Press Releases

President Obama’s newly released Fiscal Year 2017 federal budget request for the Department of Labor rejects a proposal to cut benefits under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) for federal civilian workers injured or killed on the job.

“I am delighted to hear that the administration and the Department of Labor are rejecting FECA benefits cuts and will remain dedicated to ensuring that the workers who have committed themselves to federal service are honored by a system that does not leave them and their families financially worse off than if the injury or death had not occurred,” said Congresswoman Wilson, Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

“It is my hope the administration’s rejection of benefits cuts will inspire Congress to move forward on bipartisan efforts to modernize and improve the FECA system savings to taxpayers. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on this issue.”

In December 2015, Ranking Member Wilson, along with Reps. Bobby Scott, Elijah Cummings, and Gerald Connolly, sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget urging the administration to reject the Bush-era proposal that would have slashed benefits for injured federal workers who have dependents or have reached retirement age. These Bush-era benefits cuts have been included in all of the Obama administration’s previous budget requests.

During a May 2015 Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing on FECA cuts, Ranking Member Wilson spoke out against arguments that benefits cuts were justified because federal workers were unmotivated to return to work. She went on to highlight the potential impact of the proposed cuts and acknowledged the widows of a fallen correctional officer and mail carrier and several permanently disabled postal workers who had traveled to Washington, D.C., for the hearing.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act, which provides compensation for lost wages, medical care, and vocational rehabilitation. FECA provides coverage for 2.8 million federal civilian workers across more than 70 agencies and all three branches of government.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways.