Summary of HR 4008: Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act

Purpose and Intent

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act (HR 4008) aims to amend Title 5 of the United States Code to provide increased locality pay rates for certain employees of the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) whose duty stations are located in the pay locality designated as "Rest of U.S." The bill seeks to ensure that correctional officers receive fair compensation that reflects the cost of living in their respective areas.

Key Provisions

The bill includes the following significant provisions:

1. Locality Pay Adjustment:

   • Employees of the Bureau of Prisons whose official worksite is in the "Rest of U.S." locality will have their pay adjusted to the nearest other pay locality.
   • If multiple pay localities are within 200 miles of an employee's worksite, the employee will be assigned to the locality with the highest comparability payment.

2. Exemptions:

   • Employees whose worksite is not within 200 miles of any other pay locality will not be subject to this adjustment.

3. Definition of Employee:

   • The term "employee" includes any prevailing rate employee as defined in section 5342 of Title 5.

4. Implementation Timeline:

   • The provisions of this bill will take effect during any pay period beginning 180 days after the date of enactment.

Affected Parties

The primary beneficiaries of this legislation will be employees of the Bureau of Prisons who are currently receiving pay under the "Rest of U.S." locality designation. This includes correctional officers and other staff working in federal correctional facilities located in areas where the cost of living may not be adequately reflected in their current pay rates.

Legislative Process

• Introduced: June 12, 2025
• Current Status: The bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for further consideration.

Sponsors

The bill is sponsored by:
- Mr. Weber of Texas
- Cosponsors include:
- Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
- Frank D. Lucas
- Laurel M. Lee
- Nicholas A. Langworthy
- Brian K. Fitzpatrick
- Don Bacon
- Terri A. Sewell
- Elise M. Stefanik

Conclusion

The Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act seeks to address pay disparities for Bureau of Prisons employees by adjusting their locality pay to better reflect the economic realities of their work environments. If enacted, this legislation could significantly impact the financial well-being of correctional officers and improve recruitment and retention within the Bureau of Prisons.