A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 430.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The "Balance the Scales Act" proposes amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It requires the Secretary to enter into written agreements with individuals before providing "adverse assistance," which includes advice or information directed at attorneys for use in civil actions. The Secretary must also provide copies of these agreements to potentially impacted employers or plan sponsors. Additionally, the Act mandates an annual report to Congress detailing these agreements, including logs of communications and meetings. Finally, the bill adds a policy declaration to promote and facilitate the voluntary establishment and maintenance of employee benefit plans.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates an annual report to Congress detailing logs of communications and meetings regarding adverse assistance agreements.
- Scored +2
Does this strengthen Social Security?
The bill declares a policy to promote, encourage, and facilitate the voluntary establishment and maintenance of employee pension plans.
- Scored +2
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill expresses a policy to promote the maintenance of pension plans which provides retirement security.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would union members be better off under this?
The requirement to disclose assistance agreements to employers may impact the ability of workers to seek legal recourse regarding their benefits.
- Scored -3
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
The requirement to notify employers of assistance provided to individuals may discourage the reporting of adverse information used in civil actions.
- Scored -2
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased transparency and reporting requirements regarding adverse assistance may create barriers for individuals seeking assistance against employers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency for Employers and Fiduciaries: The bill requires the Secretary to provide a copy of any written agreement regarding adverse assistance to any employer, plan sponsor, or fiduciary that may be directly and adversely impacted by that assistance (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
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Congressional Oversight: The Act requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress containing detailed information on all agreements to provide adverse assistance, including a log of communications and meetings (Section 2(a)(3)(A)).
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Formalized Assistance Agreements: Before providing adverse assistance, the Secretary must enter into a written agreement with the individual detailing the nature and scope of the assistance (Section 2(a)(1)(A)).
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Promotion of Pension Plans: The bill includes a finding that the retirement security of millions of employees and dependents is impacted by pension plans and declares a policy to promote, encourage, and facilitate the voluntary establishment and maintenance of these plans (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Notification of Adverse Assistance to Employers: The Secretary is required to provide a copy of the written agreement to any employer, plan sponsor, or fiduciary that may be directly and adversely impacted by the assistance provided to an individual (Section 2(a)(1)(B)).
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Disclosure of Detailed Assistance Information: The Secretary must submit a report to Congress that includes a detailed description of the nature and scope of assistance, including the specific information shared, a log of verbal communications, and a log of meetings (Section 2(a)(3)(A)(iii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates an annual report to Congress detailing logs of communications and meetings regarding adverse assistance agreements.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill declares a policy to promote, encourage, and facilitate the voluntary establishment and maintenance of employee pension plans.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill's policy aims to facilitate the maintenance of employee benefit plans. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill expresses a policy to promote the maintenance of pension plans which provides retirement security. Would union members be better off under this? — The requirement to disclose assistance agreements to employers may impact the ability of workers to seek legal recourse regarding their benefits. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased transparency and reporting requirements regarding adverse assistance may create barriers for individuals seeking assistance against employers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill includes a policy to promote and facilitate the voluntary establishment and maintenance of employee benefit plans. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The requirement to notify employers of assistance provided to individuals may discourage the reporting of adverse information used in civil actions.
- 2/20/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-504.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 430.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/17/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 16.
- 4/17/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Lisa McClainRepublican · Michigan