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4/22/2026
A bipartisan group of legislators yesterday introduced the Railroad Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 8405), which would eliminate a federal provision that reduces retirement payments for certain retirees and spouses who continue working in non-railroad jobs after retirement.
Under the current Pre-Retirement Non-Railroad Employment (LPE) law, railroad retirees and their spouses may face a reduction in retirement benefits if they continue working for their last prior non-railroad employer before retirement, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls' (R-Texas) office. Retirees who take a different job after retiring do not face the same penalty.
Nehls co-introduced the legislation with U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) and U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.). It was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The legislation is endorsed by the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, Transportation Communications Union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division.
Established almost 90 years ago, the LPE policy does not reflect the modern workplace, discourages most part-time work, limits retirees' abilities to fill labor shortages and requires complex legal interpretation that causes inconsistent decisions, IAM officials said in a prepared statement.