The Pension Rights Center Mourns the Death of Beth Shulman
WASHINGTON – The Pension Rights Center mourns the death of Beth Shulman, a great human and a beloved colleague who died Friday, February 5, 2010. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in October and subsequently suffered complications from pneumonia. Beth is survived by her husband, Ernie Englander, and son, Aaron, as well as a loving circle of dear […]
Statement on President Obama’s Auto-IRA Proposal
WASHINGTON – The Pension Rights Center applauds the Obama administration for recognizing retirement insecurity as a major national issue – both in the President’s State of the Union address last night and in the recommendations released by the Middle Class Task Force on Monday. Giving workers better information about the fees they pay for their […]
Pension Rights Center Asks Senate HELP Committee to Provide Funding Relief for Companies that Continue Workers’ Pensions
WASHINGTON – Congress should make short-term emergency funding relief available for companies that continue their workers’ pension plans, the Pension Rights Center told lawmakers today. Testifying on behalf of the Center before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Center Executive Vice President and Policy Director Karen Friedman recognized the economic hardships that […]
Conference Calls for New Approach to Retirement Security, Looks at Proposals for Visionary Future System
Washington – A Retirement USA conference held in Washington, D.C., today spotlighted the need for a new, visionary approach to retirement security. Convened by the AFL-CIO, the Economic Policy Institute, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the Pension Rights Center, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Retirement USA is a new […]
Pension Rights Center Asks House Ways and Means Committee to Provide Funding Relief for Companies that Continue Workers’ Pensions
WASHINGTON – Congress should make short-term emergency funding relief available for companies that continue their workers’ pension plans, the Pension Rights Center told lawmakers today. Testifying on behalf of the Center before the House Ways and Means Committee, Professor Norman P. Stein recognized the economic hardships that companies are facing, but urged the panel to […]
The Pension Rights Center Mourns the Death of Lisle Carter
WASHINGTON – The Pension Rights Center released the following statement on the death of former board member Lisle Carter: “Lisle C. Carter, Jr. was a man of great distinction and infinite wisdom whose entire life was dedicated to public service, helping to lay the groundwork for many of the country’s most far-reaching retirement income reforms. […]
Pension Rights Center Mourns the Death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy
WASHINGTON – The following is a statement from Karen Ferguson, director of the Pension Rights Center, on the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy: “The Pension Rights Center joins the country in mourning the loss of Senator Ted Kennedy, the Senate’s most steadfast and effective advocate for American families. As the Chairman of the Senate […]
Pension Rights Center Statement on the Introduction of the 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009
WASHINGTON – The Pension Rights Center applauds Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.) and Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ) for introducing the 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act of 2009. At a time when the decline of the stock market has decimated 401(k) plans, it is more evident than ever that every dollar counts – and workers […]
60 Minutes 401(k) Exposé Shows Need for New Retirement Income System
WASHINGTON – The television news program 60 Minutes aired a devastating indictment of 401(k) plans Sunday, further documenting the need for a new retirement system above Social Security. The piece featured several older Americans whose 401(k) accounts have dropped precipitously in the past year, shattering their dreams of retirement. The Pension Rights Center hailed the […]
Groups Launch Retirement USA Initiative, Establish Principles for a Visionary Retirement Income System
Washington – The Economic Policy Institute, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the Pension Rights Center and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today launched Retirement USA, an initiative working for a new retirement system that, along with Social Security, will provide universal, secure, and adequate income for future retirees. The groups […]
Little-known Provision in Federal Pension Program May Prevent Some From Getting Benefits
Pension Rights Center Asks Obama Administration to Notify Workers of Potential Risk WASHINGTON – Federal workers who are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) may not realize that, if they leave the federal government to work in the private sector and they die before applying for their CSRS pensions, their spouses and ex-spouses […]
PENSION RIGHTS CENTER SUBMITS A CONSUMER AGENDA FOR RETIREMENT SECURITY TO OBAMA TRANSITION TEAM
WASHINGTON – In advance of President-elect Obama taking office, the Pension Rights Center has created a Consumer Agenda for Retirement Security, a list of recommendations for improving current retirement programs. The Agenda, which has been submitted to the Obama transition team, includes 40 distinct legislative and regulatory actions. These actions affect both the traditional pension […]
