One area affected by the Appropriation is the cap on overtime earnings. As many of you may recall, the FY 2004 DHS Appropriation included language capping the amount of overtime that CBP employees could earn during the fiscal year at $30,000. However, overtime and premium earnings for legacy inspectors and officers covered by COPRA was limited to $25,000 in FY 2004. The FY 2005 Appropriation includes an important amendment that raises the limit on earnings for both COPRA-covered CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists and non-COPRA covered employees. The FY 2005 cap on earnings is now $35,000 for all CBP employees and is based on all overtime and premium pay earned.

In addition, the FY 2005 DHS Appropriation retroactively increases the FY 2004 COPRA overtime cap to $30,000, which also raises the total amount of retirement contributions that can be made by a COPRA-covered employee from $12,500 to $15,000 for the affected time period. The National Finance Center will be issuing guidance regarding this change. Additional information is posted in Daily News, on the COSS and Time and Attendance bulletin boards, and is being distributed through muster meetings this week.

This increase in the overtime cap will allow CBP to more aggressively carry out our mission of safeguarding the Nation, especially during this period of heightened alert. I thank you for your continued vigilance and dedication.