IN comptroller, treasurer applaud pension plan law

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Officials say Indiana State Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and Treasurer Daniel Elliott praised action taken by the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS) to “divest assets from China.” Both Nieshalla and Elliot are INPRS board members.

Officials say in 2023, Indiana became the first state to enact a law, Senate Enrolled Act 268 , requiring the public pension system to divest within five years from “any investment that is domiciled, issued, incorporated or listed in the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.” The law passed both chambers with unanimous, bipartisan support. As of July 1, 2024, just one year later, the pension plan has divested 100 percent of the $1.2 billion investments in Chinese entities.

“China is one of the foremost threats against our country’s national security, and INPRS has nobly exceeding the parameters set forth in the law by divesting Hoosier’s pension dollars from China ASAP,” Nieshalla said.

“By divesting from China and focusing on investments in countries that value the principles of democracy, capitalism and freedom, we are safeguarding the best financial interest of Hoosiers and our nation,” said Elliott.

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