SMART-TD Praises Committee Approval of Key Railroad Retirement Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2026 —INDEPENDENCE, OH

The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) applauds today’s action by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) to advance critical legislation that benefits our railroad members and retirees.

Approved by a unanimous vote, the bipartisan Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Stability Act of 2026 (S.4965) makes important changes that allow the RRB to better serve rail workers and their families, including modernizing the agency’s outdated processing systems and bringing the RRB’s administrative funding in-line with its self-sustaining financing and benefit structure that’s paid for through payroll taxes on rail workers and employers.

Despite its self-sustaining financing, the RRB still must compete with other government agencies for administrative funding from Congress. Because of this field offices around the county have been forced to close in recent years due to funding issues and delays in processing benefits.

The RRB Stability Act addresses some of these issues by:

• Switching to a system that ensures predictable spending levels and solvency for the railroad retirement system while still maintaining Congressional oversight of the RRB’S administration.
• Dedicated funding in the first five years to assist with the RRB’s transition to a new, more efficient operating system, helping to clear the growing backlog of claims that’s left some workers waiting 18 months to receive their benefits.

SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson praised the legislation as an important step forward for both current and future railroaders that will ensure a stable Railroad Retirement system for years to come.

“Railroad Retirement isn’t just a promise made to workers. It’s the foundation that has helped make railroad careers among the strongest blue-collar jobs in America,” he said. “Protecting that stability helps recruit the next generation, retain experienced employees, maintain the skilled workforce that keeps freight and passengers moving safely across the country, and deliver the benefits necessary to the men and women who have kept this country moving, no matter the cost. A stable Railroad Retirement system supports a stable railroad workforce, and by extension, a stable national supply chain. That’s why this bipartisan legislation makes sense for workers, railroads, shippers, and every American who depends on a strong transportation network. I thank Senators Cassidy and Sanders for their dedication and leadership on this critical piece of legislation, and our National Legislative Office, Brothers Jared Cassity and Don Roach, for their work on the Hill.”

SMART-TD is pleased that this pivotal bill cleared this important legislative hurdle today. However, we won’t be satisfied on this front until it reaches the President’s desk for signature. We will continue to be vigilant through the rest of the process.

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For more information or to connect with SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson or a member of his leadership team, please contact:
Dan Banks 
dbanks@smart-union.org 
(216) 227-5283 (Office) 
(330) 322-5949 (Cell)

Alyssa Hansen 
alyssa.hansen@smart-union.org