Railroad Retirement measure given bill number H.R. 1140
Members urged to contact representatives 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21)-- When Democratic and Republican House leaders meet at a news conference this afternoon with rail labor and management representatives to herald the introduction of a measure modernizing the Railroad Retirement System, the legislation will already have a bill number attached to it.

The Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 will be known to lawmakers in the House of Representatives as H.R. 1140.

Because the bill is set to be introduced with an identifying number, UTU members and other supporters can begin calling their congressional representatives and asking them to sign on as co-sponsors, said UTU National Legislative Director James M. Brunkenhoefer.

"Please start calling your representative now, and ask him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 1140," Brunkenhoefer urged.

"If your representative is a Democrat, he or she should be asked to sign on as a co-sponsor by calling Rachel Carr at (202) 225-3274," Brunkenhoefer explained.

"If your representative is a Republican, he or she should be asked to sign on as a co-sponsor by calling Fraser Verruseio at (202) 225-9446," said Brunkenhoefer.

Besides representative from rail labor and management, those at the news event this afternoon will include the measure's sponsors:

Cong. Don Young (R-Alaska), chairman, transportation committee; Cong. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking Democrat on the committee; Cong. Jack Quinn (R-N.Y.), chairman of the Railroad subcommittee, and Cong. Bob Clement (D-Tenn.), ranking Democrat on the subcommittee.

H.R. 1140 represents an agreement between railroad labor and railroad management that resulted from two years of negotiations. The measure promises to vest new employees in the Railroad Retirement System after five years, deliver full retirement at age 60 after 30 years of service for more experienced employees, and greatly improve widow(er)s' benefits by fixing an inequity that prevents parity with similar benefits paid by the Social Security System.

In addition, H.R. 1140 will enhance and modernize the system by allowing for investment of its assets in a diversified portfolio, with the anticipated increase in returns to be used to provide improved benefits to retirees and lower taxes on railroads.

At the same time, the nation's railroads have agreed to fund any unanticipated shortfall in the system that may occur in the future.

Separate but attached to the measure is a collective bargaining agreement that will provide continued health and welfare coverage until age 65 for those who retire at age 60.