Letter from Senator John (Jay) D. Rockefeller IV (WV), Chairman.
Dear Deborah:
Thank you for being in touch about retirement credit for part-time employment for VA nurses and other health professionals in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I am proud to tell you that in mid-July I introduced legislation which would, among other things, address your concern. Provisions of this bill, S. 1188 originally entitled the "Nurse Recruitment and Retention Act of 2001," were approved by the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on August 2, 2001. Now called the "Medical Programs Enhancement Act of 2001," this bill will go to the full Senate for a vote some time this fall.
Section 132 of this bill would amend the treatment of part-time service performed by certain title 38 employees prior to April 7, 1986, for purposes of retirement credit. Currently, part-time service performed by title 5 employees prior to April 7, 1986, is counted as part-time service and therefore results in lower annuities for these employees.Retired nurses, like you, have protested the inequity of this situation. In order to correct this, my proposed legislation would exempt registered nurses, physician assistant, and expanded-function dental auxiliaries from the requirement that part-time service performed prior to April 7, 1986, be prorated when calculating retirement annuities.
Deborah, thank you again for being in touch with me about this vital issue. Health care professionals are the backbone of the VA health care system, and we must do what we can to support them. I wish you all the very best.
Sincerely
Jay Rockefeller
Chairman