[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17183]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   THE TIME IS NOW FOR PENSION REFORM

  (Mr. PRICE of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the time to pass pension reform is 
now.
  Today, with Senator Johnny Isakson and the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Westmoreland), I spoke with Delta employees and retirees at the 
Delta Pension Reform Support Day in Atlanta. The sense of urgency for a 
solution to our Nation's pension crisis could not have been more 
evident.
  In the face of high fuel costs and a post-9/11 world, financial 
losses continue to hinder legacy airline carriers' ability to fully 
fund their pension plans. Having airlines keep their commitments to 
their employees and not burden taxpayers is what this is all about.
  Pension reform is financial security for thousands of airline 
employees. Retiring with a pension of only a fraction of what you 
expected is not truly a retirement. A lifetime of work should not be 
rewarded with wondering how you will make ends meet.
  Mr. Speaker, the case has been made. Pension reform is needed now. 
The employees with whom I spoke today have put forth much effort to 
make a difference. They realize the crisis their pension plans are in, 
the American public realizes the crisis that pension plans are in, and 
it is time we fixed the problem before it is too late and before the 
burden is put on the backs of the American taxpayers. Without 
objection.

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