House Passes Bill Making Big Changes to U.S. Retirement System
The House of Representatives passed legislation that would bring substantial changes to the U.S. retirement system, making it easier for employers to offer 401(k)-type plans and include annuities, which guarantee an annual income, as options for workers, the Wall Street Journal reported. Backed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Rep. Richard Neal (D- Mass.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the legislation would repeal the age cap for contributing to traditional individual retirement accounts, currently 70½. It would also increase the age to start taking required withdrawals from 401(k)s and IRAs to 72 from 70½. The House bill, known as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement, or Secure Act, passed with a vote of 417-3. A Senate GOP aide said that the plan is for the Senate to vote on the House’s Secure Act, rather than its own version, and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a Finance Committee member who is active on retirement policy, said that the Senate should swiftly pass the House bill.