[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 104 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4954-S4958]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Franken, Mr. Harkin, Mr. 
        Whitehouse, and Mr. Brown of Ohio):
  S. 3381. A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to improve 
protections for employees and retirees in business bankruptcies; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record as follows:

                                S. 3381

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting 
     Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 
     2012''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.

        TITLE I--IMPROVING RECOVERIES FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

Sec. 101. Increased wage priority.
Sec. 102. Claim for stock value losses in defined contribution plans.
Sec. 103. Priority for severance pay.
Sec. 104. Financial returns for employees and retirees.
Sec. 105. Priority for WARN Act damages.

           TITLE II--REDUCING EMPLOYEES' AND RETIREES' LOSSES

Sec. 201. Rejection of collective bargaining agreements.
Sec. 202. Payment of insurance benefits to retired employees.
Sec. 203. Protection of employee benefits in a sale of assets.
Sec. 204. Claim for pension losses.
Sec. 205. Payments by secured lender.
Sec. 206. Preservation of jobs and benefits.
Sec. 207. Termination of exclusivity.
Sec. 208. Claim for withdrawal liability.

         TITLE III--RESTRICTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

Sec. 301. Executive compensation upon exit from bankruptcy.
Sec. 302. Limitations on executive compensation enhancements.
Sec. 303. Assumption of executive benefit plans.
Sec. 304. Recovery of executive compensation.
Sec. 305. Preferential compensation transfer.

                       TITLE IV--OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 401. Union proof of claim.
Sec. 402. Exception from automatic stay.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) Business bankruptcies have increased sharply in recent 
     years and remain at high levels. These bankruptcies include 
     several of the largest business bankruptcy filings in 
     history. As the use of bankruptcy has expanded, job 
     preservation and retirement security are placed at greater 
     risk.
       (2) Laws enacted to improve recoveries for employees and 
     retirees and limit their losses in bankruptcy cases have not 
     kept pace with the increasing and broader use of bankruptcy 
     by businesses in all sectors of the economy. However, while 
     protections for employees and retirees in bankruptcy cases 
     have eroded, management compensation plans devised for those 
     in charge of troubled businesses have become more prevalent 
     and are escaping adequate scrutiny.
       (3) Changes in the law regarding these matters are urgently 
     needed as bankruptcy is used to address increasingly more 
     complex and diverse conditions affecting troubled businesses 
     and industries.

        TITLE I--IMPROVING RECOVERIES FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

     SEC. 101. INCREASED WAGE PRIORITY.

       Section 507(a) of title 11, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by striking ``$10,000'' and inserting ``$20,000'';
       (B) by striking ``within 180 days''; and
       (C) by striking ``or the date of the cessation of the 
     debtor's business, whichever occurs first,'';
       (2) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking--
       (A) ``within 180 days''; and
       (B) ``or the date of the cessation of the debtor's 
     business, whichever occurs first''; and
       (3) in paragraph (5), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) for each such plan, to the extent of the number of 
     employees covered by each such plan, multiplied by 
     $20,000.''.

     SEC. 102. CLAIM FOR STOCK VALUE LOSSES IN DEFINED 
                   CONTRIBUTION PLANS.

       Section 101(5) of title 11, United States Code, is 
     amended--

[[Page S4955]]

       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or'' after the 
     semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) right or interest in equity securities of the debtor, 
     or an affiliate of the debtor, held in a defined contribution 
     plan (within the meaning of section 3(34) of the Employee 
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(34))) 
     for the benefit of an individual who is not an insider, a 
     senior executive officer, or any of the 20 next most highly 
     compensated employees of the debtor (if 1 or more are not 
     insiders), if such securities were attributable to either 
     employer contributions by the debtor or an affiliate of the 
     debtor, or elective deferrals (within the meaning of section 
     402(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), and any 
     earnings thereon, if an employer or plan sponsor who has 
     commenced a case under this title has committed fraud with 
     respect to such plan or has otherwise breached a duty to the 
     participant that has proximately caused the loss of value.''.

     SEC. 103. PRIORITY FOR SEVERANCE PAY.

       Section 503(b) of title 11, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) severance pay owed to employees of the debtor (other 
     than to an insider, other senior management, or a consultant 
     retained to provide services to the debtor), under a plan, 
     program, or policy generally applicable to employees of the 
     debtor (but not under an individual contract of employment), 
     or owed pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, for 
     layoff or termination on or after the date of the filing of 
     the petition, which pay shall be deemed earned in full upon 
     such layoff or termination of employment; and''.

     SEC. 104. FINANCIAL RETURNS FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES.

       Section 1129(a) of title 11, United States Code is 
     amended--
       (1) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(17) The plan provides for recovery of damages payable 
     for the rejection of a collective bargaining agreement, or 
     for other financial returns as negotiated by the debtor and 
     the authorized representative under section 1113 (to the 
     extent that such returns are paid under, rather than outside 
     of, a plan).''; and
       (2) by striking paragraph (13) and inserting the following:
       ``(13) With respect to retiree benefits, as that term is 
     defined in section 1114(a), the plan--
       ``(A) provides for the continuation after its effective 
     date of payment of all retiree benefits at the level 
     established pursuant to subsection (e)(1)(B) or (g) of 
     section 1114 at any time before the date of confirmation of 
     the plan, for the duration of the period for which the debtor 
     has obligated itself to provide such benefits, or if no 
     modifications are made before confirmation of the plan, the 
     continuation of all such retiree benefits maintained or 
     established in whole or in part by the debtor before the date 
     of the filing of the petition; and
       ``(B) provides for recovery of claims arising from the 
     modification of retiree benefits or for other financial 
     returns, as negotiated by the debtor and the authorized 
     representative (to the extent that such returns are paid 
     under, rather than outside of, a plan).''.

     SEC. 105. PRIORITY FOR WARN ACT DAMAGES.

       Section 503(b)(1)(A)(ii) of title 11, United States Code is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(ii) wages and benefits awarded pursuant to a judicial 
     proceeding or a proceeding of the National Labor Relations 
     Board as back pay or damages attributable to any period of 
     time occurring after the date of commencement of the case 
     under this title, as a result of a violation of Federal or 
     State law by the debtor, without regard to the time of the 
     occurrence of unlawful conduct on which the award is based or 
     to whether any services were rendered on or after the 
     commencement of the case, including an award by a court under 
     section 2901 of title 29, United States Code, of up to 60 
     days' pay and benefits following a layoff that occurred or 
     commenced at a time when such award period includes a period 
     on or after the commencement of the case, if the court 
     determines that payment of wages and benefits by reason of 
     the operation of this clause will not substantially increase 
     the probability of layoff or termination of current employees 
     or of nonpayment of domestic support obligations during the 
     case under this title.''.

           TITLE II--REDUCING EMPLOYEES' AND RETIREES' LOSSES

     SEC. 201. REJECTION OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.

       Section 1113 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking subsections (a) through (f) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) The debtor in possession, or the trustee if one has 
     been appointed under this chapter, other than a trustee in a 
     case covered by subchapter IV of this chapter and by title I 
     of the Railway Labor Act, may reject a collective bargaining 
     agreement only in accordance with this section. Hereinafter 
     in this section, a reference to the trustee includes a 
     reference to the debtor in possession.
       ``(b) No provision of this title shall be construed to 
     permit the trustee to unilaterally terminate or alter any 
     provision of a collective bargaining agreement before 
     complying with this section. The trustee shall timely pay all 
     monetary obligations arising under the terms of the 
     collective bargaining agreement. Any such payment required to 
     be made before a plan confirmed under section 1129 is 
     effective has the status of an allowed administrative expense 
     under section 503.
       ``(c)(1) If the trustee seeks modification of a collective 
     bargaining agreement, then the trustee shall provide notice 
     to the labor organization representing the employees covered 
     by the agreement that modifications are being proposed under 
     this section, and shall promptly provide an initial proposal 
     for modifications to the agreement. Thereafter, the trustee 
     shall confer in good faith with the labor organization, at 
     reasonable times and for a reasonable period in light of the 
     complexity of the case, in attempting to reach mutually 
     acceptable modifications of such agreement.
       ``(2) The initial proposal and subsequent proposals by the 
     trustee for modification of a collective bargaining agreement 
     shall be based upon a business plan for the reorganization of 
     the debtor, and shall reflect the most complete and reliable 
     information available. The trustee shall provide to the labor 
     organization all information that is relevant for 
     negotiations. The court may enter a protective order to 
     prevent the disclosure of information if disclosure could 
     compromise the debtor's position with respect to its 
     competitors in the industry, subject to the needs of the 
     labor organization to evaluate the trustee's proposals and 
     any application for rejection of the agreement or for interim 
     relief pursuant to this section.
       ``(3) In consideration of Federal policy encouraging the 
     practice and process of collective bargaining and in 
     recognition of the bargained-for expectations of the 
     employees covered by the agreement, modifications proposed by 
     the trustee--
       ``(A) shall be proposed only as part of a program of 
     workforce and nonworkforce cost savings devised for the 
     reorganization of the debtor, including savings in management 
     personnel costs;
       ``(B) shall be limited to modifications designed to achieve 
     a specified aggregate financial contribution for the 
     employees covered by the agreement (taking into consideration 
     any labor cost savings negotiated within the 12-month period 
     before the filing of the petition), and shall be not more 
     than the minimum savings essential to permit the debtor to 
     exit bankruptcy, such that confirmation of a plan of 
     reorganization is not likely to be followed by the 
     liquidation, or the need for further financial 
     reorganization, of the debtor (or any successor to the 
     debtor) in the short term; and
       ``(C) shall not be disproportionate or overly burden the 
     employees covered by the agreement, either in the amount of 
     the cost savings sought from such employees or the nature of 
     the modifications.
       ``(d)(1) If, after a period of negotiations, the trustee 
     and the labor organization have not reached an agreement over 
     mutually satisfactory modifications, and further negotiations 
     are not likely to produce mutually satisfactory 
     modifications, the trustee may file a motion seeking 
     rejection of the collective bargaining agreement after notice 
     and a hearing. Absent agreement of the parties, no such 
     hearing shall be held before the expiration of the 21-day 
     period beginning on the date on which notice of the hearing 
     is provided to the labor organization representing the 
     employees covered by the agreement. Only the debtor and the 
     labor organization may appear and be heard at such hearing. 
     An application for rejection shall seek rejection effective 
     upon the entry of an order granting the relief.
       ``(2) In consideration of Federal policy encouraging the 
     practice and process of collective bargaining and in 
     recognition of the bargained-for expectations of the 
     employees covered by the agreement, the court may grant a 
     motion seeking rejection of a collective bargaining agreement 
     only if, based on clear and convincing evidence--
       ``(A) the court finds that the trustee has complied with 
     the requirements of subsection (c);
       ``(B) the court has considered alternative proposals by the 
     labor organization and has concluded that such proposals do 
     not meet the requirements of paragraph (3)(B) of subsection 
     (c);
       ``(C) the court finds that further negotiations regarding 
     the trustee's proposal or an alternative proposal by the 
     labor organization are not likely to produce an agreement;
       ``(D) the court finds that implementation of the trustee's 
     proposal shall not--
       ``(i) cause a material diminution in the purchasing power 
     of the employees covered by the agreement;
       ``(ii) adversely affect the ability of the debtor to retain 
     an experienced and qualified workforce; or
       ``(iii) impair the debtor's labor relations such that the 
     ability to achieve a feasible reorganization would be 
     compromised; and
       ``(E) the court concludes that rejection of the agreement 
     and immediate implementation of the trustee's proposal is 
     essential to permit the debtor to exit bankruptcy, such that 
     confirmation of a plan of reorganization is not likely to be 
     followed by liquidation, or the need for further financial 
     reorganization, of the debtor (or any successor to the 
     debtor) in the short term.
       ``(3) If the trustee has implemented a program of incentive 
     pay, bonuses, or other financial returns for insiders, senior 
     executive officers, or the 20 next most highly compensated 
     employees or consultants providing services to the debtor 
     during the bankruptcy, or such a program was implemented

[[Page S4956]]

     within 180 days before the date of the filing of the 
     petition, the court shall presume that the trustee has failed 
     to satisfy the requirements of subsection (c)(3)(C).
       ``(4) In no case shall the court enter an order rejecting a 
     collective bargaining agreement that would result in 
     modifications to a level lower than the level proposed by the 
     trustee in the proposal found by the court to have complied 
     with the requirements of this section.
       ``(5) At any time after the date on which an order 
     rejecting a collective bargaining agreement is entered, or in 
     the case of an agreement entered into between the trustee and 
     the labor organization providing mutually satisfactory 
     modifications, at any time after such agreement has been 
     entered into, the labor organization may apply to the court 
     for an order seeking an increase in the level of wages or 
     benefits, or relief from working conditions, based upon 
     changed circumstances. The court shall grant the request only 
     if the increase or other relief is not inconsistent with the 
     standard set forth in paragraph (2)(E).
       ``(e) During a period in which a collective bargaining 
     agreement at issue under this section continues in effect, 
     and if essential to the continuation of the debtor's business 
     or in order to avoid irreparable damage to the estate, the 
     court, after notice and a hearing, may authorize the trustee 
     to implement interim changes in the terms, conditions, wages, 
     benefits, or work rules provided by the collective bargaining 
     agreement. Any hearing under this subsection shall be 
     scheduled in accordance with the needs of the trustee. The 
     implementation of such interim changes shall not render the 
     application for rejection moot.
       ``(f) Rejection of a collective bargaining agreement 
     constitutes a breach of the agreement, and shall be effective 
     no earlier than the entry of an order granting such relief. 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely for purposes of 
     determining and allowing a claim arising from the rejection 
     of a collective bargaining agreement, rejection shall be 
     treated as rejection of an executory contract under section 
     365(g) and shall be allowed or disallowed in accordance with 
     section 502(g)(1). No claim for rejection damages shall be 
     limited by section 502(b)(7). Economic self-help by a labor 
     organization shall be permitted upon a court order granting a 
     motion to reject a collective bargaining agreement under 
     subsection (d) or pursuant to subsection (e), and no 
     provision of this title or of any other provision of Federal 
     or State law may be construed to the contrary.
       ``(g) The trustee shall provide for the reasonable fees and 
     costs incurred by a labor organization under this section, 
     upon request and after notice and a hearing.
       ``(h) A collective bargaining agreement that is assumed 
     shall be assumed in accordance with section 365.''.

     SEC. 202. PAYMENT OF INSURANCE BENEFITS TO RETIRED EMPLOYEES.

       Section 1114 of title 11, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, whether or not the 
     debtor asserts a right to unilaterally modify such payments 
     under such plan, fund, or program'' before the period at the 
     end;
       (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting after ``section'' 
     the following: ``, and a labor organization serving as the 
     authorized representative under subsection (c)(1),'';
       (3) in subsection (f), by striking ``(f)'' and all that 
     follows through paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(f)(1) If a trustee seeks modification of retiree 
     benefits, then the trustee shall provide a notice to the 
     authorized representative that modifications are being 
     proposed pursuant to this section, and shall promptly provide 
     an initial proposal. Thereafter, the trustee shall confer in 
     good faith with the authorized representative at reasonable 
     times and for a reasonable period in light of the complexity 
     of the case in attempting to reach mutually satisfactory 
     modifications.
       ``(2) The initial proposal and subsequent proposals by the 
     trustee shall be based upon a business plan for the 
     reorganization of the debtor and shall reflect the most 
     complete and reliable information available. The trustee 
     shall provide to the authorized representative all 
     information that is relevant for the negotiations. The court 
     may enter a protective order to prevent the disclosure of 
     information if disclosure could compromise the debtor's 
     position with respect to its competitors in the industry, 
     subject to the needs of the authorized representative to 
     evaluate the trustee's proposals and an application pursuant 
     to subsection (g) or (h).
       ``(3) Modifications proposed by the trustee--
       ``(A) shall be proposed only as part of a program of 
     workforce and nonworkforce cost savings devised for the 
     reorganization of the debtor, including savings in management 
     personnel costs;
       ``(B) shall be limited to modifications that are designed 
     to achieve a specified aggregate financial contribution for 
     the retiree group represented by the authorized 
     representative (taking into consideration any cost savings 
     implemented within the 12-month period before the date of 
     filing of the petition with respect to the retiree group), 
     and shall be no more than the minimum savings essential to 
     permit the debtor to exit bankruptcy, such that confirmation 
     of a plan of reorganization is not likely to be followed by 
     the liquidation, or the need for further financial 
     reorganization, of the debtor (or any successor to the 
     debtor) in the short term; and
       ``(C) shall not be disproportionate or overly burden the 
     retiree group, either in the amount of the cost savings 
     sought from such group or the nature of the modifications.'';
       (4) in subsection (g)--
       (A) by striking ``(g)'' and all that follows through the 
     semicolon at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(g)(1) If, after a period of negotiations, the trustee 
     and the authorized representative have not reached agreement 
     over mutually satisfactory modifications and further 
     negotiations are not likely to produce mutually satisfactory 
     modifications, then the trustee may file a motion seeking 
     modifications in the payment of retiree benefits after notice 
     and a hearing. Absent agreement of the parties, no such 
     hearing shall be held before the expiration of the 21-day 
     period beginning on the date on which notice of the hearing 
     is provided to the authorized representative. Only the debtor 
     and the authorized representative may appear and be heard at 
     such hearing.
       ``(2) The court may grant a motion to modify the payment of 
     retiree benefits only if, based on clear and convincing 
     evidence--
       ``(A) the court finds that the trustee has complied with 
     the requirements of subsection (f);
       ``(B) the court has considered alternative proposals by the 
     authorized representative and has determined that such 
     proposals do not meet the requirements of subsection 
     (f)(3)(B);
       ``(C) the court finds that further negotiations regarding 
     the trustee's proposal or an alternative proposal by the 
     authorized representative are not likely to produce a 
     mutually satisfactory agreement;
       ``(D) the court finds that implementation of the proposal 
     shall not cause irreparable harm to the affected retirees; 
     and
       ``(E) the court concludes that an order granting the motion 
     and immediate implementation of the trustee's proposal is 
     essential to permit the debtor to exit bankruptcy, such that 
     confirmation of a plan of reorganization is not likely to be 
     followed by liquidation, or the need for further financial 
     reorganization, of the debtor (or a successor to the debtor) 
     in the short term.
       ``(3) If a trustee has implemented a program of incentive 
     pay, bonuses, or other financial returns for insiders, senior 
     executive officers, or the 20 next most highly-compensated 
     employees or consultants providing services to the debtor 
     during the bankruptcy, or such a program was implemented 
     within 180 days before the date of the filing of the 
     petition, the court shall presume that the trustee has failed 
     to satisfy the requirements of subparagraph (f)(3)(C).''; and
       (B) by striking ``except that in no case'' and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(4) In no case''; and
       (5) by striking subsection (k) and redesignating 
     subsections (l) and (m) as subsections (k) and (l), 
     respectively.

     SEC. 203. PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN A SALE OF 
                   ASSETS.

       Section 363(b) of title 11, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) In approving a sale under this subsection, the court 
     shall consider the extent to which a bidder has offered to 
     maintain existing jobs, preserve terms and conditions of 
     employment, and assume or match pension and retiree health 
     benefit obligations in determining whether an offer 
     constitutes the highest or best offer for such property.''.

     SEC. 204. CLAIM FOR PENSION LOSSES.

       Section 502 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(l) The court shall allow a claim asserted by an active 
     or retired participant, or by a labor organization 
     representing such participants, in a defined benefit plan 
     terminated under section 4041 or 4042 of the Employee 
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, for any shortfall in 
     pension benefits accrued as of the effective date of the 
     termination of such pension plan as a result of the 
     termination of the plan and limitations upon the payment of 
     benefits imposed pursuant to section 4022 of such Act, 
     notwithstanding any claim asserted and collected by the 
     Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect to such 
     termination.
       ``(m) The court shall allow a claim of a kind described in 
     section 101(5)(C) by an active or retired participant in a 
     defined contribution plan (within the meaning of section 
     3(34) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 
     (29 U.S.C. 1002(34))), or by a labor organization 
     representing such participants. The amount of such claim 
     shall be measured by the market value of the stock at the 
     time of contribution to, or purchase by, the plan and the 
     value as of the commencement of the case.''.

     SEC. 205. PAYMENTS BY SECURED LENDER.

       Section 506(c) of title 11, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following: ``If employees have not 
     received wages, accrued vacation, severance, or other 
     benefits owed under the policies and practices of the debtor, 
     or pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining 
     agreement, for services rendered on and after the date of the 
     commencement of the case, then such unpaid obligations shall 
     be deemed necessary costs and expenses of preserving, or 
     disposing of, property securing an allowed secured claim and 
     shall be recovered even if the trustee has otherwise waived 
     the provisions of this subsection under an agreement with the 
     holder of the allowed secured claim or a successor or 
     predecessor in interest.''.

     SEC. 206. PRESERVATION OF JOBS AND BENEFITS.

       Title 11, United States Code, is amended--

[[Page S4957]]

       (1) by inserting before section 1101 the following:

     ``SEC. 1100. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       ``A debtor commencing a case under this chapter shall have 
     as its principal purpose the reorganization of its business 
     to preserve going concern value to the maximum extent 
     possible through the productive use of its assets and the 
     preservation of jobs that will sustain productive economic 
     activity.'';
       (2) in section 1129(a), as amended by section 104, by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(18) The debtor has demonstrated that the reorganization 
     preserves going concern value to the maximum extent possible 
     through the productive use of the debtor's assets and 
     preserves jobs that sustain productive economic activity.'';
       (3) in section 1129(c), by striking the last sentence and 
     inserting the following: ``If the requirements of subsections 
     (a) and (b) are met with respect to more than 1 plan, the 
     court shall, in determining which plan to confirm--
       ``(1) consider the extent to which each plan would preserve 
     going concern value through the productive use of the 
     debtor's assets and the preservation of jobs that sustain 
     productive economic activity; and
       ``(2) confirm the plan that better serves such interests.

     A plan that incorporates the terms of a settlement with a 
     labor organization representing employees of the debtor shall 
     presumptively constitute the plan that satisfies this 
     subsection.''; and
       (4) in the table of sections for chapter 11, by inserting 
     the following before the item relating to section 1101:

``1100. Statement of purpose.''.

     SEC. 207. TERMINATION OF EXCLUSIVITY.

       Section 1121(d) of title 11, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) For purposes of this subsection, cause for reducing 
     the 120-day period or the 180-day period includes the 
     following:
       ``(A) The filing of a motion pursuant to section 1113 
     seeking rejection of a collective bargaining agreement if a 
     plan based upon an alternative proposal by the labor 
     organization is reasonably likely to be confirmed within a 
     reasonable time.
       ``(B) The proposed filing of a plan by a proponent other 
     than the debtor, which incorporates the terms of a settlement 
     with a labor organization if such plan is reasonably likely 
     to be confirmed within a reasonable time.''.

     SEC. 208. CLAIM FOR WITHDRAWAL LIABILITY.

       Section 503(b) of title 11, United States Code, as amended 
     by section 103 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(11) with respect to withdrawal liability owed to a 
     multiemployer pension plan for a complete or partial 
     withdrawal pursuant to section 4201 of the Employee 
     Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1381) where 
     such withdrawal occurs on or after the commencement of the 
     case, an amount equal to the amount of vested benefits 
     payable from such pension plan that accrued as a result of 
     employees' services rendered to the debtor during the period 
     beginning on the date of commencement of the case and ending 
     on the date of the withdrawal from the plan.''.

         TITLE III--RESTRICTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAMS

     SEC. 301. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION UPON EXIT FROM BANKRUPTCY.

       Section 1129(a) of title 11, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following: 
     ``Except for compensation subject to review under paragraph 
     (5), payments or other distributions under the plan to or for 
     the benefit of insiders, senior executive officers, and any 
     of the 20 next most highly compensated employees or 
     consultants providing services to the debtor, shall not be 
     approved except as part of a program of payments or 
     distributions generally applicable to employees of the 
     debtor, and only to the extent that the court determines that 
     such payments are not excessive or disproportionate compared 
     to distributions to the debtor's nonmanagement workforce.''; 
     and
       (2) in paragraph (5)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``and'' at the 
     end; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting the following: ``; and
       ``(C) the compensation disclosed pursuant to subparagraph 
     (B) has been approved by, or is subject to the approval of, 
     the court as reasonable when compared to individuals holding 
     comparable positions at comparable companies in the same 
     industry and not disproportionate in light of economic 
     concessions by the debtor's nonmanagement workforce during 
     the case.''.

     SEC. 302. LIMITATIONS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ENHANCEMENTS.

       Section 503(c) of title 11, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by inserting ``, a senior executive officer, or any of 
     the 20 next most highly compensated employees or 
     consultants'' after ``an insider'';
       (B) by inserting ``or for the payment of performance or 
     incentive compensation, or a bonus of any kind, or other 
     financial returns designed to replace or enhance incentive, 
     stock, or other compensation in effect before the date of the 
     commencement of the case,'' after ``remain with the debtor's 
     business,''; and
       (C) by inserting ``clear and convincing'' before ``evidence 
     in the record''; and
       (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
       ``(3) other transfers or obligations, to or for the benefit 
     of insiders, senior executive officers, managers, or 
     consultants providing services to the debtor, in the absence 
     of a finding by the court, based upon clear and convincing 
     evidence, and without deference to the debtor's request for 
     such payments, that such transfers or obligations are 
     essential to the survival of the debtor's business or (in the 
     case of a liquidation of some or all of the debtor's assets) 
     essential to the orderly liquidation and maximization of 
     value of the assets of the debtor, in either case, because of 
     the essential nature of the services provided, and then only 
     to the extent that the court finds such transfers or 
     obligations are reasonable compared to individuals holding 
     comparable positions at comparable companies in the same 
     industry and not disproportionate in light of economic 
     concessions by the debtor's nonmanagement workforce during 
     the case.''.

     SEC. 303. ASSUMPTION OF EXECUTIVE BENEFIT PLANS.

       Section 365 of title 11, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``and (d)'' and 
     inserting ``(d), (q), and (r)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(q) No deferred compensation arrangement for the benefit 
     of insiders, senior executive officers, or any of the 20 next 
     most highly compensated employees of the debtor shall be 
     assumed if a defined benefit plan for employees of the debtor 
     has been terminated pursuant to section 4041 or 4042 of the 
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, on or after 
     the date of the commencement of the case or within 180 days 
     before the date of the commencement of the case.
       ``(r) No plan, fund, program, or contract to provide 
     retiree benefits for insiders, senior executive officers, or 
     any of the 20 next most highly compensated employees of the 
     debtor shall be assumed if the debtor has obtained relief 
     under subsection (g) or (h) of section 1114 to impose 
     reductions in retiree benefits or under subsection (d) or (e) 
     of section 1113 to impose reductions in the health benefits 
     of active employees of the debtor, or reduced or eliminated 
     health benefits for active or retired employees within 180 
     days before the date of the commencement of the case.''.

     SEC. 304. RECOVERY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

       Title 11, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
     section 562 the following:

     ``SEC. 563. RECOVERY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

       ``(a) If a debtor has obtained relief under subsection (d) 
     of section 1113, or subsection (g) of section 1114, by which 
     the debtor reduces the cost of its obligations under a 
     collective bargaining agreement or a plan, fund, or program 
     for retiree benefits as defined in section 1114(a), the 
     court, in granting relief, shall determine the percentage 
     diminution in the value of the obligations when compared to 
     the debtor's obligations under the collective bargaining 
     agreement, or with respect to retiree benefits, as of the 
     date of the commencement of the case under this title before 
     granting such relief. In making its determination, the court 
     shall include reductions in benefits, if any, as a result of 
     the termination pursuant to section 4041 or 4042 of the 
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, of a defined 
     benefit plan administered by the debtor, or for which the 
     debtor is a contributing employer, effective at any time on 
     or after 180 days before the date of the commencement of a 
     case under this title. The court shall not take into account 
     pension benefits paid or payable under of such Act as a 
     result of any such termination.
       ``(b) If a defined benefit pension plan administered by the 
     debtor, or for which the debtor is a contributing employer, 
     has been terminated pursuant to section 4041 or 4042 of the 
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, effective at 
     any time on or after 180 days before the date of the 
     commencement of a case under this title, but a debtor has not 
     obtained relief under subsection (d) of section 1113, or 
     subsection (g) of section 1114, then the court, upon motion 
     of a party in interest, shall determine the percentage 
     diminution in the value of benefit obligations when compared 
     to the total benefit liabilities before such termination. The 
     court shall not take into account pension benefits paid or 
     payable under title IV of the Employee Retirement Income 
     Security Act of 1974 as a result of any such termination.
       ``(c) Upon the determination of the percentage diminution 
     in value under subsection (a) or (b), the estate shall have a 
     claim for the return of the same percentage of the 
     compensation paid, directly or indirectly (including any 
     transfer to a self-settled trust or similar device, or to a 
     nonqualified deferred compensation plan under section 
     409A(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) to any 
     officer of the debtor serving as member of the board of 
     directors of the debtor within the year before the date of 
     the commencement of the case, and any individual serving as 
     chairman or lead director of the board of directors at the 
     time of the granting of relief under section 1113 or 1114 or, 
     if no such relief has been granted, the termination of the 
     defined benefit plan.
       ``(d) The trustee or a committee appointed pursuant to 
     section 1102 may commence an

[[Page S4958]]

     action to recover such claims, except that if neither the 
     trustee nor such committee commences an action to recover 
     such claim by the first date set for the hearing on the 
     confirmation of plan under section 1129, any party in 
     interest may apply to the court for authority to recover such 
     claim for the benefit of the estate. The costs of recovery 
     shall be borne by the estate.
       ``(e) The court shall not award postpetition compensation 
     under section 503(c) or otherwise to any person subject to 
     subsection (c) if there is a reasonable likelihood that such 
     compensation is intended to reimburse or replace compensation 
     recovered by the estate under this section.''.

     SEC. 305. PREFERENTIAL COMPENSATION TRANSFER.

       Section 547 of title 11, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(j) The trustee may avoid a transfer to or for the 
     benefit of an insider (including an obligation incurred for 
     the benefit of an insider under an employment contract) made 
     in anticipation of bankruptcy, or a transfer made in 
     anticipation of bankruptcy to a consultant who is formerly an 
     insider and who is retained to provide services to an entity 
     that becomes a debtor (including an obligation under a 
     contract to provide services to such entity or to a debtor) 
     made or incurred on or within 1 year before the filing of the 
     petition. No provision of subsection (c) shall constitute a 
     defense against the recovery of such transfer. The trustee or 
     a committee appointed pursuant to section 1102 may commence 
     an action to recover such transfer, except that, if neither 
     the trustee nor such committee commences an action to recover 
     such transfer by the time of the commencement of a hearing on 
     the confirmation of a plan under section 1129, any party in 
     interest may apply to the court for authority to recover the 
     claims for the benefit of the estate. The costs of recovery 
     shall be borne by the estate.''.

                       TITLE IV--OTHER PROVISIONS

     SEC. 401. UNION PROOF OF CLAIM.

       Section 501(a) of title 11, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting ``, including a labor organization,'' after ``A 
     creditor''.

     SEC. 402. EXCEPTION FROM AUTOMATIC STAY.

       Section 362(b) of title 11, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (27), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (28), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(29) of the commencement or continuation of a grievance, 
     arbitration, or similar dispute resolution proceeding 
     established by a collective bargaining agreement that was or 
     could have been commenced against the debtor before the 
     filing of a case under this title, or the payment or 
     enforcement of an award or settlement under such 
     proceeding.''.
                                 ______