EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT

Amendments

Pensions: reform funding rules (H.R. 2830), H11708 [15DE]

———reform funding rules (S. 1783), S10905 [3OC], S12892, S12960, S13032, S13033 [16NO]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), H6497 [26JY]

Articles and editorials

Pension Loopholes Helped United Hide Troubles, H4163 [7JN]

Bills and resolutions

Business and industry: exclude cooperative employing units from multiple employer welfare arrangements (see H.R. 2529), H3768 [23MY]

Courts: exempt from preemption, under State tort actions to recover damages, any employee welfare benefit plan providing disability benefits that fails to provide timely benefits (see H.R. 3789), H8087 [15SE]

Dept. of Labor: establish Small Employer Health Benefits Program (see H.R. 3056), H5176 [24JN]

Diseases: require group and individual health insurance coverage of screening for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer (see H.R. 2812), H4295 [8JN]

Federal employees: require health benefits coverage for infertility treatment (see H.R. 735), H523 [9FE]

Health: expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (see S. 1955), S12238 [2NO]

———improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of such premiums (see H.R. 2072), H2975 [4MY]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (see S. 1012), S5071 [12MY] (see H.R. 2259), H3196 [11MY] (see H.R. 2650), H4138 [26MY]

———provide emergency protection for retiree health benefits (see H.R. 1322), H1508 [15MR]

Insurance: coverage of bone mass measurements (see H.R. 2946), H4655 [16JN]

———coverage of fertility and impotence treatment under group and individual health plans and the Federal employees' health benefits program (see H.R. 2759), H4186 [7JN]

———coverage of hearing aids under group and individual health plans and the Federal employees' health benefits program (see H.R. 4164), H9361 [27OC]

———coverage of screening mammography (see H.R. 2761), H4186 [7JN] (see H.R. 4540), H11653 [14DE]

———provide nondiscriminatory coverage of substance abuse treatment services under private group and individual health coverage (see S. 803), S3653 [14AP] (see H.R. 1258), H1370 [10MR]

———require comprehensive coverage for childhood immunizations (see H.R. 277), H137 [6JA]

———require group and individual health plans to provide coverage for second opinions (see H.R. 2936), H4654 [16JN]

———require health plans to cover treatment of a minor child's congenital or developmental deformity or disorder due to trauma, infection, tumor, or disease (see S. 1132), S6021 [26MY] (see H.R. 1000), H845 [1MR]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral (see H.R. 2937), H4654 [16JN]

Investments: increase participation in section 401(k) plans through automatic contribution trusts (see S. 875), S4108 [21AP]

Mental health: extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits (see H.R. 4579), H12047 [16DE]

———provide for equal insurance coverage of benefits unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits (see H.R. 1402), H1692 [17MR]

Native Americans: regulate Indian tribal governments under the same rules and procedures that apply to other governmental employers relative to establishment and maintenance of employee benefit plans (see S. 673), S2995 [17MR] (see H.R. 331), H194 [25JA]

Pensions: combine defined benefit plans and deferred compensation arrangements in a single plan (see H.R. 3899), H8386 [27SE]

———ensure employees are not improperly disqualified from pension and welfare benefits based on status misclassification or reclassification (see H.R. 1058), H940 [2MR]

———facilitate automatic enrollment of employees in certain pension plans (see H.R. 1508), H1845 [6AP]

———impose a moratorium on terminations of certain plans in cases in which reorganization of contributing sponsors is sought in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings (see S. 1158), S6022 [26MY] (see H.R. 2327), H3260 [12MY]

———improve disclosure of the funding status of pension plans (see H.R. 2321), H3259 [12MY]

———limit availability of benefits under nonqualified deferred compensation plans subject to distress or termination resulting from bankruptcy reorganization or conversion to cash balance plan (see S. 991), S4869 [10MY] (see H.R. 2233), H3112 [10MY]

———protect accrued benefits of participants during conversions of pension plans to cash balance plans (see H.R. 4274), H10144 [9NO]

———protect benefits for employees of companies which sell the division for which the employee works (see S. 607), S2517 [11MR]

———protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans (see S. 1304), S7294 [23JN] (see H.R. 4052), H8808 [7OC]

———protect retirement security of workers by ensuring assets are adequately diversified and providing workers with access to information about their plans (see S. 219), S647 [31JA] (see S. 1953), S12238 [2NO]

———provide appropriate waivers, suspensions, or exemptions for individual account plans of persons affected by Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3862), H8340 [22SE]

———provide appropriate waivers, suspensions, or exemptions for individual account plans of persons affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (see S. 1802), S10724 [29SE]

———provide necessary reforms for employee pension benefit plans (see H.R. 4055), H8809 [7OC]

———reform funding rules (see S. 1783), S10594 [28SE] (see H.R. 2830), H4354 [9JN]

———reform funding rules (H.R. 2830), consideration (see H. Res. 602), H11652 [14DE]

———require Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., to compute the actuarial value of monthly benefits in the form of a life annuity for certain retired airline pilots (see S. 685), S2995 [17MR] (see H.R. 2926), H4560 [15JN]

———require plan administrators that provide access to automobile insurance to submit certain information on such insurance to the FTC (see H.R. 3515), H7557 [28JY]

———revise funding and deduction rules for multiemployer defined benefit plans (see S. 1825), S11130 [5OC]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care (see S. 406), S1513 [16FE] (see H.R. 525), H348 [2FE]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), consideration (see H. Res. 379), H6431 [25JY]

Taxation: provide retirement security and pension reform (see H.R. 1960, 1961), H2735 [28AP]

YWCA: clarify the status of retirement benefits under certain benefit accrual standards (see H.R. 4428), H11034 [18NO] (see H.R. 4455), H11219 [7DE]

Letters

Clarify treatment of multiemployer defined benefit plans: several Senators, S12912 [16NO]

Pension Protection Act: William D. Novelli, AARP, H11667 [15DE]

Require Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., to compute the actuarial value of monthly benefits in the form of a life annuity for certain retired airline pilots: Duane E. Woerth, Air Line Pilots Association, S12893 [16NO]

Small Business Health Fairness Act: Al Redmer, Jr., Maryland Insurance Administration, H6505 [26JY]

Lists

Multi-Employer Pension Plan Coalition members, S12896 [16NO]

Motions

Pensions: reform funding rules (H.R. 2830), H11770 [15DE]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), H6506 [26JY]

Remarks in House

Diseases: require group and individual health insurance coverage of screening for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer (H.R. 2812), E1161 [8JN]

Health: improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals aged 55 to 65 and allow tax credits for payment of such premiums (H.R. 2072), E862 [4MY]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (H.R. 2259), E937 [11MY]

Insurance: coverage of bone mass measurements (H.R. 2946), E1258 [17JN]

———provide nondiscriminatory coverage of substance abuse treatment services under private group and individual health coverage (H.R. 1258), H8218, H8219, H8220 [21SE]

———require group and individual health plans to provide coverage for second opinions (H.R. 2936), E1266 [17JN]

———require health plans to provide direct access to services provided by obstetrician-gynecologists without a referral (H.R. 2937), E1265 [17JN]

Investments: increase participation in section 401(k) plans through automatic contribution trusts, H3337 [17MY]

Mental health: extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits (H.R. 4579), H12125-H12128 [17DE]

———provide for equal insurance coverage of benefits unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits (H.R. 1402), H10166 [15NO]

Pensions: facilitate automatic enrollment of employees in certain pension plans (H.R. 1508), H6179 [20JY]

———impose a moratorium on terminations of certain plans in cases in which reorganization of contributing sponsors is sought in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, H4903 [22JN]

———impose a moratorium on terminations of certain plans in cases in which reorganization of contributing sponsors is sought in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings (H.R. 2327), H4160 [7JN]

———limit availability of benefits under nonqualified deferred compensation plans subject to distress or termination resulting from bankruptcy reorganization or conversion to cash balance plan (H.R. 2233), E923 [10MY]

———reform funding rules (H.R. 2830), H10013-H10017 [8NO], H11678-H11798 [15DE], E2566, E2584, E2601 [17DE], E2610 [18DE], E2634, E2645 [22DE]

———reform funding rules (H.R. 2830), consideration (H. Res. 602), H11660-H11670 [15DE]

———reform funding rules (H.R. 2830), motion to recommit, H11796, H11797 [15DE]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care, H2750 [3MY]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), H1427 [15MR], H6309 [21JY], H6384, H6408, H6417 [25JY], H6438, H6477-H6509 [26JY], H6656 [27JY], E150 [2FE], E750 [22AP], E1635, E1637, E1640 [27JY], E1665 [29JY]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), consideration (H. Res. 379), H6466-H6472 [26JY]

———improve access and choice relative to employee health care (H.R. 525), motion to recommit, H6507 [26JY]

Taxation: provide retirement security and pension reform, H6408 [25JY]

———provide retirement security and pension reform (H.R. 1960), E831 [28AP]

———provide retirement security and pension reform (H.R. 1961), E831 [28AP]

Remarks in Senate

Health: expand access and reduce costs through creation of small business health plans and modernization of the health insurance marketplace (S. 1955), S12242-S12251 [2NO]

———protect enrollees in managed care plans and other health coverage (S. 1012), S5075 [12MY]

Insurance: provide nondiscriminatory coverage of substance abuse treatment services under private group and individual health coverage (S. 803), S3680 [14AP]

———require health plans to cover treatment of a minor child's congenital or developmental deformity or disorder due to trauma, infection, tumor, or disease (S. 1132), S6028 [26MY]

Investments: increase participation in section 401(k) plans through automatic contribution trusts (S. 875), S4118 [21AP]

Mental health: provide for equal insurance coverage of benefits unless comparable limitations are imposed on medical and surgical benefits, S2945, S2946 [17MR]

Pensions: clarify treatment of multiemployer defined benefit plans, S12911 [16NO]

———impose a moratorium on terminations of certain plans in cases in which reorganization of contributing sponsors is sought in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings (S. 1158), S6054 [26MY]

———limit availability of benefits under nonqualified deferred compensation plans subject to distress or termination resulting from bankruptcy reorganization or conversion to cash balance plan (S. 991), S4876 [10MY], S5050 [12MY]

———protect accrued benefits of participants during conversions of pension plans to cash balance plans, S12906 [16NO]

———protect benefits for employees of companies which sell the division for which the employee works (S. 607), S2522 [11MR]

———protect employee benefits in defined benefit plans and enforce age discrimination requirements that apply to conversion of pension plans to cash balance plans (S. 1304), S7312 [23JN]

———protect retirement security of workers by ensuring assets are adequately diversified and providing workers with access to information about their plans (S. 219), S671, S672 [31JA]

———provide appropriate waivers, suspensions, or exemptions for individual account plans of persons affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita (S. 1802), S10759, S10771 [29SE], S10809 [30SE]

———reform funding rules relative to airlines, S12886, S12889-S12891, S12918 [16NO]

———reform funding rules (S. 1783), S10624 [28SE], S12884-S12897, S12902-S12921 [16NO], S14424 [22DE]

———reform funding rules (S. 1783), unanimous-consent agreement, S12869 [15NO]

———require Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., to compute the actuarial value of monthly benefits in the form of a life annuity for certain retired airline pilots, S12892, S12905, S12918 [16NO]

———require Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., to compute the actuarial value of monthly benefits in the form of a life annuity for certain retired airline pilots (S. 685), S3066 [17MR]

———revise funding and deduction rules for multiemployer defined benefit plans, S12895 [16NO]

Small business: improve access and choice relative to employee health care (S. 406), S1452, S1541-S1550 [16FE], S4012 [20AP]

Reports

Broken Promises—America's Pension Plans at Risk—Independent Analysis Finds That Republican Plan Makes Pension Crisis Worse: Representative George Miller, H11662 [15DE]

Reports filed

Consideration of H.R. 525, Small Business Health Fairness Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 379) (H. Rept. 109-183), H6431 [25JY]

Consideration of H.R. 2830, Pension Protection Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 602) (H. Rept. 109-346), H11652 [14DE]

National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act: Committee on Finance (Senate) (S. 1953) (S. Rept. 109-174), S12236 [2NO]

Pension Protection Act: Committee on Education and the Workforce (House) (H.R. 2830) (H. Rept. 109-232), H8340 [22SE]

———Committee on Ways and Means (House) (H.R. 2830) (H. Rept. 109-232), H11108 [6DE]

Small Business Health Fairness Act: Committee on Education and the Workforce (House) (H.R. 525) (H. Rept. 109-41), H1967 [13AP]

Summaries

Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (S. 1955), S12244 [2NO]

Medicare Early Access Act (H.R. 2072), E862 [4MY]

Texts of

H. Res. 379, consideration of H.R. 525, Small Business Health Fairness Act, H6466 [26JY]

H. Res. 602, consideration of H.R. 2830, Pension Protection Act, H11660 [15DE]

H.R. 525, Small Business Health Fairness Act, H6478-H6484 [26JY]

H.R. 2830, Pension Protection Act, H11678-H11753 [15DE]

H.R. 4579, extend provisions requiring parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, H12125 [17DE]

S. 406, Small Business Health Fairness Act, S1542-S1549 [16FE]

S. 685, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., Pilots Equitable Treatment Act, S3066 [17MR]

S. 803, Help Expand Access to Recovery and Treatment (HEART) Act, S3680-S3682 [14AP]

S. 875, Save More for Retirement Act, S4119 [21AP]

S. 1012, Patients' Bill of Rights Act, S5075-S5099 [12MY]

S. 1132, Treatment of Children's Deformities Act, S6028 [26MY]

S. 1802, Pension Flexibility in Natural Disasters Act, S10759 [29SE]

S. 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, S12244-S12251 [2NO]