Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill for fiscal 2003 that would establish an Office of Pension Participant Advocacy within the Labor Department. Mr. Harkin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said no federal agency is responsible now for promoting the retirement security interests of workers and giving them a place to turn to in case of problems.
The amendment would set aside $3 million to establish the new office, which would report directly to the secretary of Labor.