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Washington, D.C. —A House committee has approved a measure, supported by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), to improve and modernize the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). The law provides payment to federal workers for injuries sustained and diseases contracted while performing their duties on behalf of the public.

NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley welcomed approval by the House Education and Workforce Committee of H.R. 2465, a bill addressing a subject that was a topic of congressional testimony she submitted earlier this year. It in, she recommended a variety of changes and improvements in the operation of FECA.

The bipartisan measure approved the committee would:

• Increase the amount payable for funeral expenses to a maximum of $6,000, indexed to inflation. The current benefit, unchanged since 1949, is $800.

• Boost the maximum award for severe disfigurement of a person’s face, head or neck from $3,500 to $50,000; the lower amount, likewise, has not been raised since 1949. The new amount would be indexed to inflation.

• Eliminate a provision that currently limits benefits for facial disfigurement to only those who deal directly with the public as part of their job. “This is a very harsh provision that should have been repealed long ago,” Kelley said.

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And extend to certain health care professionals, such as physicians’ assistants and nurse-practitioners, greater authority and ability to treat and certify disabled employees under FECA.

On the latter issue, President Kelley noted it would be a particularly important gain for federal employees in rural areas and those working in war zones where they do not always have access to medical doctors.

“Workers’ compensation is America’s oldest social insurance program, having been adopted 100 years ago this year by the state of Wisconsin. It is one that is invaluable for covered workers, and NTEU will be working to make sure this vital program continues to protect federal employees injured on the job in a way that is fair and just,” President Kelley said.

While supporting a number of positive changes in FECA, the NTEU leader also used her May testimony to strongly oppose the idea of forcing beneficiaries at a certain age to have their benefits severely reduced or even ended. Such a provision is not in the committee-approved bill.

“I am very pleased this was not included in the bill,” she said, but expressed concern that pending Senate legislation would lead to that end. “NTEU will work very hard to ensure that any final legislation does not include this harmful provision,” she said.

Kelley also noted NTEU’s support for the committee-passed bill’s provision matching FECA claims with Social Security earnings information in order to prevent fraud. “While supporting proper benefits for injured employees,” Kelley said, “NTEU also takes the responsible position that the program should not waste money on false claims.”

NTEU is the nation’s largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.