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EBRI

Policy Forums

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May 2024 Policy Forum #93

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

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

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

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