As a member of the 107th Congress, Congressman Mike Pence was one of only 33 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote against the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001. The act amended the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, as well as amending the IRS code of 1986. It's key point was reducing the retirement age of beneficiaries to 60 years of age, from 62.
The act is outlined below:
The Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 -Title I: Amendments to Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 - Amends the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 to increase benefits to railroad employees and their beneficiaries and to revise financing of the railroad retirement system.
(Sec. 101) Provides for a guaranteed initial minimum amount for surviving spouses of deceased railroad employees. Bases such amount on the tier 1 and tier 2 benefit that would have been payable to the employee at the time of the award of the surviving spouse's annuity.
(Sec. 102) Repeals the reduction in tier 1 annuity components for employees and spouses prior to age 62, thus providing for full tier 1 annuities to employees at age 60 with 30 years of service and to spouses of employees with 30 years of service at age 60.
(Sec. 103) Reduces from ten to five years of service (after 1995) the vesting requirement for railroad retirement benefits for employees and survivors. Sets forth computation formulae for individual annuities through railroad retirement and Social Security benefit systems.
(Sec. 104) Repeals a maximum limit on annuity benefits payable to an employee and spouse under the railroad retirement system.
(Sec. 105) Establishes a Railroad Retirement Trust Fund (the Fund) and a National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust (the Trust) to manage and invest Fund assets.
(Sec. 106) Abolishes the Railroad Retirement Supplemental Annuity Account and provides for transfer of its funds to the Fund. Provides for transfer to the Fund of certain portions of the Railroad Retirement Account and of Social Security Equivalent Benefit account funds.
(Sec. 107) Transfers to the disbursing agent from the Dual Benefits Payments Account the amount necessary to make dual benefit payments.
(Sec. 108) Requires the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) to calculate the ratio of assets to benefits to determine annual tier II tax rates for employers, employee representatives, and employees.
Title II: Amendments to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the Trust from taxation.
(Sec. 203) Repeals a supplemental annuity tax that railroad employers pay to finance a benefit for long-time rail employees.
(Sec. 204) Provides for adjustments to tier II tax rates for railroad employers, employee representatives, and employees.
The Votes
U.S. Senate
On December 5, 2001 the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 passed through the Senate by a vote of 90-9. The vote is outlined below:
Passing the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming majority, it was voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 11, 2001 where then Indiana Representative (CD-2) Mike Pence was a member. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a vote of 369-33, with Rep. Mike Pence voting against it. The vote is outlined below:
