Policy Forums

2024 Spring Policy Forum
Thursday, May 16, 2024
10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Courtyard by Marriott Washington Downtown Convention Center
901 L Street NW, Washington, D.C.

The Employee Benefit Research Institute and American Benefits Council marked the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) with a special event. The 2024 Spring Policy Forum featured new research and panel discussions about ERISA-enabled employee benefits innovation and plan sponsor views on ERISA preemption.

Agenda

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. — Registration & Coffee

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. — Welcome

• Barb Marder, Employee Benefit Research Institute
  
• Jim Klein, American Benefits Council

10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. — Helping to Narrow the Nation's Lingering Racial Wealth Gap

• Robert L. Johnson, co-founder of BET, entrepreneur, media magnate, executive, philanthropist and investor — "Helping to narrow the nation's lingering racial wealth gap"
  

10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — What ERISA Was Meant to Do: A Historical Perspective

• Dallas Salisbury, former President and CEO, Employee Benefit Research Institute
• Hon. Phyllis C. Borzi, Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
• Howard Fluhr, Chair Emeritus, The Segal Group
• Moderator: Jim Klein, President, American Benefits Council

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. — The History of Auto-Enrollment

• Mark Iwry, Nonresident Senior Fellow — Economic Studies, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center

11:45 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. — The Impact of Auto Features in DC Plans on Retirement Security

• Craig Copeland, Director of Wealth Benefits Research, Employee Benefit Research Institute
  

11:55 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. — Multistakeholder View on Benefits of Auto-Enrollment: What Else Could Be Automated Going Forward?

• Jason Jagatic, Head of Global and Workplace Thought Leadership, Fidelity Investments
• Sarah Faye Pierce, Head of Government Relations, Paychex
• Carole Mendoza, Vice President of Benefits, Voya
• Ben Roberge, Director, Financial & Retirement Programs, Unum
• Moderator: Bridget Bearden, Research and Development Strategist, Employee Benefit Research Institute
  

12:40 p.m. – 1:35 p.m. — Luncheon Address: ERISA and Health Benefits Innovation

• Rob Andrews, CEO, Health Transformation Alliance
  

1:35 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. — Pop-Up Talk on Paid Leave

• Joshua D. Seidman, Partner, Labor and Employment, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

1:50 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. — Benefits of ERISA Preemption for Employer-Provided Health Plans

• Paul Fronstin, Director of Health Benefits Research, Employee Benefit Research Institute
• Jake Spiegel, Research Associate, Employee Benefit Research Institute
  

2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. — Fireside Chat

• Doug Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum
• Moderator: Paul Fronstin, Director of Health Benefits Research, Employee Benefit Research Institute
  

2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. — Livestream Ends & Break

2:35 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. — Health ERISA Preemption Panel

• Peter Baxter, Senior Vice President, Insurance & Financial Services,  NRECA
• CJ Mahler, Professional Staff Member at House Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Lori Alagha, Associate Director, Human Resources, Procter & Gamble
• Moderator: Ilyse Schuman, Senior Vice President, Health & Paid Leave Policy,  American Benefits Council 

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. — Retirement Policy Discussion With Hill Staff

• Michael Sinacore, Pensions Policy Director, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions
• Kevin McDermott, Labor Policy Director, Committee on Education & the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives
• Jeanne Wilson, Retirement Counsel, Committee on Education & the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives
• Moderator: Lynn Dudley, Senior Vice President, Global Retirement & Compensation Policy, American Benefits Council

3:45 p.m. — Closing Remarks

• Barb Marder, Employee Benefit Research Institute
• Jim Klein, American Benefits Council