NRLN Press Release

National Retiree Legislative Network
Washington, DC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

NRLN Endorses ‘Basic Fairness’ Provisions

In Bill to Protect Retiree Health Benefits 

(WASHINGTON, April 21, 2005) -- A Washington-based coalition of retiree organizations dedicated to protecting the pension plans and retirement benefits of their members has endorsed the re-introduction of the Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act (HR 1322) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) appreciates the continuing efforts of the bill’s sponsors to address the national crisis in post-retirement cutbacks of pension and health care benefits,” announced the organization’s president Jim Norby. 

“The NRLN remains firmly committed to the provisions of this legislation which would prohibit employers from making post-retirement cancellations or reductions of health benefits that retirees were promised,” Norby affirmed.

“Senior citizens should not be forced to dip into their life savings in order to make up for cut or cancelled benefits,” according to the bill’s sponsor, Congressman John F. Tierney.

“The bill would reverse this trend by requiring employers to live up to the promises that they made to those who dedicated their lives to building these companies.  I am pleased to reintroduce this bill and look forward to once again working with the National Retiree Legislative Network on this important piece of legislation,” Congressman Tierney said.

     Based in Washington, D.C., NRLN is dedicated to securing federal legislation that will guarantee the fair and equitable treatment of retirees in private and public sector health and pension programs.  NRLN represents a non-partisan, grassroots coalition of retiree associations with a combined membership of nearly 2 million men and women who are seeking to protect their pension and health care benefits. 

Click here to see full text of the Bill.

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