Clerk of the House of Representatives
Legislative Resource Center
135 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov 		Secretary of the Senate
Office of Public Records
232 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
http://www.senate.gov/lobby
LOBBYING REPORT

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page

1. Registrant Name Organization/Lobbying Firm Self Employed Individual
AMERICAN BENEFITS COUNCIL

2. Address

Address1
1501 M STREET, N.W., Suite 600
 Address2
​
City
WASHINGTON
 State
DC
 Zip Code
20005-1700
 Country
USA

3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)

City
​
State
​
Zip Code
​
Country
​
4a. Contact Name b. Telephone Number c. E-mail
​Mr.
​RALPH P. KASS
​2022896700
​rkass@abcstaff.org
5. Senate ID#
​4675-12
7. Client Name Self Check if client is a state or local government or instrumentality
​AMERICAN BENEFITS COUNCIL
6. House ID#
​312420000
TYPE OF REPORT 8. Year
​2019
 Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) Q4 (10/1 - 12/31)

9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report

10. Check if this is a Termination Report Termination Date
​
11. No Lobbying Issue Activity
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13
12. Lobbying 13. Organizations
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were:
Less than $5,000
Less than $5,000
$5,000 or more $
​
$5,000 or more $
​319,244.00
Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options.
Method A. Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only

Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code

Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code

Signature
Digitally Signed By: RALPH P. KASS
 Date
1/16/2020 4:16:59 PM

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code RET

16. Specific lobbying issues

Legislative
Equality Act - H.R. 5/S. 788
Retirement Security Act of 2019 - S. 321
Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act - H.R. 397
Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2019 - S. 972
Family Savings Act of 2019 - H.R. 1084
Providing Retirement Security to Workers in Small Businesses, Cooperatives and Service Organizations Act - H.R. 1993
Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 - H.R. 1994
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 - H.R 1865 & H.R. 1158 - SECURE Act - H.R. 1994
Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act - S. 1428
The Retirement Security & Savings Act - S. 1431
Wall Street Tax Act of 2019 - H.R. 1516/S. 647
Inclusive Prosperity Act of 2019 - S. 1587/H.R. 2923
Retirement Security Preservation Act - S. 2352
Pension and Budget Integrity Act (PBIA) - H.R. 4035
Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act - H.R. 397
Tax Incentives for 401 (k) contributions
Automatic 401 (k) Act
Financial wellness
Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Proposal
Defined benefit pension plan funding rules
PBGC premiums
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principals in investing
Form 5500 reporting - state required plan exemptions and Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs)
Cybersecurity

Regulatory and Other
Executive Order - Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles in investing
Executive Order on Strengthening Retirement Security in America
SEC Best Interest Standard Guidance - clarification of regular rate of pay application to benefits
Department of Labor Proposed Rule: Default Electronic Disclosure by Employee Pension Benefits Plans
Lump sum payments to participants in pay status
PBGC Proposed Rule on Lump Sum Payment Assumptions
IRS Proposed New Rules under Section 162 (m) - executive compensation
Cyber security
DOL - Definition of Fiduciary
Emergency savings
ERISA Uniformity
Excise tax on private foundations
Form 5500 Reporting
Missing Participants
Mortality Tables - Improvements
Multiple Employer Plans - MEPs
Multiemployer pension plan issues
Non-discrimination issues affecting defined benefit plans - Additional Temporary Nondiscrimination Relief for Closed Defined Benefit Plans
Paid leave proposals and issues
State retirement plan initiatives
Plan administration - certification of hardship withdrawals and determination letter program
Required minimum distribution (RMD) rules related to 403 (b) plans
Student loan repayment benefit

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury - Dept of, Labor - Dept of (DOL), Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), White House Office

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
James
Klein
​
​
Lynn
Dudley
​
​
Diann
Howland
​
​
Janet
Jacobson
​
​
Jill
Randolph
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.

15. General issue area code HCR

16. Specific lobbying issues

Legislative
Lower Prescription Drug Costs Now Act - H.R. 3
Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act - S. 2543
Equality Act - H.R. 5/S. 788
Prescription Drug Rebates & Costs Bill - S. 657
The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act - H.R. 748/S. 684
Health Care Reform - ongoing legislative and regulatory implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), Cadillac tax on health benefits,
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 - H.R 1865 & H.R. 1158 - repeal of Cadillac tax and other health care provisions
Health care cost and transparency
The STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act - S. 1531
Protecting People from Surprise Medical Bills Act - H.R. 3502
No Surprises Act - H.R 3630
Reauthorizing and Extending Americas Community Health (REACH) Act - H.R. 2328
End Surprise Medical Billing Act - H.R. 861
Lower Health Care Costs Act - S. 1895
Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Proposal
Paid Family Leave Pilot Extension Act - S. 1628
New Parents Act - S. 920
Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act - S.463/H.R. 1185
Chronic Disease Management Act - S.1948/H.R. 3709
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) - reauthorization

Regulatory and Other
Executive Order - Protecting and Improving Medicare for our Nations Seniors
Executive Order - Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First
Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services (HHS) - Proposed Price Transparency Rule
HHS - 2020 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System - Proposed and Final Rule
Presidential Executive Order Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States
HHS NPRM - Section 1557 - Nondiscrimination in Health and Health Education Programs or Activities
ERISA uniformity
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) - application of employer mandate to individual coverage HRAs - Proposed Rule
HHS - Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices and Reduce Out-of-Pocket Costs and proposed rule on removal of safe harbor protections for rebates
HHS Proposed Rule - 21st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program
HHS - Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2021 - Proposed Rule
High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) - including IRS Notice 2019-45
Medicare Advantage Program
State health care requirements affecting self-insured plans
Final FAQs guidance regarding implementation the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) - as amended by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the 21st Century Cures Act
Electronic communication and disclosure of benefits information - Department of Labor Proposed Rule: Default Electronic Disclosure by Employee Pension Benefits Plans
Paid leave proposals and issues
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) - reporting requirements

17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None

U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury - Dept of, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Health & Human Services - Dept of (HHS), White House Office, Labor - Dept of (DOL), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area

First Name Last Name Suffix Covered Official Position (if applicable) New
James
Klein
​
​
Kathryn
Wilber
​
​
Lynn
Dudley
​
​
Diann
Howland
​
​
Jill
Randolph
​
​
Ilyse
Schuman
​
Senate HELP Committee, Chief Labor Counsel, Minority Staff Director, Chief Counsel
Kathryn
Johnson
​
​

19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None

​

Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.

20. Client new address

Address
​
City
​
State
​
Zip Code
​
Country
​

21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)

City
​
State
​
Zip Code
​
Country
​

22. New General description of client’s business or activities

​

LOBBYIST UPDATE

23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client

First Name
Last Name
Suffix
First Name
Last Name
Suffix
1
​Kathryn
​Wilber
​
3
​
​
​
2
​
​
​
4
​
​
​

ISSUE UPDATE

24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains

​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)

Internet Address:

Name Address Principal Place of Business
(city and state or country)
Street Address
City State/Province Zip Country
City
State Country

26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client

1 2 3

FOREIGN ENTITIES

27. Add the following foreign entities:

Name Address Principal place of business
(city and state or country) 		Amount of contribution for lobbying activities Ownership percentage in client
Street Address
City State/Province Country
City
State Country
%

28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization

1 3 5
2 4 6

CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE

29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery, extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?

Lobbyist Name Description of Offense(s)