119th Congress · introduced in the House · Jan 16, 2025
Equal COLA Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Sep 16, 2025): ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walkinshaw asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 491, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Government Operations and Politics
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Jan 16, 2025)
Equal COLA Act
This bill applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for annuities paid under the Federal Employees Retirement System that is equal to the increase in inflation, regardless of the amount of the increase.
Specifically, for any year in which the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased over the previous year, the COLA amount shall be increased by the change in the CPI from the previous year.
Current law applies an adjustment equal to the change in CPI only if the change is 2% or less. If the change is between 2% and 3%, the adjustment is limited to 2%. If the change is more than 3%, the adjustment is limited to 1% less than the change.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walkinshaw asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 491, a bill originally introduced by Representative Connolly, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management · Inflation and prices
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.
52 citations; showing the 25 most recently posted.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Postal
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Bill Act (H.R. 1) FAIR Fleets Act (H.R. 3098) Protect America's Workforce Act (H.R. 2550) Fair Pharmacies for Federal Employees Act (H.R. 4409) Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491/S.624) Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (H.R. 1723/S.1301) Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R.7137/S.3168) Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 (H.R.6213) Pharmacists Figh…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$310,000
Spent on own lobbying
…t IRS Act H.R. 435, Direct Hire To Fight Fires H.R. 473, SHOW UP Act of 2025 S. 354, SHOW UP Act of 2025 H.R. 489, Federal Agency Sunset Commission Act of 2025 H.R. 491, Equal COLA Act S. 624, Equal COLA Act H.R. 492, Saving the Civil Service Act S. 134, Saving the Civil Service Act H.R. 514, SWAMP Act S. 22, SWAMP Act H.R. 68…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Veterans
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…rans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislat…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefit…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefit…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · amended · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Veterans
$410,000
Spent on own lobbying
…rans Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislat…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Veterans
$440,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ns Affairs, and for other purposes. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7480/S. 3823, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support H.R. 3226, the…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 16, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
Amount not reported
Support for the Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 / S. 624); Support for the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (H.R. 1670); Support for the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522); Support for the MANAGER…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, AFL-CIO
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 15, 2026 · issue area: Retirement
$90,000
Spent on own lobbying
Support for Social Security Expansion Act (H.R. 1700 and S. 770) Support for Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 and S. 624) Support for H.R. 1522, Federal Retirement Fairness Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$40,000
Spent on own lobbying
…priations. Support the Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R.492/S.134, to prohibit a return of Schedule F (or Schedule Policy/Career). Support the Equal COLA Act, H.R.491/S.624, to provide full cost-of-living adjustments (matching the change in the consumer price index) for federal retirees covered by the Federal Employees Retir…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, AFL-CIO
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Retirement
$110,000
Spent on own lobbying
Support for Social Security Expansion Act (H.R. 1700 and S. 770) Support for Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 and S. 624) Support for H.R. 1522, Federal Retirement Fairness Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Postal
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Bill Act (H.R. 1) FAIR Fleets Act (H.R. 3098) Protect America's Workforce Act (H.R. 2550) Fair Pharmacies for Federal Employees Act (H.R. 4409) Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491/S.624) Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (H.R. 1723/S.1301) Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R.7137/S.3168) Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 (H.R.6213) Pharmacists Figh…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$340,000
Spent on own lobbying
…t IRS Act H.R. 435, Direct Hire To Fight Fires H.R. 473, SHOW UP Act of 2025 S. 354, SHOW UP Act of 2025 H.R. 489, Federal Agency Sunset Commission Act of 2025 H.R. 491, Equal COLA Act S. 624, Equal COLA Act H.R. 492, Saving the Civil Service Act S. 134, Saving the Civil Service Act H.R. 514, SWAMP Act S. 22, SWAMP Act H.R. 68…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 7, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
Amount not reported
Support for the Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 / S. 624); Support for the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (H.R. 1670); Support for the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522); Support for the MANAGER…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted May 4, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
Amount not reported
Support for the Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 / S. 624); Support for the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (H.R. 1670); Support for the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522); Support for the MANAGER…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 23, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$40,000
Spent on own lobbying
…priations. Support the Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R.492/S.134, to prohibit a return of Schedule F (or Schedule Policy/Career). Support the Equal COLA Act, H.R.491/S.624, to provide full cost-of-living adjustments (matching the change in the consumer price index) for federal retirees covered by the Federal Employees Retir…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Postal
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Bill Act (H.R. 1) FAIR Fleets Act (H.R. 3098) Protect America's Workforce Act (H.R. 2550) Fair Pharmacies for Federal Employees Act (H.R. 4409) Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491/S.624) Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (H.R. 1723/S.1301) Shutdown Fairness Act (H.R.7137/S.3168)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 13, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$310,000
Spent on own lobbying
…t IRS Act H.R. 435, Direct Hire To Fight Fires H.R. 473, SHOW UP Act of 2025 S. 354, SHOW UP Act of 2025 H.R. 489, Federal Agency Sunset Commission Act of 2025 H.R. 491, Equal COLA Act S. 624, Equal COLA Act H.R. 492, Saving the Civil Service Act S. 134, Saving the Civil Service Act H.R. 493, FAIR Act S. 126,FAIR Act H.R. 514,…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, AFL-CIO
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 9, 2026 · issue area: Retirement
$130,000
Spent on own lobbying
Support for Social Security Expansion Act (H.R. 1700 and S. 770) Support for Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 and S. 624) Support for H.R. 1522, Federal Retirement Fairness Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · amended · posted Mar 10, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$360,191
Spent on own lobbying
…Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefit…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · amended · posted Mar 10, 2026 · issue area: Veterans
$360,191
Spent on own lobbying
…ecutive Order 14251. VA Compensation: Lobbied in support of H.R. 493/S. 126, the "FAIR Act" to raise pay for federal employees at the VA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 491/S. 624, the "Equal COLA Act" to protect VA employees in FERS. Lobbied in support of H.R. 657, the "VA CPE Modernization Act." Lobbied in support draft legislat…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIO · lobbying firm or registrant: AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · amended · posted Mar 10, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$45,800
Spent on own lobbying
…Act," H.R. 51 and S. 51 to make the D.C. a state. Lobbied in support of passage of S. 1077 to prevent massive budget cuts to D.C. budget Lobbied in support of H.R. 491, the "Equal COLA Act" for Federal Employee Retirement System beneficiaries' cost-of-living adjustment to be the same as Civil Service Retirement System benefit…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ACTIVE AND RETIRED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Feb 7, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
$50,000
Spent on own lobbying
…priations. Support the Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R.492/S.134, to prohibit a return of Schedule F (or Schedule Policy/Career). Support the Equal COLA Act, H.R.491/S.624, to provide full cost-of-living adjustments (matching the change in the consumer price index) for federal retirees covered by the Federal Employees Retir…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: FEDERAL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Government Issues
Amount not reported
Support for the Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491 / S. 624); Support for the FAIR Act (H.R. 493 / S. 126); Support for the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act (H.R. 1670); Support for the Federal Retirement Fair…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Postal
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
…Bill Act (H.R. 1) FAIR Fleets Act (H.R. 3098) Protect America's Workforce Act (H.R. 2550) Fair Pharmacies for Federal Employees Act (H.R. 4409) Equal COLA Act (H.R. 491/S.624) Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act (H.R. 1723/S.1301)
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing