H.R. 491 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Jan 16, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryMatch federal retiree pay raises to actual inflation
Right now, federal employees who've retired get cost-of-living adjustments (raises meant to keep up with inflation) based on a formula that caps how much they receive. This bill would change that so their raises match the full inflation rate each year, no caps. If inflation goes up 5%, their benefit would go up 5% instead of being limited to a smaller amount.
How it affects you
If you're a retired federal employee receiving an annuity through the Federal Employees Retirement System, your annual benefit increases would match inflation exactly rather than being reduced. Most other Americans wouldn't directly feel the effects of this change.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 16, 2025)
Equal COLA Act
This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase.
Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year.
Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 491
A BILL
Equal COLA Act
Sponsor: Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11) · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 16, 2025: “ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walkinshaw asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 491, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.”