"I have heard too many horror stories recounting retirees whose companies have misrepresented their pension benefits," said Andrews.  "This plan will ensure that pension plan participants know their rights and have an easily accessible, impartial advocate to assist them in obtaining what they are owed."

Currently, when a pension plan participant has questions or problems relating to their plan, they are forced to navigate through an immense bureaucracy to get the answers they need.  Given the complexity of pension law, frequently these participants must seek costly legal assistance in order to guarantee that they are getting what they are owed.  Under Andrews plan, the need to wade through multiple agencies for answers will be eliminated.

The new Pension Participant Advocacy office would: 

· Actively seek out information and suggestions on pension policies and on Federal agencies which affect pension participants;

· Evaluate the efforts of Federal agencies, businesses and industry to assist pension participants;  

· Make annual recommendations documenting significant pension problems and recommending legislative and regulatory solutions; and

· Examine existing pension plans and determine the extent to which current law serves pensioners in those plans.  

Congressman Andrews, a ranking member of subcommittee that oversees pension law, has introduced this legislation, H.R. 4820, after consulatation with the United States Department of Labor.