Tim Ryan is a relentless advocate for working families in Ohio's 13th District. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 and was sworn in on January 3, 2003. Successfully reelected nine times, he is now serving in his tenth term. Congressman Ryan currently serves as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee which controls the expenditure of money by the federal government.
Ryan serves as co-chairman of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus and remains a leader in the fight to strengthen America's manufacturing base and reform U.S. trade policies. The House Manufacturing Caucus examines and promotes policies to help American manufacturers find trained, educated workers, continue to lead the world in developing new industrial technologies, operate on a level playing field with their foreign competitors, and obtain the capital they need to thrive. Ryan is the leading advocate in the House to impose sanctions on unfair Chinese currency manipulation.
For over 13 years now, I have fought tooth and nail to restore the hard-earned pensions of Delphi Salaried Retirees. Over three separate Presidential Administrations—Obama, Trump, and now Biden—I’ve written dozens and dozens of letters, testified at hearings, and had multiple face-to-face meetings with leaders in Congress and the White House to provide Delphi Retirees with the retirement benefits they have always deserved.
You can view a complete timeline of my work on this issue here.
When General Motors filed for bankruptcy during the Great Recession, the U.S. Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) unfairly cut retirement benefits for more than 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees, including more than 5,181 retirees in Ohio. The PBGC assumed responsibility for the terminated benefits but could not pay an individual more than a statutory maximum benefit. Therefore, salaried retirees suffered significant losses to their benefits, with devastating impacts on many lives.
In September 2009, the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association (DSRA) filed a lawsuit against the PBGC to restore their pension benefits. After losing decisions at lower courts, the DSRA petitioned to take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Now that the U.S. Supreme Court recently denied this request, congressional action is the only option for restoring their pensions.
That is why I proudly joined my House colleagues, Congressman Dan Kildee and Congressman Mike Turner in introducing the Susan Muffley Act. This legislation would restore the terminated pensions, making these hardworking retirees whole. This bill would make up the difference between the pension benefits earned by Delphi Salaried Retirees and what they received following the GM bankruptcy in 2009.
Retirees shouldn't have to worry whether their employer will deliver the benefits they rightfully earned after a lifetime of hard work. I will continue to fight to ensure we deliver the retirement security every hardworking American deserves.