Bill to Modernize FECA Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives

On July 8, 2011, Representative Kline (R-MN), joined by Representative Miller (D -CA), Representative Walberg (R-MI) and Representative Woolsey (D-CA), filed H.R. 2465, the Federal Workers’ Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act. This act would change several portions of the current Federal Workers’ Compensation Act (“FECA”) in an effort to bring it more in line with the current needs of federal employees.

Some of the changes to FECA proposed in the bill include:

● including injuries suffered as a result of terrorist attacks as compensable under FECA

● increasing the maximum benefit from $3,500 to $50,000 for disfigurement of the head, face or neck, effective for injuries starting 3 years prior to date of enactment and using the FECA cost of living adjustment (“COLA”) to increase this figure as necessary due to inflation

● increasing the maximum benefit for burial expenses from $800 to $6,000 and using the FECA COLA to increase this figure as necessary due to inflation

● expanding continuation of pay from 45 days to up to 135 days to ease benefit delivery for employees injured in a zone of armed conflict – this applies to both traumatic and occupational injuries

You can read the full text of the bill here.