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Kildee Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Restore Retirement Benefits for Delphi Salaried Retirees

November 2, 2021

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, filed an amicusbrief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Delphi Salaried Retirees as they fight to restore their pensions.

In 2009, more than 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees, including over 5,000 in Michigan, lost the full value of their retirement benefits when the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) unfairly terminated the pensions of the salaried employees of Delphi. The salaried retirees suffered significant losses to their benefits, with some losing as much as 70 percent of their benefits.

"The Delphi Salaried Retirees have waited far too long to have their benefits restored. This amicus brief, filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, thoroughly details the need to deliver justice for Delphi Salaried Retirees. I urge the U.S. Supreme Court to act now to make their retirements whole. I continue to advocate for the hardworking Delphi Salaried Retirees, and I will not stop fighting to ensure they can retire with dignity," said Congressman Kildee.

The brief was also signed by 16 other Members of Congress.

In September 2009, the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association (DSRA) filed a lawsuit against the PBGC seeking restoration of their pension benefits. After many delays, in March 2019, the federal court in Detroit dismissed the DSRA's claims. The DSRA appealed this decision, but in September 2020, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal court of Detroit's decision. The DSRA appealed for a rehearing, which was denied in February 2021. On October 4, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to allow the DSRA to petition a review of the lower court's decision.

For years, Congressman Kildee has led the fight in Congress to restore pensions for Delphi Salaried Retirees, working across the aisle and pressing administration officials from both parties to do the right thing and make the Delphi Salaried Retirees pensions whole. Congressman Kildee, along with Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-01) and Congressman Michael Turner (OH-10), formed the Congressional Task Force on Delphi Pensions in 2013 to help these hardworking retirees get the earned benefits they deserve.