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Federal Legislative Action Alert!

    November 15, 2011

     YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED! Last week you received an alert regarding Representatives Richard Neal (D-MA) and Jim Gerlach (R-PA) will introduce a bi-partisan House Concurrent Resolution the week of November 21 that highlights the important role employer-sponsored pension plans play in helping Americans save and plan for retirement.Please call or email your representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor this measure!

    The House Concurrent Resolution has not yet been introduced, and therefore, has yet to be assigned a number. However, the draft legislation has been sent to every member of the House of Representatives. Please ask your Representative to co-sponsor this measure prior to introduction! This measure states many important facts, most importantly:

    • The current tax incentives for retirement savings provide important benefits to Americans to help plan for a financially secure retirement;
    • There are approximately 670,000 private-sector defined contribution plans covering 67 million participants and over 48,000 private-sector defined benefit plans covering 19 million participants;
    • $4.7 trillion is held in 401(k), 403(b), 457 and similar defined contribution plans, $2.3 trillion is held in private defined benefit plans, and another $4.9 trillion is held in Individual Retirement Accounts, largely consisting of funds rolled over from employer-based retirement plans;
    • During 2000 through 2009, employers contributed almost $3.5 trillion to public and private retirement plans;
    • Tax incentives are an important impetus for individuals to save and plan for retirement and for employers to offer plans in a voluntary system.

    Action Needed

    SHRM needs your help to share the HR perspective with the House of Representatives on this important retirement issue.

    To write your U.S. representative using SHRM’s HRVoice program, follow these steps:

    1. Log onto the SHRM Advocacy Action Center by clickingHERE
    2. Pleaseselect the featured federal alert highlighted to the left by clicking the "Take action here" tab at the bottom of the alert (If you have not used SHRM's online advocacy system recently, you may be asked to complete an additional registration step before taking action. Upon registering with the system, click the "home" button in the advocacy system to find the featured alert home page.)
    3. Be sure to include your complete home mailing address.

    Should you have any questions regarding this resolution, please contactKathleen Coulombe, SHRM’s Senior Associate, Government Relations at kathleen.coulombe@shrm.org.

    If you encounter any problems with this site, please contactDavid Lusk, SHRM’s Senior Associate, Member Advocacy, at (703) 535-6158.