This bill, titled the Susan Muffley Act of 2025, aims to significantly increase the pension benefits guaranteed to eligible participants and beneficiaries of certain terminated plans. Specifically, it mandates that the monthly benefits guaranteed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) for these individuals will be equal to their full vested plan benefit , overriding previous limitations on guaranteed amounts. This "full vested plan benefit" is defined as the amount without regard to ERISA's phase-in limit or maximum guaranteed benefit limitation. The Act requires the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate benefits for those previously determined and to make lump-sum payments for any past-due amounts within 180 days of enactment. These lump-sum payments will include an additional amount to account for foregone interest at a 6 percent annual rate. Eligible participants and beneficiaries are those in pay status or eligible for future payments under specific covered plans, which include: The Delphi Hourly-Rate Employees Pension Plan The Delphi Retirement Program for Salaried Employees The PHI Non-Bargaining Retirement Plan The ASEC Manufacturing Retirement Program The PHI Bargaining Retirement Plan The Delphi Mechatronic Systems Retirement Program To fund these increased benefits and associated administrative costs, the bill establishes the Delphi Full Vested Plan Benefit Trust Fund within the Treasury. This fund will receive appropriations from the Treasury as needed to cover the payments and the PBGC's operating expenses related to this program, with PBGC determinations subject to administrative review.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Labor and Employment
Susan Muffley Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-1950| Senate
| Updated: 6/4/2025
This bill, titled the Susan Muffley Act of 2025, aims to significantly increase the pension benefits guaranteed to eligible participants and beneficiaries of certain terminated plans. Specifically, it mandates that the monthly benefits guaranteed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) for these individuals will be equal to their full vested plan benefit , overriding previous limitations on guaranteed amounts. This "full vested plan benefit" is defined as the amount without regard to ERISA's phase-in limit or maximum guaranteed benefit limitation. The Act requires the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to recalculate benefits for those previously determined and to make lump-sum payments for any past-due amounts within 180 days of enactment. These lump-sum payments will include an additional amount to account for foregone interest at a 6 percent annual rate. Eligible participants and beneficiaries are those in pay status or eligible for future payments under specific covered plans, which include: The Delphi Hourly-Rate Employees Pension Plan The Delphi Retirement Program for Salaried Employees The PHI Non-Bargaining Retirement Plan The ASEC Manufacturing Retirement Program The PHI Bargaining Retirement Plan The Delphi Mechatronic Systems Retirement Program To fund these increased benefits and associated administrative costs, the bill establishes the Delphi Full Vested Plan Benefit Trust Fund within the Treasury. This fund will receive appropriations from the Treasury as needed to cover the payments and the PBGC's operating expenses related to this program, with PBGC determinations subject to administrative review.