On the recordJanuary 16, 2018
I thank Senator Stabenow and my colleague from Indiana and my colleague from Ohio. Senators Brown, Stabenow, Donnelly, Klobuchar, Heitkamp, Casey, and Baldwin have been such stalwart voices for working men and women in their States--namely, teamsters and food workers--as well as Senator Manchin, for the miners in West Virginia, and so many others across the country. We come to the floor tonight to urge our Republican colleagues to join us in doing something to shore up pension plans for over 1 million Americans. Millions of middle-class workers in this country--teamsters, miners, carpenters, and steel workers--have put their money into plans year after year. They knew they wouldn't be rich when they retired, but they thought they could live a life of decency and dignity. They often forewent salary increases. They said: Don't give me a raise at this percent; give me a lower raise, but put money in that pension. These people earned these pensions. They are the backbone of America. But now, after all of their hard work and all of their savings, several multiyear pension plans are at risk of failure, through no fault of the workers. Families in my State and across the country could see their retirement savings slashed. Teamsters, miners, carpenters, and food service workers are at risk of losing security through no fault of their own.…
