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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Congressional Hearing on the Multiemployer Pension Crisis

Original title: THE COST OF INACTION: WHY CONGRESS MUST ADDRESS THE MULTIEMPLOYER PENSION CRISIS

January 1, 2019

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing addresses the potential for widespread pension fund , which could impact the retirement security of millions of workers and the financial viability of contributing employers.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Retirees

Their retirement income security is tied to the solvency of the multiemployer pension plans.

Contributing Employers

Employers participating in these plans face potential financial liabilities if plans become underfunded.

Labor Unions

Unions negotiate the collective bargaining agreements that establish and fund these pension plans.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2019 House Subcommittee hearing regarding the financial stability of s. Lawmakers and expert witnesses discussed the potential risks to retirees and businesses if these pension funds become insolvent.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on March 7, 2019, by the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
  • The primary subject was the financial status of multiemployer pension plans and the consequences of potential plan failures.
  • Witnesses included representatives from labor organizations, business groups, academic institutions, and actuarial associations.
  • The hearing record includes supplemental submissions from Teamsters Local 707 and DHL regarding the impact of pension crises on businesses and jobs.
  • The committee requested and received follow-up responses from witnesses regarding the technical aspects of pension reform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a multiemployer pension plan?
It is a pension plan maintained pursuant to one or more collective bargaining agreements involving more than one employer.
Why was this hearing held?
To examine the financial health of these plans and discuss potential legislative solutions to prevent .

Why It Matters

The hearing addresses the potential for widespread pension fund , which could impact the retirement security of millions of workers and the financial viability of contributing employers.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Multiemployer Stability

The hearing highlights a concerted effort by the 116th Congress to address long-standing structural issues in multiemployer pension funding.

Connected Entities

personJames MorganWitness, Resident of Blue Island, ILMap →
personJoshua ShapiroWitness, American Academy of ActuariesMap →
personTim WalbergRanking Member of the SubcommitteeMap →
personMariah BeckerWitness, Director of Research and Education at NCCMPMap →
organizationSubcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsCongressional body conducting the hearingMap →
personMary MoorkampWitness, Chief Legal Officer at Schnuck Markets, Inc.Map →
personGlenn SpencerWitness, U.S. Chamber of CommerceMap →
personCharles P. BlahousWitness, Chair at Mercatus CenterMap →
personJames P. NaughtonWitness, Professor at Northwestern UniversityMap →
personFrederica S. WilsonChairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and PensionsMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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