Bill Lowering Optional Retirement Age for Government Workers Moves to Committee

A proposed measure seeking to lower the optional retirement age of government employees from 60 to 56 years old is set to be taken up at the committee level today, marking another major step in a long-running legislative effort.

The proposal, known as House Bill No. 207 or the Lowering of Optional Retirement Age (LORA) Bill, aims to give public servants—particularly teachers and other government workers—the option to retire earlier after decades of service in the public sector.

Supporters of the bill stress that many government employees spend decades working under challenging conditions, often facing heavy workloads, limited benefits, and compensation that does not always match the demands of their duties. Over time, this takes a serious toll on both physical and mental health, making continued service increasingly difficult for aging workers.

Advocates, especially from the education and public service sectors, have long argued that public servants should not be forced to work until their health is compromised before being allowed to retire with dignity. They see the bill as a measure that recognizes the real conditions faced by frontline government employees.

The LORA Bill is not new to Congress. Versions of the proposal have been filed and debated in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th Congresses, and at one point, the measure already reached the third reading stage. Despite this progress, it has yet to be enacted into law.

With the bill now moving forward once again, supporters are calling on both the House of Representatives and the Senate to act swiftly and approve the measure, and for the President to sign it into law once it is passed.

If enacted, the bill would provide government workers with greater flexibility and choice in planning their retirement, while acknowledging the long years of service and sacrifice they have given to the country.