Chair's Press

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 – Ahead of this morning’s hearing in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on the retirement crisis in America, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the committee, released a stunning new report exposing the depth of the crisis, while also exploring solutions that will allow all Americans to...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 28 at 10:00 a.m. ET titled, “Taking a Serious Look at the Retirement Crisis in America: What can we do to expand defined benefit pension plans for workers?” “At a time when more...

“I want to welcome everyone to the latest in our series of hearings focusing on retirement security.  This is our first hearing looking specifically at how to make retirement plans work better.  “There is no question that it is getting harder and harder for the average person to retire.  Families are facing unprecedented...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced the Committee will meet on Thursday at 2:00 P.M. for the next hearing in a series on the growing retirement security crisis.  The hearing will focus on what can be done to help Americans save more for retirement and...

“I would like to thank everyone for being here for the second hearing in a series focusing on retirement security in America.  Today, we are going to take a hard look at the management and administration of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and see if we need to take steps to modernize the agency.  “In this climate of...

“I want to welcome everyone to this hearing on retirement security, a timely issue that is of critical importance to every American.   “A recent survey found that 92 percent of adults aged 44-75 believe there is a retirement crisis in America.  Are they right?  Is there a retirement crisis?  Well, consider the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced the Committee will hold a hearing on THURSDAY at 10:00 A.M. to examine the state of retirement security in the United States. The hearing will be webcast live at: http://help.senate.gov Testimony and archived videos will be...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today regarding the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new regulation on 401(k) fee disclosure.   “I commend the Department of Labor for its efforts to shed light on excessive...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today after President Obama appointed Joshua Gotbaum as Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC).  Mr. Gotbaum’s nomination was unanimously approved by the Senate...

“I want to welcome everyone to this hearing on an issue of critical importance to workers and businesses alike - the security of our multiemployer pension plans. “There is no question that retirement security has been under siege in this country for years.  We have seen a gradual erosion of the traditional defined benefit pension...

(As prepared for delivery) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today delivered the following remarks on the Senatefloor. “Mr. President, we are now well into our seventh day of debate on the Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act. For many weeks,...

*As Prepared for Delivery*   "Welcome everyone. Today our Committee will hear testimony on an important piece of civil rights legislation – the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, also known as ENDA.   "The issue here could not be more simple. We are talking about a fundamental American value – equal treatment for all...

*As Prepared for Delivery* “I want to welcome everyone to this very timely and important hearing on retirement security. “In these troubled economic times, working families face unprecedented challenges. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs. And those who have jobs are often working harder and longer, but still can’t meet...