December 8, 2023
The Honorable James Comer, Chairman
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Pete Sessions, Chairman
House Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Kweisi Mfume, Ranking Member
House Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce
2157 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Subject: H.R. 5995 – The Federal Retirement Fairness Act
Dear Chairmen Comer and Sessions and Ranking Members Raskin and Mfume:
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and the Association of National Park Rangers are writing to express our strong support for expeditious committee review of H.R. 5995, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act. The bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), and David Valadao (R-CA-22) on October 19, 2023 and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Accountability on October 25, 2025.
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA) would amend Section 8411(3) of title 5, United States Code, to provide that civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, may be creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System. In essence, it would allow eligible employees who converted from temporary to career positions to “buy back” time towards their retirement. Prior to 1989, federal workers who began as non-career employees were able to make additional contributions to their retirement benefits to make up for time lost when they were not eligible for these benefits. This allowed eligible employees to retire on time and with full benefits. This also created parity between temporary and career employees, ensuring they had equal access to retirement benefits. Regrettably, this authority expired and was never reinstituted.
Who We Are
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) has more than 2,500 members who have worked for the National Park Service (NPS) and who collectively represent more than 45,000 years of national park management experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s National Park System. Among our members are former NPS directors, regional directors, superintendents, resource specialists, park rangers, maintenance and administrative staff, and a full array of other former employees, volunteers, and supporters.
The Association of National Park Rangers (ANPR) is an organization created to communicate for, about, and with National Park Service employees of all disciplines; to promote and enhance the professions, spirit, and mission of National Park Service employees; to support management and the perpetuation of the National Park Service and the National Park System; and to provide a forum for professional enrichment.
Why We Support H.R. 5995
For many decades the National Park Service has hired and relied upon thousands of temporary federal workers annually to supplement the agency’s year-round workforce during peak visitation seasons at parks across the System. These NPS employees typically serve in temporary, not-to-exceed 180-day appointments, which is why they are often referred to as “seasonal employees.”
The NPS typically hires around 7,500 seasonal employees and had a total of 8,286 seasonal hires in 2022. NPS seasonal hires are essential to park operations—serving as park rangers, trail and maintenance workers, and visitor service assistants to welcome and educate visitors, conduct resource related research, protect park resources, and help keep the parks clean and safe.
The vast majority of NPS career employees and retirees, including members of the Coalition and ANPR, began their NPS careers in seasonal positions that provided no health care or retirement benefits. In many cases, dedicated NPS employees with career aspirations worked for numerous seasons before they were able to obtain their first permanent appointment and secure benefits.
Prior to 1989, federal workers who began as seasonal employees were able to make additional contributions to their retirement accounts to make up for the period of time when they were not eligible for benefits and not contributing into the retirement system. This allowed eligible employees to retire on time and with full benefits. However, this authority expired and was never reinstituted.
Those of us who have managed national parks know just how essential the seasonal workforce is to operating and maintaining parks, and providing the high level of visitor services that Americans have come to expect from their National Park System. We also know that many of us would not have gone on to successful NPS careers had we not had the opportunity to work as seasonal employees. Since periods of seasonal employment are such a common early component of so many NPS careers, it is only fair that current NPS employees and recent retirees have the opportunity to “buy back” retirement credit for time served as a seasonal.
In closing, we fully support the passage of the Federal Retirement Fairness Act and urge you to give it an expeditious committee review. Thank you in advance for your consideration of our concerns.
Sincerely,
Michael B. Murray, Chair
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Rick Mossman, President
Association of National Park Rangers
cc:
The Honorable Derek Kilmer, U.S. Congressman from the State of Washington
The Honorable Gerry Connolly, U.S. Congressman from the State of Virginia
The Honorable Don Bacon, U.S. Congressman from the State Nebraska
The Honorable David Valadao, U.S. Congressman from the State of California
Lena McDowall, Deputy Director, Management and Administration, National Park Service
Rita Moss, Associate Director of Workforce and Inclusion, National Park Service
Michael Reynolds, Deputy Director, Legislative and Congressional Affairs, NPS