Jay Rockefeller: “I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of…”

“I am proud to have been an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 when it was introduced this spring. This legislation has strong bipartisan support and it deserves action before Congress adjourns this year. In West Virginia, we have over 11,000 retirees and their families currently depending on railroad retirement, and almost 3,500 West Virginians working for the railroads who will need their railroad retirement in the future. These hardworking railroad employees have done tough jobs for years, and because of the physical work and often harsh outdoor working conditions, they deserve a good retirement package, at a earlier age than current benefits allow. Nationwide, there are currently about 673,000 railroad retirees and families, and about 245,000 active rail workers. They, too, deserve a better retirement program, and I want to work with them to promote this historic package supported by both rail labor and rail management. There can be no doubt that improving retirement benefits for railroad workers, retirees, and their families must be one of our top priorities.”