$1)$ Hope Inc. has provided a defined benefit pension plan for its employees for several years. At the end of the most recent year, the following information was available with regard to the plan: service cost: $$7\mathrm{.}7$ million, expected return on plan assets: $$2\mathrm{.}7$ million, actual return on plan assets: $$2\mathrm{.}5$ million, interest cost: $$2\mathrm{.}9$ million, payments to retired employees:$$3\mathrm{.}5$ million, and amortization of prior service cost $($created when the pension plan was amended causing a drop in the projected benefit obligation$)$: $$2\mathrm{.}6$ million.

a$)$ What amount should Hope report as pension expense in its income statement for the year?