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29 U.S.C. § 1001 — Congressional findings and declaration of policy

Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 1001 — Congressional findings and declaration of policy

**(a) Benefit plans as affecting interstate commerce and the Federal taxing power** The Congress finds that the growth in size, scope, and numbers of employee benefit plans in recent years has been rapid and substantial; that the operational scope and economic impact of such plans is increasingly interstate; that the continued well-being and security of millions of employees and their dependents are directly affected by these plans; that they are affected with a national public interest; that they have become an important factor affecting the stability of employment and the successful development of industrial relations; that they have become an important factor in commerce because of the interstate character of their activities, and of the activities of their participants, and the employers, employee organizations, and other entities by which they are established or maintained; that a large volume of the activities of such plans are carried on by means of the mails and instrumentalities of interstate commerce; that owing to the lack of employee information and adequate safeguards concerning their operation, it is desirable in the interests of employees and their beneficiaries, and to provide for the general welfare and the free flow of commerce, that disclosure be made and safeguards be provided with respect to the establishment, operation, and administration of such plans; that they substantially affect the revenues of the United States because they are afforded preferential Federal tax treatment; that despite the enormous growth in such plans many employees with long years of employment are losing anticipated retirement benefits owing to the lack of vesting provisions in such plans; that owing to the inadequacy of current minimum standards, the soundness and stabilit

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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_252092b2056c4c04e4415489
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-29/section-1001-congressional-findings-and-declaration-of-policy--c576f23569.md
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Passage SHA-256: 959604ed729acfa9cb88f5d7f6ad92feb66eb1d32b55ba1b5e05a054091a1561

Source location: Title 29, Chapter 18, § 1001; chapter-018-employee-retirement-income-security-program.md

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**(a) Benefit plans as affecting interstate commerce and the Federal taxing power** The Congress finds that the growth in size, scope, and numbers of employee benefit plans in recent years has been rapid and substantial; that the operational scope and economic impact of such plans is increasingly interstate; that the continued well-being and security of millions of employees and their dependents are directly affected by these plans; that they are affected with a national public interest; that they have become an important factor affecting the stability of employment and the successful development of industrial relations; that they have become an important factor in commerce because of the interstate character of their activities, and of the activities of their participants, and the employers, employee organizations, and other entities by which they are established or maintained; that a large volume of the activities of such plans are carried on by means of the mails and instrumentalities of interstate commerce; that owing to the lack of employee information and adequate safeguards concerning their operation, it is desirable in the interests of employees and their beneficiaries, and to provide for the general welfare and the free flow of commerce, that disclosure be made and safeguards be provided with respect to the establishment, operation, and administration of such plans; that they substantially affect the revenues of the United States because they are afforded preferential Federal tax treatment; that despite the enormous growth in such plans many employees with long years of employment are losing anticipated retirement benefits owing to the lack of vesting provisions in such plans; that owing to the inadequacy of current minimum standards, the soundness and stability of plans with respect to adequate funds to pay promised benefits may be endangered; that owing to the termination of plans before requisite funds have been accumulated, employees and their beneficiaries have been deprived of anticipated benefits; and that it is therefore desirable in the interests of employees and their beneficiaries, for the protection of the revenue of the United States, and to provide for the free flow of commerce, that minimum standards be provided assuring the equitable character of such plans and their financial soundness. **(b) Protection of interstate commerce and beneficiaries by requiring disclosure and reporting, setting standards of conduct, etc., for fiduciaries** It is hereby declared to be the policy of this chapter to protect interstate commerce and the interests of participants in employee benefit plans and their beneficiaries, by requiring the disclosure and reporting to participants and beneficiaries of financial and other information with respect thereto, by establishing standards of conduct, responsibility, and obligation for fiduciaries of employee benefit plans, and by providing for appropriate remedies, sanctions, and ready access to the Federal courts. **(c) Protection of interstate commerce, the Federal taxing power, and beneficiaries by vesting of accrued benefits, setting minimum standards of funding, requiring termination insurance** It is hereby further declared to be the policy of this chapter to protect interstate commerce, the Federal taxing power, and the interests of participants in private pension plans and their beneficiaries by improving the equitable character and the soundness of such plans by requiring them to vest the accrued benefits of employees with significant periods of service, to meet minimum standards of funding, and by requiring plan termination insurance.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 1081 — Coverage

**(a) Plans excepted from applicability of this part** This part shall apply to any employee pension benefit plan described in [section 1003(a) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title29-section1003/a&num=0&edition=prelim), (and not exempted under [section 1003(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title29-section1003/b&num=0&edition=prelim)), other than— (1) an employee welfare benefit plan; (2) an insurance contract plan described in subsection (b); (3) a plan which is unfunded and is maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees; (4) (A) a plan which is established and maintained by a society, order, or association described in section 501(c)(8) or (9) of title 26, if no part of the contributions to or under such plan are made by employers of participants in such plan; or (B) a trust described in [section 501(c)(18) of title 26](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section501/c/18&num=0&edition=prelim); (5) a plan which has not at any time after September 2, 1974, provided for employer contributions; (6) an agreement providing payments to a retired partner or deceased partner or a deceased partner’s successor in interest as described in [section 736 of title 26](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section736&num=0&edition=prelim); (7) an individual retirement account or annuity as described in [section 408(a) of title 26](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section408/a&num=0&edition=prelim), or a retirement bond described in [section 409 of title 26](https://uscode.house.g

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 1201 — Procedures in connection with the issuance of certain determination letters by the Secretary of the Treasury covering qualifications under Internal Revenue Code

**(a) Additional material required of applicants** Before issuing an advance determination of whether a pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan, a trust which is a part of such a plan, or an annuity or bond purchase plan meets the requirements of part I of subchapter D of chapter 1 of title 26, the Secretary of the Treasury shall require the person applying for the determination to provide, in addition to any material and information necessary for such determination, such other material and information as may reasonably be made available at the time such application is made as the Secretary of Labor may require under subchapter I of this chapter for the administration of that subchapter. The Secretary of the Treasury shall also require that the applicant provide evidence satisfactory to the Secretary that the applicant has notified each employee who qualifies as an interested party (within the meaning of regulations prescribed under [section 7476(b)(1) of title 26](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title26-section7476/b/1&num=0&edition=prelim) (relating to declaratory judgments in connection with the qualification of certain retirement plans)) of the application for a determination. **(b) Opportunity to comment on application** (1) Whenever an application is made to the Secretary of the Treasury for a determination of whether a pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan, a trust which is a part of such a plan, or an annuity or bond purchase plan meets the requirements of part I of subchapter D of chapter 1 of title 26, the Secretary shall upon request afford an opportunity to comment on the application at any time within 45 days after receipt thereof to— (A) any employee or class of employee qualifying as an interested party within

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

26 U.S.C. § 417 — Definitions and special rules for purposes of minimum survivor annuity requirements

**(a) Election to waive qualified joint and survivor annuity or qualified preretirement survivor annuity** (1) **In general** — A plan meets the requirements of section 401(a)(11) only if— (A) under the plan, each participant— (i) may elect at any time during the applicable election period to waive the qualified joint and survivor annuity form of benefit or the qualified preretirement survivor annuity form of benefit (or both), (ii) if the participant elects a waiver under clause (i), may elect the qualified optional survivor annuity at any time during the applicable election period, and (iii) may revoke any such election at any time during the applicable election period, and (B) the plan meets the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection. (2) **Spouse must consent to election** — Each plan shall provide that an election under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall not take effect unless— (A) (i) the spouse of the participant consents in writing to such election, (ii) such election designates a beneficiary (or a form of benefits) which may not be changed without spousal consent (or the consent of the spouse expressly permits designations by the participant without any requirement of further consent by the spouse), and (iii) the spouse’s consent acknowledges the effect of such election and is witnessed by a plan representative or a notary public, or (B) it is established to the satisfaction of a plan representative that the consent required under subparagraph (A) may not be obtained because there is no spouse, because the spouse cannot be located, or because of such other circumstances as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe. Any consent by a spouse (or establishment that the consent of a spouse may not be obtained) und

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 26 U.S.C. § 417

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

5 U.S.C. § 1013 — Termination of advisory committees

**(a) In General.—** (1) **Advisory committees in existence on january 5, 1973.—** — Each advisory committee that is in existence on January 5, 1973, shall terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period following that date unless— (A) in the case of an advisory committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such advisory committee is renewed by the President or that officer by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period; or (B) in the case of an advisory committee established by an Act of Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. (2) **Advisory committees established after january 5, 1973.—** — Each advisory committee established after January 5, 1973, shall terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of its establishment unless— (A) in the case of an advisory committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. such advisory committee is renewed by the President or such officer by appropriate action prior to the end of such period; or (B) in the case of an advisory committee established by an Act of Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. **(b) Charters.—** (1) **Upon renewal.—** — Upon the renewal of an advisory committee, the advisory committee shall file a charter in accordance with [section 1008(c) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section1008/c&num=0&edition=prelim). (2) **Upon expiration of successive 2-year periods.—** — An advisory committee established by an Act of Congress shall file a charter in accordance with [section 1008(c) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.x

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 441 — Surety company reports; contents; waiver or modification of requirements respecting contents of reports

Each surety company which issues any bond required by this chapter or the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 [[29 U.S.C. 1001](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title29-section1001&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] shall file annually with the Secretary, with respect to each fiscal year during which any such bond was in force, a report, in such form and detail as he may prescribe by regulation, filed by the president and treasurer or corresponding principal officers of the surety company, describing its bond experience under each such chapter or Act, including information as to the premiums received, total claims paid, amounts recovered by way of subrogation, administrative and legal expenses and such related data and information as the Secretary shall determine to be necessary in the public interest and to carry out the policy of the chapter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Secretary finds that any such specific information cannot be practicably ascertained or would be uninformative, the Secretary may modify or waive the requirement for such information.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 1056 — Form and payment of benefits

**(a) Commencement date for payment of benefits** Each pension plan shall provide that unless the participant otherwise elects, the payment of benefits under the plan to the participant shall begin not later than the 60th day after the latest of the close of the plan year in which— (1) occurs the date on which the participant attains the earlier of age 65 or the normal retirement age specified under the plan, (2) occurs the 10th anniversary of the year in which the participant commenced participation in the plan, or (3) the participant terminates his service with the employer. In the case of a plan which provides for the payment of an early retirement benefit, such plan shall provide that a participant who satisfied the service requirements for such early retirement benefit, but separated from the service (with any nonforfeitable right to an accrued benefit) before satisfying the age requirement for such early retirement benefit, is entitled upon satisfaction of such age requirement to receive a benefit not less than the benefit to which he would be entitled at the normal retirement age, actuarially reduced under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. **(b) Decrease in plan benefits by reason of increases in benefit levels under Social Security Act or Railroad Retirement Act of 1937** If— (1) a participant or beneficiary is receiving benefits under a pension plan, or (2) a participant is separated from the service and has non-forfeitable rights to benefits, a plan may not decrease benefits of such a participant by reason of any increase in the benefit levels payable under title II of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 401](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section401&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.] or the Railro

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 29 U.S.C. § 1056

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 1320b–1 — Notification of Social Security claimant with respect to deferred vested benefits

**(a)** Whenever— (1) the Commissioner of Social Security makes a finding of fact and a decision as to— (A) the entitlement of any individual to monthly benefits under section 402, 423, or 428 of this title, or (B) the entitlement of any individual to a lump-sum death payment payable under [section 402(i) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section402/i&num=0&edition=prelim) on account of the death of any person to whom such individual is related by blood, marriage, or adoption, (2) the Secretary makes a finding of fact and a decision as to the entitlement under [section 426 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section426&num=0&edition=prelim) of any individual to hospital insurance benefits under part A of subchapter XVIII, or (3) the Commissioner of Social Security is requested to do so— (A) by any individual with respect to whom the Commissioner of Social Security holds information obtained under section 6057 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or (B) in the case of the death of the individual referred to in subparagraph (A), by the individual who would be entitled to payment under [section 404(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section404/d&num=0&edition=prelim), the Commissioner of Social Security shall transmit to the individual referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) or the individual making the request under paragraph (3) any information, as reported by the employer, regarding any deferred vested benefit transmitted to the Commissioner of Social Security pursuant to such section 6057 with respect to the individual referred to in paragraph (1), (2), or (3)(A) or the person on whose wages and self-employmen

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 1320b–1

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 1053 — Minimum vesting standards

**(a) Nonforfeitability requirements** Each pension plan shall provide that an employee’s right to his normal retirement benefit is nonforfeitable upon the attainment of normal retirement age and in addition shall satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection. (1) A plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph if an employee’s rights in his accrued benefit derived from his own contributions are nonforfeitable. (2) (A) (i) In the case of a defined benefit plan, a plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph if it satisfies the requirements of clause (ii) or (iii). (ii) A plan satisfies the requirements of this clause if an employee who has completed at least 5 years of service has a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of the employee’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions. (iii) A plan satisfies the requirements of this clause if an employee has a nonforfeitable right to a percentage of the employee’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions determined under the following table: Years of service:The nonforfeitable percentage is: 320 440 560 680 7 or more100. (B) (i) In the case of an individual account plan, a plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph if it satisfies the requirements of clause (ii) or (iii). (ii) A plan satisfies the requirements of this clause if an employee who has completed at least 3 years of service has a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of the employee’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions. (iii) A plan satisfies the requirements of this clause if an employee has a nonforfeitable right to a percentage of the employee’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions determined under the following table: Years of service:T

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 29 U.S.C. § 1053

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

29 U.S.C. § 1304 — Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate

**(a) In general** The board of directors of the corporation shall select a Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate from the candidates nominated by the advisory committee to the corporation under [section 1302(h)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title29-section1302/h/1&num=0&edition=prelim) and without regard to the provisions of title 5 relating to appointments in the competitive service or Senior Executive Service. **(b) Duties** The Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate shall— (1) act as a liaison between the corporation, sponsors of defined benefit pension plans insured by the corporation, and participants in pension plans trusteed by the corporation; (2) advocate for the full attainment of the rights of participants in plans trusteed by the corporation; (3) assist pension plan sponsors and participants in resolving disputes with the corporation; (4) identify areas in which participants and plan sponsors have persistent problems in dealings with the corporation; (5) to the extent possible, propose changes in the administrative practices of the corporation to mitigate problems; (6) identify potential legislative changes which may be appropriate to mitigate problems; and (7) refer instances of fraud, waste, and abuse, and violations of law to the Office of the Inspector General of the corporation. **(c) Removal** If the Participant and Plan Sponsor Advocate is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within the corporation or the Department of Labor, the board of the 11 So in original. The word “the” probably should not appear. directors of the corporation shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to Congress not less than 30 days before the removal or tr

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 29 U.S.C. § 1304

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

26 U.S.C. § 411 — Minimum vesting standards

**(a) General rule** A trust shall not constitute a qualified trust under section 401(a) unless the plan of which such trust is a part provides that an employee’s right to his normal retirement benefit is nonforfeitable upon the attainment of normal retirement age (as defined in paragraph (8)) and in addition satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (11) of this subsection and the requirements of subsection (b)(3), and also satisfies, in the case of a defined benefit plan, the requirements of subsection (b)(1) and, in the case of a defined contribution plan, the requirements of subsection (b)(2). (1) **Employee contributions** — A plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph if an employee’s rights in his accrued benefit derived from his own contributions are nonforfeitable. (2) **Employer contributions** (A) *Defined benefit plans* (i) *In general* — In the case of a defined benefit plan, a plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph if it satisfies the requirements of clause (ii) or (iii). (ii) *5-year vesting* — A plan satisfies the requirements of this clause if an employee who has completed at least 5 years of service has a nonforfeitable right to 100 percent of the employee’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions. (iii) *3 to 7 year vesting* — A plan satisfies the requirements of this clause if an employee has a nonforfeitable right to a percentage of the employee’s accrued benefit derived from employer contributions determined under the following table: Years of service:The nonforfeitable percentage is: 320 440 560 680 7 or more100. (B) *Defined contribution plans* (i) *In general* — In the case of a defined contribution plan, a plan satisfies the requirements of this paragraph if it satisfies the

Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 26 U.S.C. § 411

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