[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MANCHIN:
  S. 1486. A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to include 
certain pension as administrative expenses in bankruptcy, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Prioritizing 
Our Workers Act, which will make changes to the current bankruptcy 
code, requiring companies going through bankruptcy proceedings to pay 
unpaid vested benefits, like workers' pensions, before they pay out 
other claims against them.
  I firmly believe that no one should be denied their pension because 
their employer goes bankrupt. Hard-working men and women across the 
country go to work every day for years, paying into these pension plans 
each paycheck with the expectation that one day they can retire and 
provide for their families.
  Companies offering pension plans made promises to their workers and 
need to live up to those promises, no matter what else happens to that 
company financially.
  In West Virginia, we are far too familiar with coal and steel 
companies leaving their workers out to dry in this way. This is 
absolutely unacceptable. That is why I am introducing this bill, and I 
look forward to my fellow Senators joining me to support and protect 
pensions across this country.
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