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Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986

Public Law 99-335 · H.R. 2672 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Jun 6, 1986 · Government Operations and Politics

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Guarini (D-NJ-14)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Designates the New York Bulk and Foreign Mail Center in Jersey City, New Jersey as the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center.

Declares that a portion of the street at the Mail Center shall be named Michael McDermott Place.

Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 - Title I: Federal Employees' Retirement System - Establishes the Federal Employees' Retirement System for Federal employees, postal employees, and Members of Congress who began service after December 31, 1983.

Declares that benefits payable under the System are in addition to those payable under the Social Security Act. Sets forth provisions for the benefit plan including: (1) eligibility for an annuity after five years of creditable service; (2) entitlements to retirement based on age and years of service; (3) the formulas for computing an annuity; (4) survivor election reductions; and (5) funding. Sets forth provisions for mandatory retirement for air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters.

Establishes a Thrift Savings Plan under which participants may contribute up to ten percent of their annual basic pay. Provides a formula to determine the appropriate contribution by the employing agency. Provides for the payment of benefits, lump sum or annuity, at the employee's separation from service. Establishes in the Treasury the Thrift Savings Fund for the deposit and accounting of amounts under the Plan. Prescribes how money in such Fund shall be invested.

Describes survivor annuities under the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Describes disability benefits for employees who have completed 18 months of creditable service.

Sets forth general and administrative provisions. Directs the Office of Personnel Management to pay all benefits payable under the benefit plan and administer provisions not specifically assigned to another entity. Directs the Office to adjudicate all claims under provisions it administers.

Provides for annual cost-of-living adjustments in basic pensions based upon an increase in the Consumer Price Index.

Provides for withholding of State income taxes from retirement annuities.

Declares that basic annuities, survivor annuities, and disability benefits are exempt from legal process (i.e., levy, attachment, garnishment) unless otherwise provided by Federal law.

Establishes in the executive branch the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board to be responsible for policies and regulations for, and review of, the investment and management of the Thrift Savings Fund. Directs the Board to establish an Employees Thrift Advisory Council to advise the Board on matters relating to investment policies for the Fund. Directs the Board to appoint an Executive Director to carry out its policies, investment and manage the fund, and administer provisions of the Thrift Savings Plan.

Title II: Other Amendments to Title 5 of the United States Code - Provides for civil service retirement for certain employees excluded from the Federal Employees' Retirement System.

Requires a reduction in benefits payable to retirees under the System if they also receive social security benefits.

Directs the Office of Personnel Management to provide alternative forms of annuity benefits. Requires the alternatives to include: (1) payment of the lump-sum credit to the retiree; and (2) payment of an annuity for life.

Directs the Office to establish a training program for retirement counselors of Federal agencies.

Authorizes participation in the Thrift Savings Plan by any Federal employee or Member of Congress.

Title III: Other Provisions Relating to the Federal Employees' Retirement System and the Civil Service Retirement System - Sets forth transition provisions for certain individuals subject to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability System who elect to participate in the Federal Retirement System. Establishes provisions for crediting the service of individuals who transfer among government retirement systems.

Amends the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code to cover service by an individual who participates in the pension system.

Amends the Federal Employees' Retirement Contribution Temporary Adjustment Act of 1983 to extend its provisions until January 1, 1987. Requires the refund of any excess contributions made by an employee due to the expiration of such Act.

Directs the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Transportation to study the retirement systems provided for employees of nonappropriated fund instrumentalities under their respective jurisdictions and develop a plan to provide portability of vested retirement benefits among such retirement systems and other Federal retirement systems.

Authorizes the Commissioner of Social Security to disclose to the Office of Personnel Management certain tax return information necessary for the administration of the retirement system. Directs the Office to reimburse the Commissioner for the costs of providing such information.

Title IV: Foreign Service Retirement - Foreign Service Pension System Act of 1986 - Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to revise the method of computing employee contributions to the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund for employees whose service began before January 1, 1984.

Provides a formula for an offset in annuities by the amount of social security benefits received by an annuitant or survivor.

Revises recall and reemployment provisions of such Act.

Amends the Act to establish the Foreign Service Pension System for members of the Foreign Service whose service began after December 31, 1983, similar to the Federal Retirement System.

Title V: Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Related Matters - Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964 for Certain Employees to revise the method of computing employee contributions to the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund for employees whose service began prior to January 1, 1984.

Provides a formula for an offset in annuities by the amount of social security benefits received by an annuitant or survivor.

Provides that all agency personnel hired after December 31, 1983, shall be subject to the Federal Employees' Retirement System, except those employees engaged in hazardous duty abroad. Sets forth special rules for such employees, for other employees who have served abroad, and for former spouses. Extends the special retirement accrual benefit provided to intelligence personnel to such personnel of the National Security Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the District of Columbia Code to revise provisions relating to survivor annuities of District of Columbia judges.

Title VII: Authorization of Appropriations; Effective Dates - Authorizes appropriations to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for FY 1986 and 1987. Declares the effective date of this Act to be January 1, 1987, except for certain specified provisions.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Post Office and Civil Service Committee · House · discharged from, markup by, referred to
  • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 32 actions.

  1. Jun 6, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-335.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. May 28, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. May 22, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Conference Report by Voice Vote.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House Agreed to Conference Report by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
  7. May 21, 1986FloorFloor · Star Print ordered on the conference report on H.R 2672 (S.Rept.No. 99-302).
  8. May 20, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  9. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
  10. May 16, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report S. Rept. 99-302 filed in Senate by Senator Roth under the authority of the order of May 15, 86 on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate.
  11. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report S. Rept. 99-302 filed in Senate by Senator Roth under the authority of the order of May 15, 86 on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendment of the Senate.
  12. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers, Senate report and managers' statement and message on House action held at the desk.
  13. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference Report 99-606 Filed in House.
  14. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference Report 99-606 Filed in House.
  15. May 15, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  16. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference committee actions: Conferees agreed to file conference report.
  17. Nov 21, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to request for conference. Appointed conferees. Roth; Stevens; Mathias; Eagleton; Gore.
  18. FloorFloor · Senate insists on its amendments by Voice Vote.
  19. Nov 19, 1985Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Requested a Conference and Speaker Appointed Conferees: Ford (MI), Clay, Oakar, Taylor, Myers (IN), Hamilton, Stokes, Beilenson, Stump, Ireland, Mica, Kostmayer, Snowe, Rostenkowski, Russo, Stark, Archer, Thomas (CA).
  20. Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Disagreed to Senate Amendments by Unanimous Consent.
  21. Nov 7, 1985FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 96-1. Record Vote No: 289.Senate roll call 289
  22. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  23. Oct 30, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  24. Oct 25, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  25. Jul 17, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services Subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  26. Jul 9, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
  27. Jul 8, 1985FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
  28. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  29. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
  30. Jun 26, 1985CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.