Texas Retirees Celebrate ERS Legislation

The Texas House of Representatives has approved Senate Bill 321, which will invest $1 billion of new money in the Employees Retirement System this biennium — and in future bienniums — and will finally make ERS actuarily sound. Once the legislation is approved on final reading, it will be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.

Below is a statement from Luther Elmore, President of AFSCME Texas Retirees, Chapter 12.

“We have worked for years to secure this type of support to shore up ERS, protect our pensions, and open the door to cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in the future. As public employees, we did our part by paying into ERS throughout our careers — and now the state is finally doing its part.

“We appreciate the bipartisan support for SB 321, and the leadership of its sponsors, Sen. Joan Huffman and Rep. Greg Bonnen. Most of all, we appreciate our members’ calls, emails, and letters to lawmakers to let them know how vital this legislation is and to persuade them to vote ‘yes.'”