After Hearing from Constituent, Dexter Introduces Bill to Protect Retiree Pensions During Shutdowns

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) introduced the Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act, legislation to protect pension payments for an estimated 8,000 retired members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps and the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps in the event of a government shutdown.

Dexter developed the legislation after hearing directly from a constituent and retired USPHS officer who contacted her office during the fall 2025 government shutdown after going weeks without receiving his pension payment.

"I often tell Oregonians to 'stay loud'-and this legislation is exactly why. After learning of a constituent and retired U.S. Public Health Service officer who went without a pension during the government shutdown, I knew we needed to fix this gap in federal law," said Rep. Dexter. "I'm grateful to have found bipartisan support to close a harmful loophole and give retired USPHS and NOAA officers the retirement security they deserve."

"NOAA Corps officers and USPHS Commissioned Corps officers have made immeasurable sacrifices for the health and safety of our people over decades of public service," said Rep. Raskin. "Our bipartisan legislation willmeanthesepatriotswill get the pensions they earned so they don't go hungry or struggle to pay their rent or mortgage during a government shutdown."

The legislation would ensure retired NOAA Corps and USPHS officers continue receiving their earned pension payments during lapses in government funding, bringing them into parity with other federal uniformed service retirees. Unlike military retirement payments, pensions for retired NOAA Corps and USPHS officers can currently be interrupted during a government shutdown.

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was established in 1889 to root out smallpox and yellow fever and is now the largest public health program in the world. Driven by a passion for public service, the Commissioned Corps officers respond to public health crises and national emergencies such as natural disasters and disease outbreaks, and terrorist attacks, both at home and overseas.

The Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act is endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America and the Commissioned Officers Association.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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