[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MAKE PENSION SECURITY A PRIORITY

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, every American who works hard and plays by 
the rules should be able to retire in dignity, supported by the pension 
that they have earned.
  Instead of protecting these hardworking Americans, this Republican-
led Congress prioritized tax cuts for the biggest corporations and the 
wealthiest Americans. Now some of the largest pension plans for workers 
are on the verge of collapse; 1.5 million Americans, including 43,000 
in my home State of Michigan, are at risk.
  These workers have earned their pensions. They worked a lifetime 
contributing to them, and now they are having the rug pulled out from 
under them?
  Patricia from Michigan is one of those retirees. Here is what she 
told my office: ``I was a single mother raising one child. I thought 
putting money into the pension was my security. Now you want to take it 
away. I was never on welfare--I worked. If I lose my pension, I will 
not be able to pay for the basics: utilities, taxes, car insurance, 
food.''
  So unless Congress steps up, pensions for Americans like Patricia 
will be cut. Let's vote on bipartisan legislation that I cosponsored, 
the Butch Lewis Act, which addresses this pension crisis. This 
legislation ensures that multiemployer pension plans remain solvent and 
continue providing retirees and workers with the retirement benefits 
that they have earned. It is long past time to take up this 
legislation.

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