Labor Department Solicits Nominations For Employee Benefits Advisory Council

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting nominations to fill five three-year vacancies on the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Oct. 1.

The bipartisan advisory council, known as the ERISA Advisory Council, has 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Labor to represent a wide range of interests in the employee benefits area. The council makes recommendations on policy affecting the administration of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and advises the secretary on implementing those recommendations.

In recent years the Council has explored several health benefit issues because the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration has received additional responsibilities as a result of new health laws (e.g. the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Mothers and Newborns, Mental Health Parity).

Nominations are being accepted for the five vacancies representing employer organizations, employee organizations, general public, investment counseling and actuarial counseling. This year, the secretary is soliciting candidates for the general public opening who are retirees.

Appointments are for three years of service to the Advisory Council with a statutory requirement for the full council to meet at a minimum of four times a year. Working groups, established yearly, generally meet several more times.

Interested persons or organizations may nominate qualified persons for membership. Recommendations must be submitted by letter, resolution or petition and signed by the person or, in the case of an organizational nomination, by the group’s representative making the recommendation. The nomination also should briefly describe the candidate’s qualifications, the group or field the candidate would best represent, the candidate’s political party affiliation and availability to serve. (ERISA mandates that no more than eight members may represent one political party.)

Nominations should be submitted by Oct. 1 to Sharon Morrissey, executive secretary of the ERISA Advisory Council, Room N-5677, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210. Calls regarding the openings may also be forwarded to Ms. Morrissey at (202) 219-8921.

U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7775.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.