this week i reintroduced legislation to help address the financial challenges of the pbgc. the pension stability act would add funding to the pension benefit guaranty corporation's multicomplier -- multiemployer program by imposing a fee on financial firms convicted of financial crimes. this weekend i was in endeavor, wisconsin, with retirees who meet once a month at the fire station to update one another on our progress here in washington. i've been to many, many such meetings like that across the state. in the months since the house passed the butch lewis act, there hasn't been much other progress to speak of. the senate hasn't taken up the bill. no other proposals have been offered. and all the while retirees and workers in the central states pension fund continue to doubt their retirement security. today i'm asking my colleagues in the senate to join me to pass my pension stability act and to help generate new revenue to help safeguard the retirement security of millions of americans. if washington does not act, workers and retirees face massive cuts to the pensions tha

this one can keep us from going into insolvency with the pbgc. that's all we're trying to do is protest that from happening because this is going to move very quickly if unfortunately this one large coal company goes bankrupt and that's why i brought it to the floor today, sir, with all due respect. i would hope that you and i could talk some more about this and you could understand the gravity of what we're dealing with. because it is really concerning to me right now. thank you. mr. grassley: i heard what my friend said and i still stick by what i told you that we're working on a plan to deal with multiemployers on many, many different situations of which yours is a very important part of it. mr. manchin klein look forward to working with you. the presiding officer: the senator from wisconsin. ms. baldwin: mr. president, i rise today on behalf of nearly 25,000 workers and retirees in wisconsin who have paid into the central states pension fund. it has been three and a half years since the treasury department denied an application by the central