Rep. Turner: Russian-Americans Deserve Their Pensions From Former Soviet Union States

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bob Turner (NY-09) announced that he has co-sponsored H.R. 2494, The Former Soviet Union State Pension Fairness Act.

"Too many Russian-Americans are not receiving the pensions that they deserve from their work in former Soviet Union states, including Ukraine, Belorussia, and Kazakhstan," said Turner.

H.R. 2494 directs the Secretary of State to work with the governments of the states of the former Soviet Union to encourage them to adopt policies that would allow receipt of pensions for individuals who currently reside in the United States that worked in any such state and earned a pension.

Turner noted that many of his Russian constituents have urged him to support this bill.

"I have been listening closely to the concerns of the Russian community that I am privileged to represent since taking office, and this is one of the key issues that has been brought to my attention. Whether one worked in the United States or the former Soviet Union, they deserve the pension benefits promised to them," Turner added.

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of which Congressman Turner is a member. If the bill passes out of Foreign Affairs it will then be sent to the Rules Committee for review. Pending a Rule Committee approval, it will then be sent to the House Floor for a full vote.

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