Congressman Jerrold Nadler this week met with key State Department and Social Security Administration officials to request that they enter into agreements with the former Soviet nations on the payment of pensions to émigrés. Currently, up to 100,000 Russian speakers in the United States are not receiving the pensions they earned.

"Russian émigrés have earned the right to receive pensions from their former governments, regardless of the fact that the Soviet Union which signed their contracts no longer exists," said Rep. Nadler. "These workers deserve their retirements like everybody else, and it’s immoral for the former Soviet states to deny them these legal rights. Today, progress is finally being made in finding a solution to this frustrating problem."

Thus far none of the 15 former Soviet republics reliably pays pensions due to retired workers living in the U.S., though those workers were promised that security after decades of service to Soviet-run industries and agencies. Russia alone honors some, though not all, of its pension obligations abroad.

After several months of lobbying, Congressman Nadler is making headway with the State Department and Social Security Administration, which have both agreed to take specific steps to address the problem. Now, at the Congressman’s urging, these agencies will consider crafting bilateral social security agreements with Russia and Ukraine.

The Congressman believes that if Russia and Ukraine – the two largest sources for post-Soviet immigrants – alter their pension payout laws and form agreements with the United States, the remaining republics may eventually follow suit.

This process, of course, has only just begun and could require considerable diplomatic and political pressure before it is achieved.

"Our goal is to keep pushing until everyone is paid what they were promised," said Rep. Nadler.