The American Benefits Council (the Council) is recognized as the preeminent advocate of employer-sponsored benefit programs in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to be the most effective advocate for voluntary private employee benefits. Our members either sponsor directly, administer or service retirement, health and stock compensation plans covering more than 100 million Americans. We are major corporations sponsoring comprehensive and diverse benefit plans. We are professionals in the benefits field with expertise in investments, retirement, health insurance, accounting, actuarial science, banking, law, and benefits consulting who provide service and support to corporate benefit plan sponsors. The Council initiates and champions legislation and regulations favorable to our members' needs and interests, and influences policy development within Congress and the White House and executive branch agencies. We fend off policy proposals that add burdens, liabilities and costs for the employer plan sponsor community. We serve as a technical resource on benefits issues for lawmakers, the media and other industry trade associations. We also lead other public policy organizations in developing and communicating a collective business community position and forge alliances on benefits issues. We are an active participant as a "friend of the court" in judicial cases affecting benefits.
External link for American Benefits Council
1501 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20005, US
American Benefits Council reposted this
Excited to have #Speaker James A. Klein, President of American Benefits Council at our 20th Anniversary of our #DFWBGH & #TBGH #Forum for the last time. Jim is sharing How the New #Congress and Administration will Address #Healthcare with #DFWBGH20 attendees.
The American Benefits Council is urging #Congress to prioritize #health policy legislation before year-end to make #healthcare more affordable for #employers and working families. In a letter to lawmakers, we outlined key bipartisan measures, including: ✅ Reducing costs through greater transparency and competition ✅ Expanding telehealth and chronic disease coverage flexibility for high-deductible health plans ✅ Enhancing oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) #Employers, who provide health coverage to nearly 180 million Americans, are deeply committed to delivering innovative, high-value benefits. But rising costs and barriers to innovation remain pressing challenges. Read our full list of priorities here: https://bit.ly/3CTG8e0 If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #healthpolicy #employeebenefits #AmericanBenefitsCouncil
Next week, the American Benefits Council's James A. Klein will be presenting at this year's DFW BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH's 20th Annual Benefits Forum, where he will discuss how the new Congress and White House will address #healthcare. More information on the forum can be found at: https://lnkd.in/exMiuxWT If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #health #healthbenefits #employeebenefits
Before leaving for the #Thanksgiving holiday, take a minute to catch up on some important insights for the future of #employer-sponsored benefit plans. The American Benefits Council recently partnered with the Employee Benefit Research Institute on a study examining the critical role of #ERISA preemption. The report, "ERISA at 50: No Midlife Crisis for ERISA Preemption," draws on insights from senior benefits decision-makers at Council member companies. In the latest episode of Just a Minute!, Council President James A. Klein discusses why the study’s findings are crucial for our public policy advocacy, especially as ERISA faces increasing challenges from state and local legislation. Take a moment to watch the full video and learn more about how these findings will shape our advocacy efforts moving forward. If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #PublicPolicy #EmployeeBenefits #healthcare #retirement #AmericanBenefitsCouncil
🚨 New Report Alert 🚨 The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and American Benefits Council have released a compelling new report: “#ERISA at 50: No Midlife Crisis for ERISA Preemption.” Through focus groups with large employers—representing more than 600,000 workers, $7 billion in #healthcare spending and more than 1 million lives covered—we examined how the #ERISApreemption framework ensures: ✅ Consistent benefits across state lines ✅ Lower administrative costs and richer benefits ✅ Room for employer-driven innovation However, the framework is under threat from state and local legal challenges, putting the uniformity and equity of benefits at risk. As James A. Klein, our President, puts it, “ERISA is the foundation for the #employer-sponsored benefits system. Policymakers must preserve its federal preemption standard to protect workers and employers alike.” If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. 📖 Read the full report and find key insights here: https://bit.ly/4fS75wZ #ERISA50 #EmployeeBenefits #EmployerInnovation #AmericanBenefitsCouncil
American Benefits Council reposted this
Exciting #leadership news from the American Benefits Council! Katy Johnson, currently our senior counsel, #healthpolicy, will succeed longtime leader James A. Klein as president of the Council on January 1, 2025. With more than 15 years of experience in both federal agencies and private practice, Katy’s leadership promises continuity and a forward-looking vision for #employeebenefits policy. After 33 years as Council president, Jim will continue to serve as senior advisor and managing director of our research affiliate, the American Benefits Institute. Jim’s legacy of integrity and advocacy will be carried forward by Katy. "My goal is to maintain and build on the standard of integrity, expertise, and advocacy our members have come to expect." The Council is excited about the future and the opportunities this transition brings to the benefits community! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3YPOk6B If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #AmericanBenefitsCouncil #PolicyLeadership #healthcarepolicy #retirementpolicy
Exciting #leadership news from the American Benefits Council! Katy Johnson, currently our senior counsel, #healthpolicy, will succeed longtime leader James A. Klein as president of the Council on January 1, 2025. With more than 15 years of experience in both federal agencies and private practice, Katy’s leadership promises continuity and a forward-looking vision for #employeebenefits policy. After 33 years as Council president, Jim will continue to serve as senior advisor and managing director of our research affiliate, the American Benefits Institute. Jim’s legacy of integrity and advocacy will be carried forward by Katy. "My goal is to maintain and build on the standard of integrity, expertise, and advocacy our members have come to expect." The Council is excited about the future and the opportunities this transition brings to the benefits community! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3YPOk6B If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #AmericanBenefitsCouncil #PolicyLeadership #healthcarepolicy #retirementpolicy
Following the #2024Election, #employeebenefits issues are poised to take center stage—not just in 2025, but potentially even sooner in a 2024 lame-duck session. In the latest episode of Just a Minute!, Council President James A. Klein explores why congressional action on benefits policy matters now more than ever. American Benefits Council members are invited to join us for a deeper dive into these critical issues in our upcoming webinar on Thursday, November 14, at 2 p.m. ET. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed on what lies ahead for benefits policy. If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #AmericanBenefitsCouncil #BenefitsPolicy #Elections #Election2024 #Webinar
With the election around the corner, the stakes for #employeebenefits and #HR policy are high. In a recent Employee Benefit News article, American Benefits Council President James A. Klein explains how the balance of power in Congress could determine the future of #employer-sponsored benefits and tax policy. "Whether anything legislative really happens will largely be a function of whether one party controls both houses of Congress and the White House as opposed to a split," Klein says. "The most significant legislation in the last several years has primarily happened when only one party is in control," highlighting the vulnerability of employer #health benefits to potential tax changes. Read more below to understand what’s at risk and what it means for the benefits community. If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #AmericanBenefitsCouncil #Healthcare #healthpolicy #Election2024
How will the 2024 election impact the HR space? EBN rounded up key issues for our readers, with some help from the president of the American Benefits Council. https://bit.ly/48rPZDq
We are excited to share the American Benefits Council's James A. Klein will be presenting at this year's DFW BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH's 20th Annual Benefits Forum, where he will discuss how the new Congress and White House will address #healthcare. More information on the forum can be found at: https://lnkd.in/exMiuxWT If you have any questions about the Council or are not yet a member and are interested in joining, please contact Deanna Johnson, APR, CEBS at djohnson@abcstaff.org. #health #healthbenefits #employeebenefits