---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 1001b"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "1001b"
heading: "Findings and declaration of policy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/1001b"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Employee Retirement Income Security Program"
  - "Subchapter I — Protection of Employee Benefit Rights"
  - "Subtitle A — General Provisions"
---

# §1001b. Findings and declaration of policy

- (a) **Findings—** The Congress finds that—
  - (1) single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) defined benefit [pension plans](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A) have a substantial impact on interstate [commerce](/usc/29/1002.md?p=11) and are affected with a national interest;
  - (2) the continued well-being and retirement income [security](/usc/29/1002.md?p=20) of millions of workers, retirees, and their dependents are directly affected by such plans;
  - (3) the existence of a sound termination insurance system is fundamental to the retirement income [security](/usc/29/1002.md?p=20) of [participants](/usc/29/1002.md?p=7) and [beneficiaries](/usc/29/1002.md?p=8) of such plans; and
  - (4) the current termination insurance system in some instances encourages [employers](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) to terminate [pension plans](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A), evade their obligations to pay benefits, and shift unfunded pension liabilities onto the termination insurance system and the other premium-payers.
- (b) **Additional findings—** The Congress further finds that modification of the current termination insurance system and an increase in the insurance premium for single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) defined benefit [pension plans](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A)—
  - (1) is desirable to increase the likelihood that full benefits will be paid to [participants](/usc/29/1002.md?p=7) and [beneficiaries](/usc/29/1002.md?p=8) of such plans;
  - (2) is desirable to provide for the transfer of liabilities to the termination insurance system only in cases of severe hardship;
  - (3) is necessary to maintain the premium costs of such system at a reasonable level; and
  - (4) is necessary to finance properly current funding deficiencies and future obligations of the single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) [pension plan](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A) termination insurance system.
- (c) **Declaration of policy—** It is hereby declared to be the policy of this title—
  - (1) to foster and facilitate interstate [commerce](/usc/29/1002.md?p=11);
  - (2) to encourage the maintenance and growth of single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) defined benefit [pension plans](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A);
  - (3) to increase the likelihood that [participants](/usc/29/1002.md?p=7) and [beneficiaries](/usc/29/1002.md?p=8) under single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) defined benefit [pension plans](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A) will receive their full benefits;
  - (4) to provide for the transfer of unfunded pension liabilities onto the single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) [pension plan](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A) termination insurance system only in cases of severe hardship;
  - (5) to maintain the premium costs of such system at a reasonable level; and
  - (6) to assure the prudent financing of current funding deficiencies and future obligations of the single-[employer](/usc/29/1002.md?p=5) [pension plan](/usc/29/1002.md?p=2-A) termination insurance system by increasing termination insurance premiums.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–272, title XI, § 11002, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 237.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This title, referred to in subsec. (c), is title XI of Pub. L. 99–272, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 237, known as the Single-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1986. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note set out under section 1001 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Single-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1986, and not as part of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1986, with certain exceptions, see section 11019 of Pub. L. 99–272, set out as an Effective Date of 1986 Amendment note under section 1341 of this title.