Statements to Congress
The American Retirement Association, on behalf of its five retirement industry associations, periodically submits formal correspondence to Congress, typically in connection with a Congressional Retirement Policy Hearing or Legislation. These letters and statements provide opportunities to engage in the debate and share our policy viewpoints to Policymakers on Capitol Hill.
2022
ARA Joins Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Pass SECURE 2.0 Bill
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.
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ARA Joins Coalition Letter in Support of the EARN Act
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.
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ARA Joins Coalition Letter in Support of the RISE & SHINE Act
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 to Supplement Healthy Investments for the Nest Egg (RISE & SHINE) Act.
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ARA Opposes the Employee and Retiree Access to Justice Act
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.
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ARA Submits Statement for Senate HELP Committee Retirement Security Hearing
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.”
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ARA Opposes the Protecting America’s Retirement Security Act (PARSA)
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).
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ARA Supports the Securing a Strong Retirement ACT (SECURE 2.0)
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 of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022 or SECURE 2.0.
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ARA Submits Statement for House HELP Subcommittee Retirement Security Hearing
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.”
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2021
ARA Supports the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement Act
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.
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ARA Supports the Retirement Subtitle of the Build Back Better 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.
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ARA CEO Brian Graff Testifies Before Senate Finance Committee
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 for retirement and add an additional $6.2 trillion in retirement savings over a 10-year period.
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ARA Supports the Enhancing Emergency and Retirement Savings Act
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 an additional tax penalty.
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ARA Submits Statement for the Senate HELP Committee Retirement Security Hearing
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.”
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ARA Supports the Financial Factors in Selecting Retirement Plan Investments Act – (House)
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.
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ARA Supports the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act
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.
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ARA Supports the Financial Factors in Selecting Retirement Plan Investments Act – (Senate)
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.
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ARA Supports the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (SECURE 2.0)
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.
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ARA Supports the Family Attribution Modernization Act
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 for women business owners.
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ARA Supports the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act – (House)
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 amount an employee is paying in student loans.
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ARA Supports the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act – (Senate)
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 an employee is paying in student loans.
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2020
ARA Supports the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act
On December 18, 2020, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, in support of his new retirement savings bill, the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act.
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ARA Comments on Automatic Retirement Plan Act Discussion Draft
On December 15, 2020, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representative Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, with comments to improve the latest discussion draft text of the Automatic Retirement Plan Act (ARPA) of 2020.
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ARA Submits Statement for Senate Finance Subcommittee Retirement Security Hearing
On December 9, 2020, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy in connection with the Hearing entitled “Investigating Challenges to American Retirement Security.”
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ARA Submits Statement for Senate Aging Committee Hearing on Women and Retirement
On October 2, 2020, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record to the Senate Special Committee on Aging in connection with the Hearing entitled “Women and Retirement: Unique Challenges and Opportunities to Pave a Brighter Future.”
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2019
ARA Urges Senate Leaders to Quickly Pass the SECURE Act
On November 5, 2019, Brian Graff, Chief Executive Officer of the American Retirement Association, along with the presidents, chief executive officers, and chairs of 90 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging quick action to pass the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019.
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ARA Supports the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act
On April 1, 2019, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), Kevin Brady (R-TX, 8th), Ron Kind (D-WI, 3rd), Mike Kelly (R-PA, 16th) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL, 16th) in support of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 and the Retirement Security for American Workers Act.
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ARA Participates in House Small Business Committee Retirement Security Hearing
On March 27, 2019, Martella Turner-Joseph participated on behalf of the American Retirement Association in a House Small Business Committee Hearing entitled “Unlocking Small Business Retirement Security.”
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ARA Submits Statement for House Ways and Means Committee Retirement Security Hearing
On February 6, 2019, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record to the House Ways and Means Committee in connection with the Hearing entitled: “Improving Retirement Security for America’s Workers.”
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2018
ARA Asks Congress to Modify Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (LIDA)
On November 28, 2018, the American Retirement Association, along with 10 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee to ask for modifications of the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (LIDA) to provide greater flexibility to plan sponsors on how they communicate to plan participants.
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ARA Asks Congress to Expand the Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System’s (EPCRS) Self-Correction Program (SCP)
On June 26, 2018, the American Retirement Association, along with 7 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, to direct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to expand the Employee Plan Compliance Resolution System’s (EPCRS) Self-Correction Program (SCP).
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ARA Submits Statement for House Small Business Subcommittee Hearing on Retirement Plan Correction Fees
On April 17, 2018, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record in connection with the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access Hearing entitled “Small Business Retirement Plans and the IRS’s Employee Plan Fee Change.”
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ARA Supports the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA) Introduced in House of Representatives
On March 15, 2018, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA, 16th) and Ron Kind (D-WI, 3rd), members of the House Ways and Means Committee, in support of the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA).
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ARA Supports the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA) Introduced in the Senate
On March 12, 2018, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, in support of the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA).
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2017
ARA Asks Senate to Remove Damaging Retirement Plan Catch-Up Contribution Proposal from the Tax Cuts and Job Act (TCJA)
On November 13, 2017, the American Retirement Association, along with 7 other stakeholder organizations, wrote to Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, asking them to remove a provision from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that would prohibit some small business owners from making “catch-up” contributions to retirement plans.
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ARA Submits Statement to Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Individual Tax Reform
On September 14, 2017, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record in connection with the Senate Finance Committee Hearing entitled: “Individual Tax Reform.”
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ARA Submits Statement to House Small Business Committee Democrats Retirement Policy in Tax Reform Meeting
On September 7, 2017, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record in connection with the House Small Business Committee Democrats stakeholder meeting entitled: “The Importance of Retirement Policy in the Tax Reform Debate.”
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ARA Supports the Rightsizing Pension Premiums Act
On August 28, 2017, the ASPPA College of Pension Actuaries (ACOPA), a sister organization of the American Retirement Association, wrote to Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA, 16th) and Ron Kind (D-WI, 3rd) in support of the Rightsizing Pension Premiums Act of 2017.
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ARA Participates in House Ways and Means Subcommittee Tax Reform Hearing
On July 19, 2017, Jania Stout participated on behalf of the American Retirement Association in a House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy Hearing entitled: “How Tax Reform Will Simplify Our Broken Tax Code and Help Individuals and Families.”
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ARA Submits Statement to Senate Finance Committee on Tax Reform
On July 17, 2017, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee highlighting how the current tax incentives for retirement savings work to promote good savings behavior for tens of millions of working Americans and why those incentives should be, at a minimum, maintained in tax reform.
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2016
ARA Supports the Retirement Security for American Workers Act
On November 29, 2016, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL, 16th), Jim Renacci (R-OH, 16th), Richard Neal (D-MA, 1st), and Ron Kind (D-WI, 3rd), members of the House Ways and Means Committee in support of the Retirement Security for American Workers Act.
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ARA Supports the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA)
On November 21, 2016, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, in support of the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act (RESA).
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ARA Supports the Receiving Electronic Statements to Improve Retiree Earnings (RETIRE) Act
On October 7, 2016, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Mike Enzi (R-WY), members of the Senate Finance Committee, in support of the Receiving Electronic Statements to Improve Retiree Earnings (RETIRE) Act.
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ACOPA Supports the Pension and Budget Integrity Act
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.
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ARA Participates in Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Corporate Integration
On May 17, 2016, Judy Miller, the Director of Retirement Policy of the American Retirement Association, participated in a Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Corporate Integration to highlight the impact of corporate integration on small business retirement plans.
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ARA Submits Statement for House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy Hearing on Tax Reform
On March 22, 2016, the American Retirement Association submitted a Statement for the Record in connection with the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy Hearing entitled: “Proposals Relating to Fundamental Reform of the Income Tax System.”
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2015
ACOPA Opposes Congress Increasing PBGC Premiums
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.
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ARA Supports the Receiving Electronic Statements to Improve Retiree Earnings (RETIRE) Act
On June 19. 2015, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO, 2nd), Ron Kind (D-WI, 3rd), Phil Roe (R-TN, 1st), and Mike Kelly (R-PA, 16th), members of the House Ways and Means Committee and House Education and Workforce Committee in support of the Receiving Electronic Statements to Improve Retiree Earnings (RETIRE) Act.
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ARA Supports the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (LIDA) Introduced in the Senate
On June 2 , 2015, the American Retirement Association wrote to Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee, in support of the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (LIDA).
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ARA Supports the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (LIDA) Introduced in the House of Representatives
On June 2, 2015, the American Retirement Association wrote to Representatives Luke Messer (R-IN, 6th) and Mark Pocan (D-WI, 2nd), members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, in support of the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act (LIDA).
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