H. C. R. No. 38 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 38

Representatives Ramos, Slesnick

Cosponsors: Representatives Antonio, Barborak, Budish, Butler, Cera, Clyde, Driehaus, Fedor, Foley, Hagan, R., Letson, Lundy, Mallory, Phillips, Pillich, Reece, Rogers, Sheehy, Strahorn, Wachtmann, Williams

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To declare the State of Ohio's support of its 1
steelworkers in urging the President and the 2
Congress of the United States to ensure that the 3
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is fully 4
funded and properly administered to pay pension 5
benefits to retired steelworkers and their 6
spouses. 7

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, Steelworkers are vital to industry in the Midwest 8
and play an essential role in constructing and reinforcing 9
buildings, bridges, and other structures and in producing products 10
used by other manufacturing industries; and 11

       WHEREAS, Over the last thirty years the steel industry has 12
fallen on hard times, causing thousands of job losses and numerous 13
plant closings across the Midwest; and 14

       WHEREAS, Steelworkers have negotiated contracts that 15
sacrificed higher wages and other benefits in exchange for secure 16
pension benefits; and 17

       WHEREAS, Steelworkers were promised solvent pension plans 18
with funds adequate to pay all benefits promised to them; and 19

       WHEREAS, The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is a 20
federal pension insurance program that pays pension benefits to 21
retired workers, including steelworkers, whose employers are 22
bankrupt and pension plans are underfunded; and 23

       WHEREAS, There is a sense of urgency concerning the financial 24
security of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation because the 25
economic downturn in 2008 caused an increased number of companies 26
to go bankrupt, and as a result, the Pension Benefit Guaranty 27
Corporation is paying pension benefits to more workers; and 28

       WHEREAS, In 2009, the Government Accountability Office 29
conducted a performance audit of the Pension Benefit Guaranty 30
Corporation and recommended that the Corporation improve 31
strategies on determining pension benefits in complex pension 32
plans, minimize overpayments, improve communication with 33
participants, and increase accessibility to the appeals process; 34
now therefore be it 35

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 36
of the State of Ohio, on behalf of all citizens of this state, 37
support Ohio's steelworkers in urging the President and the 38
Congress of the United States to ensure that the Pension Benefit 39
Guaranty Corporation is fully funded to pay pension benefits to 40
retired steelworkers and their spouses and to ensure that the 41
Corporation implements recommendations made by the Government 42
Accountability Office on procedures for paying benefits to retired 43
workers; and be it further 44

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 45
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 46
President of the United States, the President Pro Tempore and 47
Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of 48
the United States House of Representatives, each member of the 49
Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio. 50

WHEREAS, Steelworkers are vital to industry in the Midwest	8
and play an essential role in constructing and reinforcing	9
buildings, bridges, and other structures and in producing products	10
used by other manufacturing industries; and	11

WHEREAS, Over the last thirty years the steel industry has	12
fallen on hard times, causing thousands of job losses and numerous	13
plant closings across the Midwest; and	14

WHEREAS, Steelworkers have negotiated contracts that	15
sacrificed higher wages and other benefits in exchange for secure	16
pension benefits; and	17

WHEREAS, Steelworkers were promised solvent pension plans	18
with funds adequate to pay all benefits promised to them; and	19

WHEREAS, The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is a	20
federal pension insurance program that pays pension benefits to	21
retired workers, including steelworkers, whose employers are	22
bankrupt and pension plans are underfunded; and	23

WHEREAS, There is a sense of urgency concerning the financial	24
security of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation because the	25
economic downturn in 2008 caused an increased number of companies	26
to go bankrupt, and as a result, the Pension Benefit Guaranty	27
Corporation is paying pension benefits to more workers; and	28

WHEREAS, In 2009, the Government Accountability Office	29
conducted a performance audit of the Pension Benefit Guaranty	30
Corporation and recommended that the Corporation improve	31
strategies on determining pension benefits in complex pension	32
plans, minimize overpayments, improve communication with	33
participants, and increase accessibility to the appeals process;	34
now therefore be it	35

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	36
of the State of Ohio, on behalf of all citizens of this state,	37
support Ohio's steelworkers in urging the President and the	38
Congress of the United States to ensure that the Pension Benefit	39
Guaranty Corporation is fully funded to pay pension benefits to	40
retired steelworkers and their spouses and to ensure that the	41
Corporation implements recommendations made by the Government	42
Accountability Office on procedures for paying benefits to retired	43
workers; and be it further	44

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	45
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	46
President of the United States, the President Pro Tempore and	47
Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of	48
the United States House of Representatives, each member of the	49
Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media of Ohio.	50