Government Affairs Updates
The latest updates on what Congress is doing to protect, or undermine, the interests of both ARA’s members and the people they serve
On December 18, 2025, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement of support for and endorsement of the Automatic IRA Act of 2025 (H.R. 6722), help bridge the coverage gap and ensure that millions of working Americans have access to a secure retirement. (more…)
On December 10, 2025, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions for the hearing entitled “The Future of Retirement” calling on Congress to bring into the savings fold the millions of American workers who still lack access…
On December 4, 2025, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement for the record of support for the INVEST Act, Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions. (more…)
On December 2, 2025, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement for the record to the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions for the hearing “Pension Predators: Stopping Class Action Abuse Against Workers’ Retirement.” (more…)
On February 28, 2024, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in support of policies strengthening the employer-sponsored retirement system. (more…)
On February 15, 2024, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement for the record to the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions in support of modernizing the Fiduciary Rule and expanding it to cover plan-level advice. (more…)
On January 10, 2024, the American Retirement Association submitted a statement for the record to the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets in support of modernizing the Fiduciary Rule and expanding it to cover plan-level advice. (more…)
On June 29, 2023, the American Retirement Association, along with over 200 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to Reps. Jason Smith (R-MO, 8th) and Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), Chair and Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chair and Ranking…
On May 22, 2023, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Frank Lucas (R-OK, 3rd), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ, 5th), Andy Barr (R-KY, 6th), and Bill Foster (D-IL, 11th) in support of the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act. (more…)
On November 17, 2022, the American Retirement Association, along with 60 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to the Democratic and Republican Congressional Leadership urging quick enactment of the compilation of retirement provisions known as SECURE 2.0. (more…)
On June 21, 2022, the American Retirement Association, along with 18 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, in support of the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act. (more…)
On June 13, 2022, the American Retirement Association, along with 18 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and Senator Richard Burr, Ranking Member of the HELP Committee, in support of the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement…
On May 17, 2022, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA, 3rd), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5th), Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee to oppose the Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act of 2022. (more…)
On April 12, 2022, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in connection with the Hearing entitled: “Rise and Shine: Improving Retirement and Enhancing Savings.” (more…)
On April 5, 2022, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA, 3rd), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5th), Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee opposing the Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act (PARSA). (more…)
On March 28, 2022, the American Retirement Association wrote to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of both the House Education and Labor Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, Representatives Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), Bobby Scott (D-VA, 3rd), Kevin Brady (R-TX, 8th), and Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5th) in support…
On March 15, 2022, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Education and Labor Committee in connection with that Committee’s Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee Hearing entitled “Improving Retirement Security and Access to Mental Health Benefits.” (more…)
On November 9, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA, 3rd), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and Virginia Foxx (R-NC, 5th), Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee in support of the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement Act or RISE Act.…
On September 7, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representative Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, to endorse Subtitle B or the Retirement Subtitle of the Build Back Better Act. (more…)
On July 28, 2021, Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association, testified before the Senate Finance Committee in a Hearing entitled: “Building on Bipartisan Retirement Legislation: How Can Congress Help?”. In his testimony, Mr. Graff cited projections that enactment of new legislation could create 51 million new individuals saving…
On May 28, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) in support of the Enhancing Emergency and Retirement Savings Act. The bill creates a new category of distribution in a 401(k) plan to allow workers to address a personal financial emergency without…
On May 20, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA, 1st) in support of the Financial Factors in Selecting Retirement Plan Investments Act. The bill clarifies ERISA fiduciary obligations so a plan fiduciary may consider ESG factors in the selection of retirement plan investments. (more…)
On May 20, 2021, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in connection with the Hearing entitled: “Retirement Security: Building a Better Future.” (more…)
On May 19, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and James Lankford (R-OK) in support of their retirement savings bill, the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act. (more…)
On May 10, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) in support of the Financial Factors in Selecting Retirement Plan Investments Act. The bill clarifies ERISA fiduciary obligations so a plan fiduciary may consider ESG factors in the selection of retirement plan investments. (more…)
On May 3, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Kevin Brady (R-TX, 8th), Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee in support of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act or SECURE 2.0. (more…)
On May 3, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA, 20th) and Jodey Arrington (R-TX, 19th) in support of the Family Attribution Modernization Act. The bill updates old tax rules to reflect the modern economy and removes needless barriers to small business retirement plan formation, particularly…
On April 29, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL, 7th) and Darin LaHood (R-IL, 18th) in support of the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act. This bill authorizes a new benefit so employers can give employees matching contributions into the 401(k) plan based on the…
On April 29, 2021, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senator Ron Wyden, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, in support of the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act. This bill authorizes a new benefit so employers can give employees matching contributions into the 401(k) plan based on the amount…
COVID-19 Defined Contribution Plan Funding Relief Legislative Proposal The American Retirement Association strongly supports federal legislation to provide immediate defined contribution or 401(k) plan funding relief. Small businesses face significant cash flow problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are considering 401(k) plan termination to decrease payroll costs. A…
COVID-19 Emergency Response Initiatives In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Retirement Association has been actively engaged with Capitol Hill and the appropriate Regulatory Agencies to ask for various forms of retirement plan relief for small businesses. The Department of Labor, Department of Treasury, and the Internal Revenue Service…
Legislation Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act (H.R. 1865, Division O) – President Trump signed the most significant piece of retirement plan legislation in more than a decade into law on December 20, 2019. The SECURE Act, or Division O of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public…
In this update you will find a concise report highlighting the issues our government affairs team is working on in four key areas: legislation, regulation, research, and events. Legislation Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act (H.R. 1994) – The House of Representatives passed the SECURE Act on…
The last few months have seen a significant amount of legislative activity around pension and retirement policy on Capitol Hill. The House and the Senate have been positioning themselves for a potential year end negotiation on a retirement policy package in the lame duck session of Congress beginning in November. …
President Trump and Congressional Republicans want to keep the focus on tax policy heading into the midterm elections. To that end, House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX, 8th) publicly announced at the end of June that he will begin circulating a tax reform 2.0 draft proposal to…
Congress is expected to vote for the fifth time this week to temporarily extend (this time through March 22) the current levels of funding for federal operations under what is called a continuing resolution. The federal government has been functioning in this way since the 2018 fiscal year began on…
In September, President Trump struck a bipartisan deal with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA, 12th) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that provided some immediate federal funding for the various emergencies resulting from an active hurricane season, extended the temporary suspension of the debt limit, and funded all…
Congressional Republicans, nursing their wounds after the bruising debate to repeal Obamacare ended in failure, look to regroup in the fall and get their legislative agenda back on track. The crown jewel in that agenda is passing a comprehensive and permanent tax reform package. But many practical and political obstacles…
Congress skipped town last week to kick off what will be a seven week summer recess as the 2016 general election campaign gets fully underway. The abnormally long break is the result of both political parties pushing up their nominating conventions this cycle to July. The Republicans are currently holding…
On July 14, 2016, the American College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA), along with six other organizations, wrote to Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) in support of the Pension and Budget Integrity Act (PBIA) of 2016. (more…)
The first session of the 114th Congress wrapped up last week and Members are home for the holidays after having completed the most comprehensive and expensive tax and spending package since the fiscal cliff deal at the end of 2012. President Obama signed the package into law on Friday, December…
On November 17, 2015, the ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA) joined over 100 other organizations and individual companies in asking Congress to oppose future Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) premium increases. (more…)
After the Speaker of the House John Boehner announced his resignation, Congress acted last week to avert a government shutdown. The legislation, called the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2016, extended spending on federal government operations until December 11, 2015 (spending on both defense and non-defense discretionary programs were reduced by .21…
The House of Representatives took off for summer break after clearing a short term transportation funding bill, while the Senate passed the same bill, as well as a longer-term transportation bill last week. It is anticipated to be an action packed fall with Congress attempting to address many politically tricky…
Congress finished up the June work period last week after enacting key elements of President Obama’s trade agenda. Congress will now focus in the July work period on extending the charter for the Export-Import Bank, which expires on June 30 2015, and providing funding for federal highway programs, which expire…
Congress recently wrapped up a busy work period in May, but is still left with unfinished business heading into the summer. The most pressing item on the Congressional agenda for June is the reauthorization of certain federal government surveillance provisions originally contained in the USA PATRIOT Act. Those provisions expired…
Congress left town last week for a two week recess over the Easter holiday after both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed their respective budget blueprints. Congress is also poised to adopt legislation that would permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) Medicare physician repayment formula when they…