Retired Firefighters Need Help.

Dear Fellow Firefighters
My name is Gary Schuld. I am a retired career federal firefighter of 25years. I hope that you find my story worthy of your time, and the effort Iamasking of all of you.I and my fellow firefighter retiree's are in need of help from allfirefighters across our country.

Back on April 15, 1996, my job and that of 16 of my fellow firefighters wereeliminated when the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland Ohio had closedour 50+ year old fire department. In response to NASA budget cuts, Mr. WilsonF. Ford, Chief of the NASA Lewis Office and Safety Assurance had eliminatedthe jobs of 17 state of Ohio certified Paid Firefighters and E.M.T.-A's.

As a result of this action, myself and a small minority of fellowfirefighters with at least 20 years of federal firefighting service were given aninvoluntary federal firefighters retirement in January and February of 1997. Thisinformation is recorded and documented with The Office of PersonnelManagement in Washington D.C..

We were all in our mid forties. 44 years old to be exact. The retirement agefor federal firefighters is 50 years old, with at least 20 years offirefighter service.

We were all just 6 years shy of reaching a full federal firefightersretirement at age 50, in our chosen career. Something that we had paid into at ahigher rate of 7-1/2\% for the privilege of retiring as a federal firefighter. Asa result of having to retire before age 50, we are substantially punishedand penalized in our pensions. Something we had no control over when our jobswere eliminated.

Our only hope now is with a bill that was first introduced in the 106thCongress by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a democrat from Maryland. H.R.1769, "TheFederal Employees' Benefits Equity Act of 1999." This bill was to eliminateinequities in the Civil Service Retirement System with respect to the computation benefits for federal firefighters, and certain others. The billunfortunately went without any action being taken. The bill again has beenreintroducedin the 107th and 108th Congress under the new listing of H.R.3267. Today thereare 13 cosponsors. 4 of which are Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich,Steven C. LaTourette, Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Theseoutstanding individuals have supported us since the bill's originalintroduction.

Politicians in Washington say that we need more backing.
What we now need is nationwide support. I am asking that all my brother andsister firefighters, active and retired, paid and volunteer, city andfederal, to sign this petition online for all U.S. Congressional and Senaterepresentatives to see. Please tell them to pass H.R. 3267. I ask you to please helpa few of your own. We and our families have been suffering for over 8 yearsnow.

Thank you,
Respectfully yours,
Gary J. Schuld, Ret. Lt. NASA LeRc Fire Department.