---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 1143a"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "1143a"
heading: "Studies by Comptroller General"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/1143a"
units:
  - "Chapter 18 — Employee Retirement Income Security Program"
  - "Subchapter I — Protection of Employee Benefit Rights"
  - "Subtitle B — Regulatory Provisions"
  - "Part 5 — administration and enforcement"
---

# §1143a. Studies by Comptroller General

- (1) **In general—** The Comptroller General of the United States may, pursuant to the request of any Member of Congress, study [employee](/usc/29/1083.md?p=c-7-D-vi) benefit plans, including the effects of such plans on [employees](/usc/29/1083.md?p=c-7-D-vi), participants, and their beneficiaries.
- (2) **Access to books, documents, etc.** For the purpose of conducting studies under this section, the Comptroller General, or any of his duly authorized representatives, shall have access to and the right to examine and copy any books, documents, papers, records, or other recorded information—
  - (A) within the possession or control of the [administrator](/usc/29/1301.md?p=a-1), sponsor, or employer of and [persons](/usc/29/1301.md?p=a-20) providing services to any [employee](/usc/29/1083.md?p=c-7-D-vi) benefit plan, and
  - (B) which the Comptroller General or his representative finds, in his own judgment, pertinent to such study.

  The Comptroller General shall not disclose the identity of any [individual](/usc/29/1301.md?p=a-14-C-ii-V) or employer in making any information obtained under this section available to the public.

- (3) **Definitions—** For purposes of this section, the terms “[employee](/usc/29/1083.md?p=c-7-D-vi) benefit plan”, “participant”, “[administrator](/usc/29/1301.md?p=a-1)”, “beneficiary”, “[plan sponsor](/usc/29/1083.md?p=c-7-F-i)”, “[employee](/usc/29/1083.md?p=c-7-D-vi)”, and “employer” are defined in [section 1002 of this title](/usc/29/1002.md).
- (4) **Effective date—** The preceding provisions of this section shall be effective on April 7, 1986.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–272, title XI, § 11016(d), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 275.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Single-Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1986, and also as part of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, and not as part of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 which comprises this chapter.