Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001

H.R. 1140, Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act to increase benefits to retirees and reduce tax burden on railroads. H.R. 4, SAFE Act of 2001. Provisions related to deficit reduction fuel tax applied to railroads.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $40,000

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

IBEW urged passage of Railroad Retirement Reform (H.R. 1140/H.R. 10) to benefit rail workers' to include the following: * Surviving-spouse benefits will be boosted by an average of $300 monthly. * Reduces the retirement age from 62 to 60 for railroaders with at least 30 years of service to retire with unreduced retirement benefits, effective Jan. 1, 2002. Continued health coverage will be provided by railroads until the retired worker reaches age 65 and is eligible for Medicare. * Younger workers will receive full vesting in Railroad Retirement after five years of railroad employment rather than the existing 10 years. * Railroads must ensure the future solvency of the pension fund by absorbing any necessary future payroll tax increases.

Client expense: $200,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE

S 697, HR 1140

Client expense: $400,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Bureau of Economic Analysis, Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), Economic Development Administration, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Natl Economic Council (NEC), President of the U.S., SENATE, Treasury, Dept of, U.S. Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Vice President of the U.S., White House Office