A lack of funding to support the administrative functions of the Railroad Retirement Board has severely hampered the agency’s ability to operate. As an example of this, the waiting period for some RRB disability claims now extends beyond 400 days. The BLET National Division finds this unacceptable and is joining with allies to increase the funding and services the RRB provides.
BLET is working in the U.S. House of Representatives with Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Chris DeLuzio (D-PA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) to gather Congressional support for the $185 million in administrative funding that the RRB needs in FY2027 to effectively serve railroaders. The National Division reached out to other House members asking them to sign the letter that Congresswoman Titus is leading. This action resulted in 81 members of Congress lending their support. The letter can be read here (PDF).
The National Division has now turned its attention to the Senate and is working on a bipartisan basis with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to gain similar support for RRB funding in that chamber.
Improved service and full-funding for the RRB is one place where labor and management see eye-to-eye. The BLET’s efforts have been augmented by joint outreach from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Association of American Railroads, and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. A letter from that labor-management coalition can be read here (PDF).
RRB’s administrative costs are funded entirely through payroll taxes paid by the rail industry and its workers. RRB is not funded by general fund revenue, but each year Congress limits the amount of funding the agency can use for administrative purposes. Essentially, Congress limits how RRB can spend its own money.