S. 4221 – Equal COLA Act

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Updated February 8, 2026 at 11:25 AM UTC

The Equal COLA Act would change the law so that the cost‑of‑living adjustments (COLA) for annuities under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) match those for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). It amends Title 5 of the U.S. Code and applies to all federal retirees receiving a FERS annuity. The changes take effect 90 days after the law is enacted.

Key Provisions

Amends Section 8462 of Title 5 to set the COLA for FERS annuities equal to the percent change in the price index for the base quarter, rounded to the nearest one‑tenth of one percent.
Specifies that the amendment becomes effective 90 days after enactment and applies to any COLA calculation made after that date.
Applies the new COLA rule to all FERS annuities, regardless of whether they began before, on, or after the effective date.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2520)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

May 16, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 16, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2520)

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

May 16, 2022

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 4221 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · May 16, 2022

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Equal COLA Act, which I introduced today. The Federal Government's workforce is central to protecting our national security and delivering critical…

Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA · May 16, 2022

Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Equal COLA Act, which I introduced today. The Federal Government's workforce is central to protecting our national security and delivering critical…

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued May 16, 2022

II

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4221

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 16, 2022

Mr. Padilla (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Warren) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 5, United States Code, to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment with respect to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equal COLA Act.

2.

Increase in COLA for FERS annuities

(a)

In general

Section 8462 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by adding and at the end;

(B)

in paragraph (2), by striking ; and and inserting a period; and

(C)

by striking paragraph (3); and

(2)

by amending subsection (b)(1) to read as follows:

(b)

(1)

Except as provided in subsection (c), effective December 1 of each year, each annuity payable from the Fund having a commencing date not later than such December 1 shall be increased by the percent change in the price index for the base quarter of such year over the price index for the base quarter of the preceding year in which an adjustment under this subsection was made, adjusted to the nearest 1/10 of 1 percent.

.

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c)

Application

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to—

(1)

any cost-of-living adjustment under section 8462 of title 5, United States Code, made after the effective date described in subsection (b); and

(2)

any annuity covered by section 8462 of title 5, United States Code, commencing before, on, or after the effective date described in subsection (b).