A bill with broad-based bi-partisan support that would simplify pension plan implementation nationwide is stalled in Congress, and its future is uncertain, according to experts on Capitol Hill.

The bill – H.R. 1102 or the Retirement Security and Savings Act of 2000 – has passed the House and has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee unanimously. Despite this broad support, Congress seems incapable of moving the bill to final passage. The reasons have as much to do with the inability of Congress to act in general as with some of the concerns expressed about this legislation.

In what has amounted to a congressional session that has been very short on action, a bill of this popularity seemed certain to pass. However, this measure is not on anyone’s priority list. Unlike past years, when the White House and Congress considered pension simplification to be must-pass legislation, this year there seems to be little emphasis being put on this issue.

Reps. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), the sponsors of the bill, have been working feverishly to get the bill passed. But both agree that things are very unpredictable right now. Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), an active supporter of the bill, has been more positive about the bill’s chances. He expects it to be attached to another piece of legislation before Congress adjourns for the year.

Individuals outside of Congress have expressed such extreme views as this bill will become the vehicle for many other pieces of legislation to this bill has no chance of passage.

The bill would ease rollover restrictions between defined benefits and defined contributions, would permit individuals to increase their contributions during the final three years of employment to increase the pension payouts, and would allow individuals to substantially increase their contributions to 401K and other contributory retirement plans.

The bill would also allow 457 plan participants to rollover their retirements in Individual Retirement Accounts or another plan. Some concern has been expressed that the bill would benefit only higher-income individuals because of the increase in contribution levels.

NACo has supported this bill and has repeatedly urged senators and representatives to pass this bill.