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Equal COLA Act

USA119th CongressHR-491| House 
| Updated: 9/16/2025
Gerald E. Connolly

Gerald E. Connolly

Democratic Representative

Virginia

Cosponsors (69)
April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Robert Garcia (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Maxwell Frost (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Haley M. Stevens (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Frank J. Mrvan (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Nikki Budzinski (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Emilia Strong Sykes (Democratic)Glenn Ivey (Democratic)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Alma S. Adams (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Derrick Van Orden (Republican)Lori Trahan (Democratic)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Emily Randall (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Valerie P. Foushee (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Equal COLA Act aims to achieve parity in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) between annuities under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Currently, FERS annuities often receive a reduced COLA compared to CSRS annuities, especially when inflation is higher. This bill amends title 5 of the United States Code to ensure that FERS annuities receive the full annual percentage change in the price index , effectively removing the current tiered or capped COLA calculation for FERS retirees. The amendment would apply to all COLAs made after the bill's enactment and to all FERS annuities, regardless of their commencement date, providing a more equitable adjustment for federal retirees.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-1254
Equal COLA Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-304
Equal COLA Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-866
Equal COLA Act
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Feb 18, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-624
Introduced in Senate
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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-1254
    Equal COLA Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-304
    Equal COLA Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-866
    Equal COLA Act


  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.


  • February 18, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-624
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 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.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 119-624: Equal COLA Act
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementInflation and prices

Equal COLA Act

USA119th CongressHR-491| House 
| Updated: 9/16/2025
The Equal COLA Act aims to achieve parity in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) between annuities under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Currently, FERS annuities often receive a reduced COLA compared to CSRS annuities, especially when inflation is higher. This bill amends title 5 of the United States Code to ensure that FERS annuities receive the full annual percentage change in the price index , effectively removing the current tiered or capped COLA calculation for FERS retirees. The amendment would apply to all COLAs made after the bill's enactment and to all FERS annuities, regardless of their commencement date, providing a more equitable adjustment for federal retirees.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-1254
Equal COLA Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-304
Equal COLA Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-866
Equal COLA Act
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 16, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Feb 18, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-624
Introduced in Senate
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.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-1254
    Equal COLA Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-304
    Equal COLA Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-866
    Equal COLA Act


  • January 16, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 16, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.


  • February 18, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-624
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 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.
Gerald E. Connolly

Gerald E. Connolly

Democratic Representative

Virginia

Cosponsors (69)
April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Becca Balint (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Robert Garcia (Democratic)Jennifer L. McClellan (Democratic)Christopher R. Deluzio (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Greg Landsman (Democratic)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Maxwell Frost (Democratic)Melanie A. Stansbury (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Andrea Salinas (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Angie Craig (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Greg Casar (Democratic)Haley M. Stevens (Democratic)Shri Thanedar (Democratic)Frank J. Mrvan (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (Democratic)Nikki Budzinski (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Emilia Strong Sykes (Democratic)Glenn Ivey (Democratic)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Alma S. Adams (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Lucy McBath (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Val T. Hoyle (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Derrick Van Orden (Republican)Lori Trahan (Democratic)Jared Moskowitz (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Emily Randall (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Michael Lawler (Republican)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Teresa Leger Fernandez (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Valerie P. Foushee (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Kweisi Mfume (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 119-624: Equal COLA Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementInflation and prices