Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) first emerged as a serious health emergency, Congress has moved quickly to pass three major pieces of legislation designed to address the public economic and health crises caused by the pandemic. According to reports, House Democrats have prioritized multiemployer pension reform in previous negotiations regarding coronavirus relief legislation, and are likely to continue to do so as lawmakers consider a potential “phase 4” COVID-19 relief bill.
Since the beginning of 2018, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have introduced three major proposals attempting to address the ongoing multiemployer pension plan crisis. The proposals, each of which are summarized below, will likely provide the framework for any pension reform discussions that may take place in the context of future COVID-19 relief legislation. At this point a timeline for any further legislative action is uncertain as both the House and Senate are out of session until April 20, but reports indicate that a fourth relief bill could be passed between late April and mid-May.
Links to the summaries below:
- Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act of 2019
- Multiemployer Pension Recapitalization and Reform Plan
- Give Retirement Options to Workers Act
For more information on the federal multiemployer pension reform proposals, please contact Tom Dowling, Nick Bertron, Joel Abrahamson, Dominic Cecere, Nicole Faulkner, Rick Pins, James Sticha, Johnny Wang or the Stinson LLP contact with whom you regularly work.
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