Larson Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Pension Plans for Union Workers

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) joined Rep. Brad Finstad (MN-01), Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), and Rep. Mike Carey (OH-15) to introduce the Multi-Employer Plan Auto Enrollment Relief Act (MPAERA), alongside Senators Amy Klobuchar(D-MN) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH). The bill will exempt multi-employer plans from Section 101 of the Secure 2.0 Act, improving access to retirement plans that best serve union workers. 

“Retirement security is not a one-size-fits-all approach, especially for union workers with multi-employer plans,” said Larson. “I am proud to join this bipartisan effort with my colleagues to cut through red tape so union workers can adequately save for their retirement. I will continue to fight to ensure all Americans who work their entire lives can retire with dignity, both by enhancing Social Security benefits and expanding access to private retirement plans.” 

“At its core, this is about fairness and flexibility. Entities offering multi-employer plans shouldn’t be forced into rules that don’t work for them. This bipartisan legislation ensures workers still have access to retirement savings without putting unnecessary burdens on the plans that serve them,” said Finstad. 

“This bill is a commonsense fix that protects workers’ access to hard-earned retirement benefits by cutting unnecessary red tape on multi-employer plans. I’m proud to partner across the aisle to make sure these plans can continue serving working families,” said Boyle. 

“Hard-working Americans deserve to have more options for how to save for their retirements – not less,” said Carey. “By avoiding mandatory enrollment into 401(k) plans when they are offered, employees and employers maintain more choices when making retirement savings decisions. Our bipartisan legislation removes bureaucratic burdens to ensure workers in multi-employer pension plans have access to strong retirement savings and benefits.” 

The Multi-Employer Plan Auto Enrollment Relief Act is endorsed by the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans and the Health & PensionWORKS Coalition. 

"We applaud lawmakers for advancing a bipartisan fix that protects the availability and the operational integrity of multiemployer 401(k) plans. MPAERA will help preserve plan flexibility and encourage broader adoption of 401(k) plans, ultimately strengthening retirement security for millions of working families,” said Michael Scott, Executive Director, National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP).  

"The introduction of MEPAERA is a critical step forward for multiemployer plans. By addressing the unintended consequences of SECURE 2.0, this legislation ensures that Taft-Hartley plans can continue delivering efficient, union-negotiated retirement benefits without unnecessary administrative burdens,” said Matt Fairbanks, Chair of the Board, Health & PensionWORKS. 

Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH). 

“Workers in construction, trucking, and manufacturing rely on multiemployer union retirement plans to build financial security and prepare for their futures. While automatic enrollment can be a helpful tool to boost retirement savings, it doesn’t work the same way in multiemployer settings, where frequent job changes and uncoordinated payroll systems pose serious logistical challenges,” said Senator Klobuchar. “Our bipartisan legislation provides relief for workers and businesses with multiemployer union retirement plans, so that we’re not imposing one-size-fits-all mandates where they don’t fit.”  

“Hardworking Ohioans deserve retirement plans that work for them,” said Senator Moreno. “This bill removes unnecessary red tape from automatic enrollment rules, allowing Americans’ rightfully earned benefit plans to continue serving them without added compliance burdens from frequent job changes.” 

The bipartisan Multi-Employer Plan Auto Enrollment Relief Act (MPAERA) carves out Taft-Hartley retirement plans offered by unions directly from automatic enrollment into 401(k) plans, preventing union members who may have multiple employers in a month, from getting enrolled into multiple retirement plans through no fault of their own. 

View full bill text HERE.