Bill would expand ranks of federal law officers

Legislation that would grant official federal law enforcement officer status to certain employees at the IRS, the Customs Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and other agencies is back before Congress.

Under a bill reintroduced Monday by Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., federal employees would gain the right to retire with full benefits at age 50 after 20 years of service. The bill has not yet been assigned a number.

"Federal employees who daily lay their lives on the line to protect the American people should be treated comparably, whether they work for the [Veterans Affairs Department] or the FBI," said Bobby Harnage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Filner introduced similar bills in the 106th and 105th Congresses, and several other lawmakers championed the legislation at least as far back as 1988.

According to Filner, agencies where officers do not have law enforcement officer status regularly lose trained, seasoned professionals to other law enforcement agencies.

Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, called the legislation "wise public policy."

"Every day, the men and women who hold these jobs face enormous physical challenges and constant emotional stress," Kelley said.