Congresswoman Tenney Releases Documentary Highlighting Stories of Delphi Retirees in Push to Pass Susan Muffley Act

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released a documentary highlighting the stories of the Delphi Salaried Retirees from Western New York who have suffered since their pensions were unfairly slashed in 2009. The video is a call to action, urging fellow members of Congress to support the Susan Muffley Act.

While filing for bankruptcy in 2009, the Delphi Corporation was acquired by General Motors. As part of the General Motors bailout and restructuring, the Delphi employee pensions were turned over to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) under the Obama Administration. While General Motors supplemented the pensions of unionized hourly employees, over 20,000 Delphi Salaried Retirees saw their benefits unfairly slashed between 30 and 70 percent. Many have suffered greatly because of this injustice.

To watch the full documentary, which includes interviews with several impacted families and individuals from Western New York, click here.

In Congress, the bipartisan Susan Muffley Act, which Congresswoman Tenney has championed, would right the wrong of the Obama-era decision by rightfully restoring the pensions of the Delphi Salaried Retirees. The bill, H.R. 735, currently has 30 cosponsors and was reintroduced by Tenney and three other Members earlier this year. The legislation is also cosponsored by Congressman Nick Langworthy, who represents New York’s 23rd District, which includes large portions of Erie County.

“The Delphi Salaried Retirees were egregiously wronged in 2009 when their pensions were slashed, and they have suffered immensely as a result," said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. "What is often lost in this conversation are the personal stories behind the legislation to correct this wrong. That is why this documentary is so vitally important – it sheds light on the personal and heart wrenching stories behind this issue. These hardworking individuals deserve to have their voices heard. I am honored to represent them and bring attention to their stories as I continue to advocate for passage of the Susan Muffley Act in Congress."

“Through no fault of their own, the Delphi salaried retirees have suffered a horrible injustice that has had a devastating impact on countless families,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Tenney, for putting a face to these heartbreaking stories and look forward to fighting alongside her for passage of the Susan Muffley Act. We must right this wrong and allow these hardworking employees to retire with the dignity they earned.” 

Those whose testimony was shared in the documentary thanked Congresswoman Tenney for her advocacy and reiterated their call for Congress to pass the Susan Muffley Act:

We are grateful to Rep. Tenney for putting together this video and her consistent support for the Susan Muffley Act which will restore our pension plan. It was never necessary to terminate our plan other than it was in the way of the Auto Team working in the US Treasury. The funding for our plan was sufficient to weather the 2008/2009 recession, and would have recovered along with all the other plans as the recession ended. It was always better funded than the average of the top 100 largest pension plans. The Federal Government orchestrated the termination of our pension plan causing untold harm to thousands who only “worked hard and played by the rules.” The return of our pension plan is just the Federal Government giving back what was taken from us, and does not require any new public funds. That’s why the participants in the video all say this is not a bailout, it is a recovery. If this bill does not pass, then millions more coming behind us will be vulnerable to similar treatment," said Delphi Salaried Retirees Association Chairman Bruce Gump.

“We are so grateful for Congresswoman Tenney’s advocacy and leadership on this important issue. After working at GM Delphi in Lockport for 32 years, salaried workers like me had our pensions slashed unfairly. Congresswoman Tenney is leading the fight in Washington to pass the Susan Muffley Act and end this injustice. This video is the next step to telling our story and urging Congress to end this nightmare that has plagued us for the past 14 years,” said Delphi Salaried Retiree Steven Ray. 

“As I demonstrated in our film, Delphi Salaried Retirees were unfairly harmed by the decision to cut our healthcare and pension benefits. Working at Delphi in Rochester, I worked side by side with union workers who now enjoy their full benefits. I commend Congresswoman Tenney for producing this film and hope it aids her in our fight to finally pass the Susan Muffley Act,” said Delphi Salaried Retiree Ted Rivera.  

State and local legislators also thanked Tenney for her advocacy and urged Congress to take up the Susan Muffley Act immediately:

“I stood alongside Congresswoman Tenney as she met with Delphi Salaried Employees in Lockport and heard directly from them. I am thankful she has taken the next step to produce this film and look forward to working with Rep. Tenney to finish the job and pass the Susan Muffley Act,” said Niagara County Legislator Rick Abbott. 

For over a decade, the employees and families of the former GM-Delphi plant have had to fight for the benefits that they are rightly owed. Each day, the hard-working employees of the Delphi plant showed up to work and contributed to the success of their employer - only for their benefits and future financial security to be taken from them through no fault of their own. I want to thank Congresswoman Tenney and her colleagues in Congress for continuing to fight this injustice. I stand with them in supporting salaried retirees of Delphi,” said New York Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt.

“I applaud Congresswoman Claudia Tenney for her strong leadership in championing the Susan Muffley Act, which will correct the injustices inflicted on the Delphi GM salaried employees by rightly restoring their pension, health care, and life insurance benefits. These salaried workers invested their lives into technological advances and our community and then suffered a lifetime blow when their benefits were drastically slashed in a flash of an eye. I represent and know many of these wonderful people, and I urge Congress and President Biden to right this wrong and provide overdue justice by enacting the Susan Muffley Act immediately,” said New York Assemblyman Mike Norris.

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