Bastrop Chamber Supports Protection of Employee Retirement Income Security Act

ChamberEconomicGovernmentPoliticalPress Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 25, 2024
 
Contact:
Becki Womble, CCE, IOM
President & CEO
(512) 303-0558
bwomble@bastropchamber.com		  
 
BASTROP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
supports PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE
RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT
(ERISA)
 
Bastrop, TX (November 25, 2024) — Through its partnership with the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce joined numerous Central Texas Chambers of Commerce by signing on to a Letter of Support to protect the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  This vital law has safeguarded both employees and employers for nearly 50 years.
 
In Texas, nearly 15 million people rely on employer-provided health insurance, and more than half of that population is covered under ERISA-regulated self-funded health plans. These plans are the backbone of our state’s health care coverage. ERISA's uniformity is essential to Texas' economic success, enabling businesses to offer competitive benefits and maintain operational efficiency without the complexities of varying state mandates. For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, ERISA’s protections are crucial for providing affordable and consistent benefits across their workforce.
 
Unfortunately, recent legislative efforts have sought to circumvent ERISA’s protections by imposing state-level healthcare mandates on employers. These efforts risk significantly increasing healthcare costs for Texas employers and their employees Allowing expensive state mandates to interfere with ERISA protections would create a patchwork of conflicting rules, making it harder for businesses to offer consistent, affordable health benefits and weakening Texas’ ability to attract and retain businesses.
 
“In the upcoming legislative session, preserving ERISA will again be a top priority for the Texas business community,” said Glenn Hamer, President of TAB. “Rising healthcare costs only further emphasize the need to maintain ERISA’s uniform standards, which have helped businesses manage expenses and remain competitive in national and global markets. Additional state mandates would not only increase compliance costs but could also discourage businesses from expanding their operations in Texas, jeopardizing the economic growth that has made Texas a leader in innovation and investment.”
 
“We’re delighted that, through our advocacy efforts on behalf of the businesses and residents of Bastrop County, we’re able to stand with the business community to protect this landmark law,” said Becki Womble, President & CEO of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce. “By doing so, we can safeguard the long-term success of businesses in the Bastrop Region, support the health and well-being of our workforce, and ensure that Texas remains a leading destination for innovation, investment, and job creation.”
 
 

The Bastrop Chamber of Commerce is Accredited with Four-Star Distinction by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.   Our mission is “To improve business prosperity and, thereby, the quality of life in Bastrop County, through leadership, advocacy, and collaboration.”  Currently, the Chamber serves a membership of nearly 800 members throughout Bastrop County and Central Texas and is consistently ranked in the Top 10 Largest Chambers by the Austin Business Journal. To learn more and/or join the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.bastropchamber.com.
 
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Bastrop Chamber Supports Protection of Employee Retirement Income Security Act