On July 17, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and Employers Pension Plan, which represents nearly 50,000 union members in the entertainment industry from Broadway to musicians in orchestras, bands, film, and theaters across the country, will receive $1.5 billion pension-fix from the American Rescue Plan.

By fighting for the Butch Lewis Act to be included in the American Rescue Plan, Schumer helped secure the pension fix so AFM union member are able to receive their pensions. According to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the plan was projected to become insolvent and run out of money in 2034, resulting in benefits being cut roughly 50 percent below the amount payable under the terms of the plan. This plan enables the continuation of retirement benefits without reduction for many years into the future.

Schumer gave a statement saying, “This will ensure that musicians and their families receive the hard-earned benefits that they paid into their whole lives, but lost through no fault of their own and were set to go insolvent by 2034.” He continued, “When I became majority leader, I promised I would not stop fighting until our union brothers and sisters and their families got the pension relief they needed and earned, and today it is music to my ears to hear they will finally get the relief they have long needed.”

Sara Cutler, President of AFM Local 802 also commented by saying, “This is a big win for musicians, and we have Majority Leader and New York’s own Chuck Schumer to thank. Musicians work hard for a living, but too many were going to struggle because of the collapsed pension system. Now, thanks to this $1.5 billion from the American Rescue Plan, musicians can retire and get what was rightfully owed to them. Working people of all professions have a friend and ally in Senator Schumer and we are so thankful that he could deliver this massive victory for the musicians.”