Momentum Building on Capitol Hill to Restore Our Pension Plan
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 25 March 2021 20:40
September 30, 2020 — While campaigning in Youngstown, Mr. Biden speaks to WFMJ-TV reporter Madison Tromler and references Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): “People worked like hell for the pensions. My dad lost a pension when a company he worked for went out. It’s not right. What I am going to do is work with your senator to figure out how we can, in fact, bring in the (Delphi) salaried workers who are really hurt as badly. They deserve their pensions … these are hard-working folks. They worked years and years relying on this so they can retire … they deserve it.”
March 12, 2021 — Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) writes a letter to the PBGC's Director Hartogensis, saying in part, "I am ... deeply troubled by the PBGC's apparent refusal to comply with former President Trump's lawful Presidential Memorandum (of Oct. 22, 2020) ... (that) ... directed a response about an important issue.
March 16, 2021 — Rep. Turner submits to the PBGC a FOIA records request regarding the PBGC's management of our pension plan.
March 17, 2021 — WFMJ-TV airs this story after Congress (in a strict party line vote pushed by Democrats) includes $86 billion in the American Rescue Plan Act (the COVID-19 stimulus package) to help multi-employer pension plans that cover union workers. Sen. Brown is asked about the status of resolving our pension issue, and he tells the reporter, "I don't know what's next. I'm hopeful ... if we can get bipartisan support, we can get this through."
March 24, 2021 — Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) discloses in a news release that he's "had a private conversation" with President Biden earlier in the day "about the continued injustice that Delphi Salaried Retirees face ... I advocated that (they) should be made whole and urged him to have his Administration work with us to restore their earned benefits. President Biden was familiar with the situation and told me he wants to help. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress and with the White House on this issue."
March 25, 2021 — Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) held a video dialog with the House Committee on Ways and Means specifically regarding the Protection of the Pensions of Delphi salaried retirees. Rep. Kildee said: “In my home state of Michigan we have almost 6,000 Delphi salaried retirees, many of whom are in my district. ... What’s happened to them, as you said, is an injustice and it’s long past time that we correct it ….” Rep. Ryan responded: "I know this is on the President's radar screen ... he said he ... wants to try to fix it … I know he's deeply concerned ... this has been a long, tough process but we're not giving up." [Rep. Ryan media release]
