Voters should care about this bill because it directly impacts the financial stability of future federal retirees and the federal government's ability to attract skilled workers. If this bill becomes law, future federal employees will receive lower retirement benefits than their current and past counterparts, even if they earn the same total compensation during their working years. This could make federal jobs less competitive, particularly in areas with high living costs where locality pay is a significant portion of total compensation, potentially making it harder for agencies to recruit and retain talent.

If this bill does not become law, the existing system will continue, where locality pay is generally included in the calculation of retirement benefits. The change proposed by this bill represents a potential cost-saving measure for the government over the long term, but it comes at the expense of reduced retirement security for new federal hires. It touches upon the broader debate about federal employee compensation, benefits, and the government's role as an employer.