislative
victory with the ATF Special Agent Will Clark inspired Officer Safety Act.
FLEOA drafted the position paper for the Officer Safety Act of 2012, a bill to
allow removal to federal court by a law enforcement officer who is charged in
connection with a personal time effort to stop a violent crime or assist an
individual who has suffered. The Act was attached as an amendment to the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which was passed and
signed by the President on January 2, 2012.
The Whistle blower Protection
Enhancement Act of 2012 was signed into law on November 27, 2012. In
recognition and honor of our fallen ICE hero, the Jaime Zapata Border
Enforcement Security Task Force Act was passed on December 7, 2012.
As the lead federal law enforcement
association advocating this important legislation, FLEOA's unified voice led to
the Special Agent Samuel Hicks Families of Fallen Heroes Act being signed into
law on June 1, 2010 (P.L. 111-178). Thanks to FLEOA's advocacy, this important
legislation covers all federal law enforcement officers. On January 2, 2011,
the voice of the FLEOA membership prevailed when President Obama signed the
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law. FLEOA was also
the lead federal advocate for its Retired Members in helping to get the LEOSA
Improvements Act of 2010 passed on October 12, 2010.
FLEOA's advocacy, this important
legislation covers all federal law enforcement officers. On January 2,
2011, the voice of the FLEOA membership prevailed when President Obama signed
the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law.
FLEOA was also the lead federal advocate for its Retired Members in helping to
get the LEOSA Improvements Act of 2010 passed on October 12, 2010.
On July 31, 2008, FLEOA scored a monumental
achievement when its initiated proposal, The Badge of Bravery, was signed into
law (P.L. 110-298). FLEOA was also instrumental in the passing of the Federal
Retirement Reform bill (P.L.111-31), a.k.a. FERS Sick Leave Credit bill.
FLEOA's sustained efforts also led to the Secretary of Commerce hosting a
signing ceremony for the issuance of retiree credentials for its agents and
officers. FLEOA's membership has also been instrumental in increasing the death
benefits for federal law enforcement officers; increasing premium pay for 1811s
to 25% of a criminal investigators actual grade; passage of Law Enforcement
Availability Pay (LEAP) in 1994; extending LEAP for Special Agents of the
Bureau of Diplomatic Security in 1998; passage of the Degan Bill, which
provides scholarships for spouses and children of those killed in the line of
duty; passage of the Federal LEO Good Samaritan Act; and passage of the
Congressional Medal of Honor for Law Enforcement.
For the 114th session of Congress (2015-2016),
F.L.E.O.A. will advocate strongly for the protection of our pay and benefits,
and weigh in on LEO safety issues. Specifically, FLEOA will support its
initiated bills: H.R. 2137 to ensure agencies don't disarm LEOs during a
government shutdown; H.R. 2254 to ensure Uniformed Officers receive the LE
retirement benefits; H.R. 1702 to ensure uncompensated 'max-out' wages are
added to a LEO's high-three for their annuity calculation; propose legislation
to reposition IRS-CID under direct line to the Treasury Secretary; propose
legislation to reposition the FAMS under DHS; propose legislation to provide
third party arrest authority for Probation/Pretrial Officers and LEAP; support
efforts to lift the paycap for USSS LEOs during a campaign year; support
Retired Members on issues associated with LEOSA/H.R. 218.