U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, have sent a bipartisan letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su urging the Department of Labor to prioritize the WORK Act in its implementation of SECURE 2.0.
In their letter, the Senators said:
The ESOP Association
ESOP Association Resources
Apr. 14
DOL Commits to Provide Long-Sought Regulatory Clarity with Stakeholder Input on the Valuation of Company Shares to be Bought by an ESOP
Washington, D.C., April 14, 2023 – In a major victory for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), the U.S. Department of Labor has committed to move forward with a public notice and comment rulemaking on a key regulation the community has sought since ESOPs were first created in 1974. The regulation will clearly define Adequate Consideration under Section 408(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Washington, D.C., April 14, 2023 – In a major victory for Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), the U.S. Department of Labor has committed to move forward with a public notice and comment rulemaking on a key regulation the community has sought since ESOPs were first created in 1974. The regulation will clearly define Adequate Consideration under Section 408(e) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
Dec. 07
The ESOP Association has been working with Congress during this congressional session on bipartisan retirement security legislation. That important legislation – which includes provisions that affect every ESOP and employee ownership in general – is being considered in the final days of the current Congress. If this bill, which was painstakingly negotiated and enjoys broad bipartisan support, doesn’t pass now, the entire legislative process must start over next year.
Sep. 22
Washington, D.C. – The ESOP Association (TEA) today exercised its rights under the Administrative Procedure Act to petition the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to undertake a long-delayed rulemaking essential to the formation and ongoing operation of ESOPs. Since 1974, the Department of Labor has steadfastly refused to fulfill requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) in violation of Congressional direction and stakeholders’ rights under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Jun. 23
Employee ownership is continuing to see support in Congress, coming off two huge wins in the U.S. Senate. This time the House Appropriations Committee is considering a bill that would continue to direct the Small Business Administration to act in support of employee ownership. This effort continues the drumbeat in Congress, led by The ESOP Association, supporting employee ownership. Details are below.
Jun. 22
Senate Finance Committee passes the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act, which includes a provision partially expanding section 1042 tax deferral to ESOPs that are S-corporations. The EARN Act section 1042 provision matches a similar provision in the Securing a Strong Retirement Act (H.R 2954) which passed the House of Representatives in March. The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee with unanimous support.
Jun. 17
The Senate Finance Committee today released a summary of the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN)
Jun. 14
The United States Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has passed S. 4353, the Retirement Improvement and Savings Enhancement to Supplement Healthy Investments for the Nest Egg (RISE and SHINE) Act, which includes significant provisions that promote ESOPs and require the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to provide regulatory guidance the Association has been seeking for more than four decades.
Jun. 07
Comment Letter Forewarns against Future Use of Proposed New Regs Against ESOPs; Requests the Department hold Public Hearings
Jun. 02
New legislation, titled the RISE and SHINE Act, is expected to be introduced into the U.S. Senate with significant provisions that promote ESOPs and requires the U.S. Department of Labor to provide long-needed regulatory guidance.