Results for
Vested Employee Pension Benefit Protection Act
HR #4043 | Last Action: 7/25/2019Vested Employee Pension Benefit Protection Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employees in the building and construction industry who have attained age 55 and are not separated from employment to make distributions from certain tax-exempt multiemployer pension plans if they were participants in such plan on or before April 30, 2013. Such payments shall be suspended during any period in which the multiemployer pension plan is in endangered or critical status.Vested Employee Pension Benefit Protection Act
S #2276 | Last Action: 7/25/2019Vested Employee Pension Benefit Protection Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employees in the building and construction industry who have attained age 55 and are not separated from employment to make distributions from certain tax-exempt multiemployer pension plans if they were participants in such plan on or before April 30, 2013.No Pensions For Pedophiles Act
HR #3816 | Last Action: 7/17/2019No Pensions for Pedophiles Act This bill prohibits a federal employee from receiving federal retirement benefits if the employee has been convicted of certain crimes relating to the sexual abuse of children.Sustainable Pension Plan Act of 2019
HR #408 | Last Action: 1/9/2019Sustainable Pension Plan Act of 2019 This bill requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report on the pension system for the employees of the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (known as the Government Employees Retirement System). The GAO study must analyze (1) the benefits provided, including a comparison to those offered to private employees; and (2) whether the system is adequately funded. The study must also recommend actions that may be necessary to ensure that the system can be sustainably maintained and funded by the U.S Virgin Islands for the next 20 years.Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019
HR #397 | Last Action: 7/19/2019Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Pension Rehabilitation Administration within the Department of the Treasury and a related trust fund to make loans to certain multiemployer defined benefit pension plans. To receive a loan, a plan must be (1) in critical and declining status, including any plan with respect to which a suspension of benefits has been approved; (2) in critical status, have a modified funded percentage of less than 40%, and have a ratio of active to inactive participants which is less than two to five; or (3) insolvent, if the plan became insolvent after December 16, 2014, and has not been terminated. Treasury must transfer amounts, which may include proceeds from bonds and other obligations, from the general fund to the trust fund established by this bill as necessary to fund the program. The Pension Rehabilitation Administration may use the funds, without a further appropriation, to make loans, pay principal and interest on obligations, or for administrative and operating expenses. The bill allows the sponsor of a multiemployer pension plan that is applying for a loan under this bill to also apply to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) for financial assistance if, after receiving the loan, the plan will still become (or remain) insolvent within the 30-year period beginning on the date of the loan. The bill also appropriates to the PBGC the funds that are necessary to provide the financial assistance required by this bill. The bill modifies the requirements for the distribution of remaining pension benefits from certain defined contribution plans to a designated beneficiary upon death of an employee. The bill increases penalties for failure to file * a tax return, and * certain retirement plan returns.CEO and Worker Pension Fairness Act
S #3341 | Last Action: 2/27/2020CEO and Worker Pension Fairness Act This bill limits tax benefits for deferred compensation of highly compensated employees (e.g., corporate chief executive officers) and increases disclosure requirements for such compensation. The bill includes such deferred compensation in taxable income when there is no substantial risk of forfeiture (i.e., when vested) of the rights of the person entitled to such compensation rather than at distribution. The bill transfers revenue from this revised tax treatment of deferred compensation from the Treasury to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to increase insurance coverage of multiemployer pension plans. The bill requires the Department of Labor to report on nonqualified deferred compensation plans of highly compensated employees known astop hat plans. The Department of the Treasury must disclose amounts deferred under such plans on W-2 formsPension Stability Act
S #2598 | Last Action: 10/15/2019Pension Stability Act This bill requires the Department of Labor to establish user fees for qualified professional asset managers (QPAMs) who have been convicted of a crime and apply for an individual exemption (known as a QPAM waiver) to the prohibited transaction rules under requirements for certain private benefit plans. The fees * apply to large regulated banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, and federally registered investment advisors who are QPAMs; * must be at least $1 million per application for an individual exemption; and * increase based on the severity of the crime and the number of prior applications for individual exemptions. Labor must transfer the amounts collected from the user fees to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to assist in guaranteeing benefits under pension plans.Miners Pension Protection Act
S #671 | Last Action: 3/6/2019Miners Pension Protection Act This bill transfers certain funds to provide pension benefits for retired coal miners who have been affected by issues such as coal company bankruptcies. The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the annual limit on transfers under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 exceeds the amount required to be transferred for existing obligations of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. The bill also increases the annual limit on transfers from $490 million to $750 million. The bill also allows in-service distributions under a pension plan or governmental section 457(b) plan at age 59-1/2 (currently age 62).Miners Pension Protection Act
HR #935 | Last Action: 1/31/2019Miners Pension Protection Act This bill transfers certain funds to provide pension benefits for retired coal miners who have been affected by issues such as coal company bankruptcies. The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the annual limit on transfers under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 exceeds the amount required to be transferred for existing obligations of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. The bill also increases the annual limit on transfers from $490 million to $750 million. The bill also allows in-service distributions under a pension plan or governmental section 457(b) plan at age 59-1/2 (currently age 62).No Pensions for Corrupt Politicians Act of 2020
HR #5755 | Last Action: 2/4/2020No Pensions for Corrupt Politicians Act of 2020 This bill excludes Members of Congress from receiving benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System if the member is convicted of specified campaign finance violations relating to the use of campaign funds for personal use, including conspiracy to commit such an offense.Pension Accountability Act
S #833 | Last Action: 3/14/2019Pension Accountability Act This bill revises the rules for voting on the suspension of pension benefits under multiemployer plans in critical and declining status. The bill changes the voting procedure for suspending plan benefits to provide that a suspension shall go into effect unless a majority of plan participants and beneficiaries who cast a vote (currently, a majority of all plan participants and beneficiaries) reject the suspension. The bill also eliminates the authority of the Department of the Treasury, in the case of systemically important plans, to override a vote of plan participants to reject a suspension. A plan is systemically important if projected financial assistance to the plan will exceed $1 billion if suspensions are not implemented.Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2019
HR #4035 | Last Action: 7/25/2019Pension and Budget Integrity Act of 2019 This bill prohibits certain provisions from being counted as an offset to determine budget points of order for legislation in the House of Representatives or the Senate. Specifically, a provision that increases or extends an increase of single-employer pension program premiums payable to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) may not be counted as such an offset. (The PBGC is a federal agency that insures the benefits of private sector, defined benefit pension plans. The PBGC is financed by insurance premiums paid by sponsors of the plans, investment income, assets from pension plans taken over by the PBGC, and recoveries from the companies formerly responsible for the plans.)Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2020
S #4089 | Last Action: 6/25/2020Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2020 This bill modifies provisions related to Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which typically involves the reorganization of a debtor company's assets and debts. Specifically, the bill (1) expands available claims and priorities for employees and retirees, and (2) places additional restrictions on the compensation of executives and other high level employees. With respect to employee and retiree recoveries and losses, the bill * increases the maximum value and age of specified wage and benefit claims entitled to priority payment; * allows certain claims for losses related to defined contribution plans, if the employer or plan sponsor has committed fraud or otherwise breached its fiduciary duty; * allows, as an administrative expense of the estate, severance pay owed to employees and contributions to an employee benefit plan; * establishes certain restrictions regarding the rejection or amendment of a collective bargaining agreement; * revises specified procedures related to the reduction or denial of retiree benefits; * requires a court, in approving a sale of business assets, to consider the extent to which a bidder has offered to maintain existing jobs and assume benefit obligations; and * allows claims related to pension losses. With respect to executive compensation, the bill * establishes specified limitations related to executive compensation enhancements, * prohibits executives from receiving certain retiree benefits if such benefits were reduced or eliminated for other employees or retirees, and * revises other requirements related to court approval of such compensation.Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2020
HR #7370 | Last Action: 9/29/2020Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2020 This bill modifies provisions related to Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which typically involves the reorganization of a debtor company's assets and debts. Specifically, the bill (1) expands available claims and priorities for employees and retirees, and (2) places additional restrictions on the compensation of executives and other high level employees. With respect to employee and retiree recoveries and losses, the bill * increases the maximum value and age of specified wage and benefit claims entitled to priority payment; * allows certain claims for losses related to defined contribution plans, if the employer or plan sponsor has committed fraud or otherwise breached its fiduciary duty; * allows, as an administrative expense of the estate, severance pay owed to employees and contributions to an employee benefit plan; * establishes certain restrictions regarding the rejection or amendment of a collective bargaining agreement; * revises specified procedures related to the reduction or denial of retiree benefits; * requires a court, in approving a sale of business assets, to consider the extent to which a bidder has offered to maintain existing jobs and assume benefit obligations; and * allows claims related to pension losses. With respect to executive compensation, the bill * establishes specified limitations related to executive compensation enhancements, * prohibits executives from receiving certain retiree benefits if such benefits were reduced or eliminated for other employees or retirees, and * revises other requirements related to court approval of such compensation.Establishing the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans.
HCONRES #54 | Last Action: 7/24/2019This concurrent resolution establishes the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans to provide recommendations and legislative language that will significantly improve the solvency of multiemployer pension plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act of 2019
S #1264 | Last Action: 5/1/2019Denying Pensions to Convicted Child Molesters Act of 2019 This bill prohibits a federal employee from receiving federal retirement benefits if the employee (1) has been convicted of certain crimes relating to the sexual abuse of children, or (2) willfully remains outside the United States to avoid prosecution for such crimes. Additionally, the bill requires that, for an individual convicted of such crimes, a computation of any refund of retirement contributions must exclude any interest for the period after the conviction. .Veteran Pension Protection Act of 2019
S #2988 | Last Action: 12/5/2019Veteran Pension Protection Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) to implement methods and systems to address potential financial exploitation of individuals who receive VA pensions for non-service-connected disability, death, or service. Specifically, the bill requires the VA to develop a method for soliciting and collecting information on complaints received, referrals made, and actions taken by the VA pension management centers in cases of potential financial exploitation. The VA must also (1) develop a plan to regularly assess the collected information to identify trends of potential financial exploitation, (2) and outline actions it can take to improve education and training to address those trends. The bill requires the VBA to * update guidance and training curriculum for claims processors regarding the evaluation of questionable medical expenses on pension applications, * develop a method for identifying and tracking the number of individuals who have received pension overpayments, * conduct an evaluation of the feasibility and advisability of requiring claims processors to take additional actions to verify direct deposit information, * identify legislative or administrative actions that would ensure pension payments are provided to the correct recipients, * ensure that specified pension documents include a notice that the VA does not charge a fee in connection with the filing of a pension application, and * develop a plan for educating vulnerable individuals about potential financial exploitation relating to the receipt of the specified pensions.SLAP Act
S #2737 | Last Action: 10/30/2019Stop Looting American Pensions Act of 2019 or the SLAP Act This bill revises certain bankruptcy requirements, including by providing additional protections for employee pay and pensions in the event of a bankruptcy. Specifically, the bill * revises the bankruptcy priority requirements of claims for wages and contributions to employee benefit plans, including by increasing the cap of these payments and by eliminating the time period limitation for which unpaid wages and contributions may be claimed; * increases the bankruptcy priority of minimum funding contributions towards employee pension benefit plans and withdrawal liability and requires companies to continue making these payments during bankruptcy; * expands restrictions on executive pay; * places restrictions on the sale of property in bankruptcy proceedings, including by requiring reasonable payment; and * extends look back periods regarding fraudulent transfers from two years to six years.Butch Lewis Act of 2019
S #2254 | Last Action: 7/24/2019Butch Lewis Act of 2019 This bill establishes the Pension Rehabilitation Administration within the Department of the Treasury and a related trust fund to make loans to certain multiemployer defined benefit pension plans. To receive a loan, a plan must be either in critical and declining status (including any plan with respect to which a suspension of benefits has been approved) or insolvent, if the plan became insolvent after December 16, 2014, and has not been terminated. Treasury must issue bonds to fund the loan program and transfer amounts equal to the proceeds to the trust fund established by this bill. The Pension Rehabilitation Administration may use the funds, without a further appropriation, to make loans, pay principal and interest on the bonds, or for administrative and operating expenses. The bill amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow the sponsor of a multiemployer pension plan that is applying for a loan under this bill to also apply to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) for financial assistance if, after receiving the loan, the plan will still become (or remain) insolvent within the 30-year period beginning on the date of the loan. The bill also appropriates to the PBGC the funds that are necessary to provide the financial assistance required by this bill.Bipartisan American Miners Act of 2019
S #2788 | Last Action: 11/6/2019Bipartisan American Miners Act of 2019 This bill transfers certain funds to provide pension and health benefits for retired coal miners who have been affected by issues such as coal company bankruptcies. The Department of the Treasury must transfer additional funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the annual limit on transfers under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 exceeds the amount required to be transferred for existing obligations of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund. The bill also increases the annual limit on transfers from $490 million to $750 million. The bill also adds miners affected by 2018 and 2019 coal company bankruptcies to the group whose retiree health benefits are taken into account in determining the amount that Treasury must transfer under current law to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan. Additionally, the bill allows in-service distributions under a pension plan or governmental section 457(b) plan at age 59-1/2. The distributions are currently permitted at age 62 for pension plans and at age 70-1/2 for governmental section 457(b) plans.Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2019
S #2214 | Last Action: 7/23/2019Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2019 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of length of service award plans as eligible deferred compensation plans for retirement plan purposes. It also exempts such length of service award plans from requirements relating to employee pension benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).Defending Pensions from the Chinese Communist Threat Act
S #5005 | Last Action: 12/10/2020Defending Pensions from the Chinese Communist Threat Act This bill prohibits pension plans from investing in certain Chinese military companies.Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2019
HR #4036 | Last Action: 7/25/2019Volunteer Emergency Services Recruitment and Retention Act of 2019 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for the treatment of length of service award plans as eligible deferred compensation plans for retirement plan purposes. It also exempts such length of service award plans from requirements relating to employee pension benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).State and Local Pensions Accountability and Security Act
HR #2126 | Last Action: 4/8/2019State and Local Pensions Accountability and Security Act This bill prohibits the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board from providing any loan, grant, or other form of financial assistance in support of a state or local pension plan.Members of Congress Pension Opt Out Clarification Act
S #439 | Last Action: 12/19/2019Members of Congress Pension Opt Out Clarification Act This bill allows future Members of the House of Representatives to opt out of the Federal Employees Retirement System, an option currently available to Members of the House who began serving before September 30, 2003, and all Senators. In addition, it permits Members of Congress who opt out to continue to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan.