- A Unit or Units of NARVRE must be located in each state, and in as many US Congressional Districts as possible, and
- All of the members in a particular State or District must actively contact their Congressional representatives, when alerted of pending Congressional Legislation affecting the Railroad Retirement System.
LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION
Q1: How will these LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION pages be used?
We plan to use these Web Pages, in conjunction with the "Articles of Interest to NARVRE" Web Pages, to keep everyone alerted as to what is happening and what has been done or will be done regarding the Legislature.
Q2: What will be accomplished by these Web Pages?
Tom Dwyer will prepare materials to alert our NARVRE Units and NARVRE Members of the action they should take and will refer them to these Web Pages for the latest Legislative materials. We plan to update the "Articles of Interest to NARVRE" portion of the NARVRE Web Site as a new Bill is introduced and provide information concerning what the membership should do with the information received.
Q3: What is Tom Dwyer's Function?
Tom Dwyer from Unit 109, is the National Legislative Director for NARVRE. Tom is very active in advising our Officers, Area Directors and Legislative Committee Members of the details of Legislative Activities. In his function, Tom will provide information to be placed on these Web Pages to keep the NARVRE membership informed of current Legislative activities, and actions required by the membership.
Q4: How does the NARVRE Legislative
Department operate?
The Legislative Committee consists of a National Legislative Director and 8 Legislative Committee Members. Each of the members has an area identical to the Area Directors area (of NARVRE). Each Unit of NARVRE has a Legislative Representative and should work closely with his or her Legislative Committee Member.
Information regarding pending legislation and the status thereof is maintained by the NARVRE Legislative Department via the Internet. We also cooperate with the Major Rail Labor Organizations and the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO. In receiving information, the National Legislative Director makes immediate contact with the Members of the National Legislative Committee. They in turn spread the important material across their respective areas. Time is of the essence and action must be swift to the respective Members of Congress.
If there is a short time before the proposed legislation will be acted upon, the information is FAXed to the NARVRE Legislative Committee. They in turn pass the information to the Unit Legislative representatives in their area. The same information is also FAXed to all National Officers and Area Directors within NARVRE.
If time permits, the pending legislative information is sent by mail to all NARVRE Unit Legislative Representatives.
Q5: What happens next?
Occasionally we need to "target" specific members of Congress, usually Chairpersons or members of a particular committee, in order to advise them of the importance of their vote, and the impact it has on the retired and veteran railroad workers of America.
Whenever possible, the NARVRE Units in that specific Congress persons district, are asked to telephone their representative and voice their opinion on the specific upcoming legislative vote. This approach has been very successful in achieving the desired result in the past. Being a member of NARVRE is the vehicle whereby you know of upcoming and pending legislation, and can take action collectively with fellow railroad and railway veterans and retirees, to protect your pension rights.
Two things are needed to keep this type of activity effective in the future.
Q6: What else does NARVRE do to influence Congress to protect our rights?
In cases where a Legislative Committee vote is imminent and notice of the event is very short, the NARVRE Legislative Committee Director will prepare letters addressed to the members of that specific Committee explaining our position. The letter is closed with a sentence containing the number of active and retired rail persons in that district or state. This action is especially effective in the Senate, due to the larger number of rail persons in the state, versus in a House Congressional District.
Q7: What can I do to help NARVRE?
The National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE) is the only Federally chartered organization whose sole purpose is the preservation and protection of the Railroad Retirement System.
Congress understands numbers. The more members in NARVRE, the more influence we carry when dealing with Congressional Committees.
You can help NARVRE help YOU, by joining NARVRE today. It will be one of the best actions you can take to protect your own retirement and pension.
Click below to go to the NARVRE Membership Application Page.
Click Here to go to the NARVRE Membership Application
If you still have questions, or want to leave a message for one of NARVRE's National Officers, click below to go the the "Meet the Officers of NARVRE" page.
Q8: Tell Me More About NARVRE.
The National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees (NARVRE) was founded in 1937, and has as its sole purpose,the protection and preservation of the Railroad Retirement System. Membership is open to all railroad employees and their spouses covered under the Railroad Retirement System. That includes currently employed railroad employees as well as veteran and retired employees.
There are presently over 160 Units and membership in nearly every state. We work extremely close with all of the Rail Unions, on the premise that whatever hurts the working railroad employee today will harm the Trust Fund as well. We also work closely with the Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board.
Click below to go to the NARVRE Membership Application Page.
Click Here to go to the NARVRE Membership Application
If you still have questions, or want to leave a message for one of NARVRE's National Officers, click below to go the the "Meet the Officers of NARVRE" page.
Click Here to go to the "Meet the Officers" page
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Page Last Revised: 04/16/2007.