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Office of Pension Participant Advocacy

The Restoring Pension Promises to Workers Act of 2007 would establish a new agency within the Department of Labor called the Office of Pension Participant Advocacy.

The Office would be charged with several tasks relating to pension policy and serve as a resource to individuals affected by shortcomings in private pension law. The functions of the office would include identifying barriers in the law and notifying Congress of pension plan participants’ complaints that could be fixed through legislation.

The Office would also promote the expansion of pension coverage by increasing awareness of the general public through education and forming partnerships to assist individuals receiving pension benefits. Finally the Office would evaluate efforts by public and private organizations in assisting and protecting workers covered by pension plans. This includes identifying significant problems faced by workers covered by pension plans and developing proposals for changes in policies and activities of such organizations.

Read section 104 of the Restoring Pension Promises to Workers Act of 2007 (S. 1725) [PDF].