My husband did physically demanding work for over 30 years for Yellow Freight, and he did it happily, knowing that all of his hard work came with the promise of a pension to support us in our retirement. In 2014, Congress decided that those promises don’t matter -- it passed the Multi-Employer Pension Recovery Act (MPRA), which allows for disastrous cuts to the pensions of those who are already retired and on a fixed income. The pension Jeff earned will now be cut by 50%, putting our home and future in jeopardy.

The MPRA was slipped into a must-pass Omnibus budget bill just hours before it had to be voted on to keep the government from shutting down. This dirty tactic was the only way such an unfair law could get passed. Now, lawmakers are trying to work to reverse the damage before it is too late, with the Keep Our Pension Promises Act (KOPPA). 

UPDATE 4/9/16: THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAD MPRA SLIPPED INTO THE OMNIBUS IN 2014 ARE NOW WORKING ON A BILL TO MAKE IT LEGAL TO SLASH PENSIONS OF RETIREES IN FUNDS LIKE JEFF'S  THAT ARE LESS THAN 120% FUNDED. THIS IS BLATANT PENSION THEFT!

Tell Congress to protect seniors’ pensions. Pass the Keep Our Pension Promises Act.

For lawmakers, many of whom are financially secure and don’t need to worry about their retirement, stories like ours don’t seem to matter when they pass harmful legislation. We don't live extravagantly. Now, because of MPRA, we are not sure if we can keep our home. Even worse, we have to stop helping two relatives with food and medical expenses. 

Jeff is 69 and I'm 66 and I’m scared we will be expected to go back into the workforce if we want to survive. Even if we wanted to, my husband has two bad shoulders and a bad hip from over 30 years of heavy lifting at Yellow Freight. I have a heart problem. It is a shame we are in a place where seniors even have to entertain this idea. The wealthiest country in the world can do better. Our lawmakers can do better.

Jeff is a Vietnam vet. 60% of pensioners affected by this bill are Veterans. 

Jeff's pension fund still has $18 billion he and 400,000 others worked hard for.

People like us cannot afford laws like the MPRA. It must be reversed or seniors like us could find ourselves on the streets and living in poverty. Please join us in asking Congress to pass the Keep Our Pension Promises Act.