US Department of Labor's ERISA Advisory Council to hold meeting Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 and solicits nominations

WASHINGTON The Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans (also known as the ERISA Advisory Council) will meet Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 in Washington at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room C-5515-1A, to hear testimony from witnesses.

The meeting will take place on Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT and on Sept. 1 and 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT.

On Sept. 1, the agenda will include an update on the activities of the department's Employee Benefits Security Administration. Topics under study by the council include:

• Employee benefit plan auditing and financial reporting models.
• Disparities for women and minorities in retirement.
• Health care literacy.

The council also has published a notice soliciting nominations to fill vacancies on the council. Nominations are being accepted for one vacancy each to represent the fields of employee organizations, employer organizations, accounting, insurance and the general public. Interested persons or organizations may nominate qualified persons for the vacancies by sending nominating letters to Larry Good, executive secretary, ERISA Advisory Council, Room N-5623, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210. Go to the EBSA website at www.dol.gov/federalregister/HtmlDisplay.aspx?DocId=24086&AgencyId=8&DocumentType=3 to view a copy of the Federal Register notice.

The advisory council meeting is open to the public. The ERISA Advisory Council consists of 15 members appointed to staggered three-year terms by the secretary of labor. The members represent the general public, employers, employee organizations and the fields of insurance, corporate trust, investment management, investment counseling, accounting and actuarial counseling.