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2023 Policy Innovation Forum
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Georgetown University
500 1st Street, NW, 9th floor conference center
Washington, DC

On October 25, 2023, the CRI hosted its annual invitation-only 2023 Policy Innovation Forum. We were excited to host this event at the CRI’s Georgetown University’s Capitol Hill offices and conference center at 500 1st Street NW, Washington, DC. The CRI also hosted an evening reception for guests on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at the Groom Law Group.

This year’s Forum looked ahead to 2024 and the 50th anniversary of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). What have been some of ERISA’ s most significant accomplishments and what have been some unintended consequences? How well has our nation’s retirement policy kept pace with innovation? As we look to the future, is there a need to reexamine the legal and regulatory framework of our nation’s retirement system — and should we start with an ERISA 2.0? We look forward to sharing some of the key highlights from this Forum throughout 2024 during ERISA’s 50th anniversary year.

Travel Information

The Law Center is located near Union Station and Capitol Hill at 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W., Washington, DC, 20001 (202-662-9000 ). The Law Center Campus is not located on the undergraduate campus; however, there is a shuttle bus providing frequent service to and from both campuses.

The Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives is located at 500 1st Street, NW. just next door to the Law Center.

BY METRO

The Law Center is easily accessible by Metro, the subway system of the Washington area. Take the Red Line to Union Station and exit onto Massachusetts Avenue. Turn right on Massachusetts Avenue and walk two blocks to the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and New Jersey Avenue. Turn left on New Jersey Avenue. The Law Center will be on your right.

BY CAR

From Northeast of Washington, D.C. (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore): Follow I-95 South. At the I-495 Junction, follow the signs toward 95 South to Richmond. **Take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway/ I-295 exit (west). Take the Baltimore Washington Parkway to US 50 (New York Avenue). Follow 50 heading west into Washington, DC. Make a left onto North Capitol Street, then make a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Before the next light, make a left on New Jersey Avenue, and immediately bear right on First Street. The main Law Center building, McDonough Hall, will be on your right.

From South or East of Washington, D.C. (Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg): Follow I-95 North. At the I-495 junction, 95 will turn into 395. Follow 395 North to Washington, DC. Cross the 14th street bridge and keep to the right. Continue following signs for 395 North and take the D Street/ US Senate exit. Continue following the signs for 395 North and continue into the D street tunnel (stay in the far right lane). In the tunnel, take the D Street exit and make a right at the first traffic light. Turn left onto New Jersey Avenue, and the Law Center will be on your left hand side.

From South or West of Washington, D.C. (Charlottesville or Nashville): Take I-66 East to Washington. Cross the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and follow signs for Constitution Avenue. Take Constitution Avenue until it ends. Make a left onto Louisiana Avenue, and then make a left onto New Jersey Avenue. The Law Center will be on your left.

From Northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland): Follow I-270 south. Where 270 divides, follow the signs to 495 east toward Silver Spring. Take the Baltimore Washington Parkway to US 50 (New York Avenue). Follow 50 heading west into Washington, DC. Make a left onto North Capitol Street, then make a right onto Massachusetts Avenue. Before the next light, make a left on New Jersey Avenue, and immediately bear right on First Street. The main Law Center building, McDonough Hall, will be on your right.

Parking: Parking is very limited around the Law Center. There is a parking garage across the street from the Law Center at 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW. There is also limited metered parking available around the Law Center.

BY TRAIN

Amtrak: 1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-USA-RAIL

Take the train to Union Station, then follow the Metro directions above.

BY AIRPLANE

Washington Reagan National Airport is the closest and most convenient airport, as it is only 6 miles from the Law Center. Transportation to the Law Center from National Airport is available by Taxi or Metro.

By taxi, travel time to the Law Center is about 15 minutes, and the fare is approximately $15.00. Be sure to tell the driver that you are going to the Law Center, NOT the main undergraduate campus.

By Metro, allow approximately 30 minutes. The Metro station is located across the street from the main terminal at National Airport. Take the Yellow Line to Gallery Place. When you arrive at Gallery Place, transfer to the Red Line (in the direction of Glenmont) and get off at Union Station. Then follow the directions above.

Baltimore Washington Airport (BWI) and Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) are often less expensive than flying into Washington National airport. BWI and Dulles airports are approximately 30 miles from the Law Center.

A taxi from BWI will cost approximately $50.00, however, you can take a shuttle bus from the airport to the MARC train station. The ride to Union Station will cost $6.00. For more information, please visit the Maryland Transportation website or the BWI website.

A taxi from Washington Dulles to the Law Center will also cost about $50.00; however, you can take the Washington Flyer to the West Falls Church Metro Station. Take the Orange Line (towards New Carrolton) and transfer at Metro Center to the Red Line (toward Glenmont). Exit the Red Line at Union Station and follow the directions above. For more information, visit the Washington Flyer website.

Hotel Information

If you would like to make reservations at a hotel closest to the Georgetown CRI’s offices at 500 1st Street NW, Washington, DC, we are next to Georgetown’s Law School.  Please check this website and click on the links to view hotels:

Hotel Information Link: https://campustravel.com/university/georgetown-law/

Discounts are available to guests attending meetings at Georgetown (make sure to specify “Georgetown University Law School.”)

Agenda

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Networking Reception

Groom Law Group
1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
12th floor
Washington, DC 20006

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

7:30 a.m.–8:00 a.m.

Registration Open & Breakfast Networking

8:00 a.m.–8:10 a.m.

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Angela Antonelli, Research Professor and Executive Director, Center for Retirement Initiatives, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy

8:10 a.m.–9:00 a.m.

ERISA at 50: What Are Its Biggest Accomplishments and Where Has It Fallen Short?

Moderator: Charles Millard, Former Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

  • Karen Friedman, Executive Director, Pension Rights Center
  • Joshua Gotbaum, Former Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
  • Thomas Reeder, Former Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
  • Preston Rutledge, Former Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), U.S. Department of Labor

9:00 a.m. –9:30 a.m.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Honorable Lisa M. Gomez, Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

9:30 a.m.–10:20 a.m.

The Shift from DB to DC Plans: Can 401(k)s and IRAs Ever Put the “IS” Back in ERISA or Is Time to Rethink Plan Design?

Moderator: Anne Lester, Author, Speaker, and Non-Executive Board Member, Anne Lester, LLC

  • Robert Crothers, Managing Director, Retirement Group, BlackRock
  • J. Mark Iwry, Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution and Former Senior Retirement and Health Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
  • Lew Minsky, President and CEO, Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA)
  • Norman Stein, Professor of Law, Drexel University and Senior Policy Advisor, Pension Rights Center

10:20 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.–11:20 a.m.

Achieving Universal Access: What Should be the Path Forward for the Federal Government, States, Private Providers, and Employers?

Moderator: Melissa Kahn, Managing Director, Retirement Policy, State Street Global Advisors

  • Alex Assaley, Managing Principal, AFS 401(k) Retirement Services, LLC
  • Kara Getz, Chief Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Representative Richard Neal (MA)
  • David John, Senior Strategic Policy Advisor, AARP Public Policy Institute
  • Troy Montigney, Vice President, SFSP Relationship Management, Ascensus
  • Katie Selenski, Senior Advisor, DCIIA

11:20 a.m.–12:10 p.m.

Engaging Participants: What Have We Learned About the Use of Defaults, Technology, Disclosures, and Data — and Is Policy Keeping Up with Best Practices?

Moderator: Barbara Marder, President and CEO, Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI)

  • Courtney Eccles, Vice President, State and Client Relationship Management, Vestwell
  • Will Hansen, Chief Government Affairs Officer, American Retirement Association, and Executive Director, Plan Sponsor Council of America
  • Greg Long, Public Policy and Defined Contribution Public Sector Leader, Alight Solutions
  • David Morse, Partner, K&L Gates
  • John Scott, Director, Retirement Savings Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts

12:10 p.m.–12:50 p.m.

Lunch

12:50 p.m.–1:20 p.m.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

The Honorable David M. Walker, Former Comptroller General of the United States, former Public Trustee of Social Security and Medicare, former Assistant Secretary of Labor for ERISA, and former Acting Executive Director, PBGC

1:20 p.m.–2:10 p.m.

Carrots and Sticks: Does Tax Policy Drive Labor and Retirement Policy, and Should It Change?

Moderator: Kendra Isaacson, Principal, Mindset

  • Shai Akabas, Executive Director, Economic Policy Program, Bipartisan Policy Center
  • William Bortz, Former Associate Benefits Counsel, U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Katherine Mongé, Partner, Capitol Tax Partners
  • Payson Peabody, Majority Tax Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Representative Jason Smith (MO)

2:10 p.m.–2:20 p.m.

BREAK

2:20 p.m.–3:10 p.m.

Getting Past Go: How Do the Rules for Litigation Stifle Innovation in Investments, Lifetime Income Solutions, and Other Products?

Moderator: Greg Jenkins, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Defined Contribution, Invesco

  • David Levine, Principal, Groom Law Group
  • Robert Long, CEO, StepStone Private Wealth Partners
  • David Richardson, Head of Research, TIAA Institute
  • Chantel Sheaks, Vice President, Retirement Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

3:10 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Calling in the Professionals: What Are the Appropriate Standards for Providing Retirement Planning and Investment Advice?

Moderator: Larissa Powell, Managing Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, MissionSquare Retirement

  • Jason Berkowitz, Chief Legal & Regulatory Affairs Officer, Insured Retirement Institute (IRI)
  • Micah Hauptman, Director of Investor Protection, Consumer Federation of America
  • Sarah Mysiewicz, Senior Pensions Counsel, U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Senator Bernie Sanders (VT)
  • Kevin Walsh, Principal, Groom Law Group

4:00 p.m.

Program Concludes

BlackRock