ERISA Friday, Oct. 25, 2013 | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Enacted in 1974, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act was the result of a decade-long quest to safeguard the retirement savings of American workers. Opposed by business interests and most labor unions, hobbled by turf wars in Congress and the Executive Branch, ERISA overcame long odds, bringing sweeping regulatory changes for employee benefit plans. At this symposium, key participants in ERISA’s passage will join scholars, economists, lawyers and actuaries to create an oral history of the pension reform law. The symposium will explore the political hurdles and policy challenges ERISA’s proponents faced, the consequences of this landmark legislation and the impact of changing economic, social and political conditions. Schedule 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductory Remarks: Norman Stein, Professor of Law, Earle Mack School of Law Setting the Stage: History Before the 93rd Congress Discussants Frank Cummings, past Chief of Staff to Sen. Jacob Javits Henry Rose, past General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Merton Bernstein, Walter D. Coles Professor Emeritus, Washington University Daniel Halperin, Stanley Surrey Professor of Law, Harvard University Facilitators Teresa Ghilarducci, Bernard L. and Irene Schwartz Chair in Economic Policy Analysis, New School for Social Research Steven Sass, Director, Financial Security Project, Retirement Research Center, Boston College Peter J. Wiedenbeck, Joseph H. Zumbalen Professor of Law, Washington University School of Law 9:35 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. Making Sausage: The 93rd Congress and ERISA Discussants William J. Kilberg, past Solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor Jack Sheehan, past Legislative Director, United Steelworkers Robert Nagle, past Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Russell Mueller, past Staff, U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor Facilitators James Wooten, Professor of Law, SUNY Buffalo Law School Damon Silvers, Associate General Counsel, AFL-CIO Judy Mazo, past Director of Research, the Segal Company 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Negotiating the Agency Peace Treaty: Reorganization Plan No. 4 Discussants Ian Lanoff, past Administrator, Pension and Welfare Benefit Programs, U.S. Department of Labor Dianne Bennett, past Attorney Adviser, Joint Committee on Taxation and U.S. Department of Treasury Facilitators Phyllis Borzi (invited), Assistant Secretary of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration Mark Iwry (invited), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Retirement and Health Policy Alan Lebowitz, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Other Perspectives: Lunch and Commentary Discussants David Cay Johnston, Syracuse University lecturer and former reporter, The New York Times Ellen E. Schultz, investigative reporter and editor, The Wall Street Journal Mary Williams Walsh, reporter, The New York Times 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. ERISA and the Fiduciary Discussants Henry Rose, past General Counsel, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Frank Cummings, past Chief of Staff to Sen. Jacob Javits Robert Nagle, past Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Facilitators Dana Muir, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Business Law, University of Michigan Bob Eccles, Partner, O’Melveny & Myers Peter Stris, Partner, Stris & Maher 2:20 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Some New Ideas and Some New Bottles: Tax and Minimum Standards in ERISA Discussants Daniel Halperin, Stanley Surrey Professor of Law, Harvard University Russell Mueller, past Staff, U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor Facilitators Regina Jefferson, Professor of Law, Catholic University Jeremy Gold, Consulting Actuary William Bortz, past Deputy Benefits Legislative Counsel, U.S. Department of Treasury 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Benefit Disputes and Enforcement Under ERISA Discussants Frank Cummings, past Chief of Staff to Sen. Jacob Javits Robert Nagle, past Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Karen Ferguson, Director, Pension Rights Center Facilitators Scott Macey, President and CEO , ERISA Industry Committee Howard Shapiro, Partner, Proskauer Mary Ellen Signorille, Attorney, AARP Foundation 7 CLE credits are available. Registration information.