Help needed: Contact your senators

[Full Service]

he House of Representatives on Thursday, Sept. 28, passed H.R. 5483, the Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act.

Senate approval is still required before it becomes law. UTU members can help gain Senate passage by calling and e-mailing their U.S. senators.

This bill will permit those who have been disabled and are now receiving Railroad Retirement disability to increase the amount of outside earned income to $700 monthly without suffering a reduction in benefits. The current cap on outside earnings is $400 monthly. The bill passed by the House also provides for an annual cost of living adjustment.

"The House would not have acted were it not for the phone calls and e-mails from UTU members and retirees," said UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer.

"Now we ask you to renew those calls and e-mails to senators in order to achieve passage of the bill by the Senate."

The bill could gain Senate passage by the weekend, or could also come after the November 7 congressional elections during a so-called "lame duck" session of Congress.

Brunkenhoefer urged members and retirees immediately to contact their senators and urge them to support H.R. 5483, the Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act. The Senate will act on the House bill.