Silverado maintains a fully funded pension plan. During \(2009, \$ 1\) million was paid to retired workers, and workers currently employed by the company earned a portion of the right to receive pension payments expected to total \(\$ 6 \mathrm{mil}\) lion over their lifetimes. Silverado's pension expense for 2009 amounts to:

a. \(\$ 1\) million.

b. \(\$ 6\) million.

c. \(\$ 7\) million.

d. Some other amount.