Speech #930086560

I rise in support of KR. 607k which was unanimously ordered reported by the Post Office and Civil Service Committee on March 20. 1973. Similar legislation H.R. 440. passed the House in the 92d Congress but failed of consideratiom in the Senate. The purpose of HR. 97& is to extend to customs and immigration inspectors the same retirement treatment accorded Federal law enforcement. personnel under the hazardous duty pruvisions of the civil service retirement raw. Presently the civil service retirement law grants special early retirement privileges to employes serving in positions which primarily involve investigation. apprehension or detention of persons who are suspected or convicted of criminal offenses. These employees who are engaged in hazardous duty may retire after reaching the age of 50 and after having served at least 20 years in such capacity. It should be noted that these preferential provisions apply only if the head of the employing agency recommends such an employees retirement and only if the Civil Service Commission approves the recommendation. H.R. 6078 wouldextendthis preferential treatment to approximately 5.000 customs and immigration inspectors. These inspectors engage in duties that can be reasonably called hazardous. The inspectors are charged with the enforcement of customs and immigration laws. Enforcement includes securing and acting upon information of actual or suspected violations of law and. when necessary. making searches. seizures and detention of suspected violators. These inspectors. it must be noted. are the front line of enforcement in regard to unauthorized importation and exportation of dangerous drugs. They are also responsible for the enforcement of statutes pertaining to entry into and departure from the country. In short. these inspectors often face hazards more perilous than those to which customs and immigration "agents" and other criminal law enforcement personnel are subject to. This fact has been borne out in hearings before the Subcommittee on Retirement and Employee Benefits. and during a special investigatory hearing by an ad hoc subcommittee which went to San Ysidro. Calif. I might add. at this point. that under the legislation no customs or immigration inspector who had not in fact been exposed to hazards over a 20year period would be eligible for preferential retirement consideration. It is the consensus of the committee then. that customs and immigration inspectors are essentially law enforcement officers. In its judgment. to confine a preference under law to a group of employees engaged in hazardous duty without recognizing supportive personnel performing equally or. at times. more hazardous duties is. in itself. an inequity. The committee also is also of the opinion that enactment of this legislation will facilitate the maintenance of relatively younger and more vigorous inspection and enforcement force.