Political Quotes

“Madam President, I have serious concerns with the FECA provisions in this bill, especially since they would reduce benefits for many employees who were already injured while working in service to this country, such as Federal firefighters, FBI agents, prison guards, and civilians serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, unlike most State workers' comp programs, this bill would reduce benefits for elderly disabled employees when they reach retirement age. My amendment offers a reasonable alternative by replacing the FECA provisions in this bill with the Republican-led bipartisan FECA reform bill that passed the House by voice vote last year. The House chose not to make benefit changes without the additional information it sought from GAO, and we should follow their lead. This amendment, supported by more than 20 organizations, would make commonsense reforms that will improve program efficiency and integrity without reducing benefits for disabled seniors, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the remainder of my time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.”