Whitfield Reintroduces Bill To Help Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Retirees

Continuing his efforts to address the concerns of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) Retirees Committee, U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield reintroduced legislation that will grant additional time for the PGDP retirees to have their case heard in court.

The retirees deserve the chance to have their case heard before a court of law, said Whitfield. By amending the USEC Privatization Act to extend the statute of limitations, the retirees will have the opportunity to present their arguments for a share of the surplus funds.

Whitfields bipartisan legislation amends the USEC Privatization Act to provide an extension of the period during which individuals may bring a suit for certain violations of employee protection provisions under the Act.

Following the enactment of the USEC Privatization Act in July 1998, funds were transferred from the Department of Energy (DOE) to the newly-privatized USEC to cover pension liabilities for PGDP retirees. However, surplus funds accumulated in the plan were not transferred when the retirees pensions were moved to USEC. The retirees filed suit in an effort to recover a portion of the surplus. The retirees case, Art K. Edwards, et al. v. USEC, et al., was subsequently dismissed by the United States District Court in Paducah on the grounds the statute of limitations for bringing such a case had expired.

Whitfield first met with the retirees in February of 2006 to discuss the status of their pensions and medical benefits as a result of the USEC Privatization Act. Following the meeting, Whitfield took their questions to DOE seeking more information on why the Paducah retirees did not get a share of the surplus funds following USECs privatization. Whitfield met with the Retirees Committee in July, where he told the retirees that legislation would likely be needed to address their concerns.

Tom Emerson, a member of the Retirees Committee, praised Whitfield for introducing the legislation.

Ed Whitfield has really taken our problem to heart. He has really bent over backward to help us get our portion of the pension fund, and my hats off to him for his hard work, the time hes put in, and the visits hes made. The Committee is grateful for all the help hes given us, said Emerson.

The retirees have never had a chance to present their arguments for a share of the surplus. This bill will give them the opportunity to have their case heard, said Whitfield. I was pleased to reintroduce this legislation on the retirees behalf, and I will work with my colleagues to get it passed.

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