AARP for AARP

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Discussed CFPB arbitration rule (no bill number). Discussed support for the DOL Fiduciary rule. Discussed support for Dodd-Frank regulations related to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (no bill number) Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied in opposition to inclusion of hostile riders concerning SEC and DOL fiduciary duty rules with House and Senate Appropriations Committee staff.

Contacted: Social Security Administration (SSA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Bills named: H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th)

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

H.R. 1313, Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act - Opposed bill. S. 443, H.R. 2560, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. ADEA @ 50 EEOC Hearing - Testified in support of stronger protections. EEOC. Discussed activities to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act with EEOC Commissioners and staff. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (no bill numbers) Commerce, Science & Justice Appropriations bill for FY 2018, Energy & Water Appropriation bill for FY 2018 and Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied in support of Legal Services Corporation, full funding for Census Bureau American Community Survey and in opposition to policy riders affecting access to the Internet.

Contacted: Social Security Administration (SSA); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 244 (115th), H.R. 1313 (115th), S. 443 (115th), H.R. 2560 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th)

Transportation TRA

Discussed traffic safety and older pedestrians. Discussed safe road design for all users of the road. Discussed autonomous vehicles. Discussed transportation appropriations. Discussed non-emergency medical transportation. Discussed highway signage font.

Contacted: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Social Security Administration (SSA); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

S. 1151, H.R. 2505, Credit for Caring Act - Discussed support for/endorsement of the bill and urged cosponsorship. Invited Members of Congress/Senators to speak at an event regarding the bill, family caregiving, and tax reform. Discussed Americans Giving Care to Elders (AGE) Act (no bill number). Discussed medical expense deduction and returning the threshold to 7.5%. Discussed health and retirement tax incentives: Sent letter to House and Senate committee leadership addressing taxation of Social Security benefits, the retention of the extra standard deduction for those ages 65 or older, access to workplace retirement plans, targeted incentives for work-place retirement saving plans, protection of earned pensions for vulnerable retirees and their families, and maintenance of consumer protections. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (no bill number) Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied to protect and enhance funding levels for IRS VITA & TCE taxpayer assistance programs. Discussed support for proposals to expand Roth coverage in tax preferred accounts.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Social Security Administration (SSA); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE

Bills named: H.J.Res. 99 (115th), S. 1151 (115th), H.R. 2505 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th)

Retirement RET

Discussed conceptual draft of bill regarding electronic disclosures regarding retirement plans. Discussed retirement issues relevant to tax reform. S. 218/H.R. 624, Social Security Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 - Discussed bill. H.Res.66, H.Res.67, S.Res.33, S.Res.34 - Lobbied to prevent revocation of the Department of Labor's guidance to state and municipal-facilitated retirement savings programs under the Congressional Review Act. Discussed support for the DOL Fiduciary rule. H.R. 2028 (Public Law 114-254) - Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017 - Lobbied in opposition to hostile policy riders concerning DOL fiduciary duty rules. Met with the SSA and OMB regarding SSA FY 2017 and FY 2018 funding levels and reviewed comments and testimony regarding Representative Payee Program. Discussed conceptual draft of bill regarding electronic disclosures regarding retirement plans. H.R. 624, Social Security Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 - Endorsed bill. Supported bill that requires the Social Security Administration to remove Social Security Numbers from mailings when their use is unnecessary (H.R. 624, the Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act and H.R.1513 - Social Security Must Avert Identity Loss (MAIL) Act of 2017). Met with House and Senate staff and White House staff to discuss possible retirement changes as part of tax legislation. Met with House and Senate staff to discuss Social Security. Met with House and Senate staff and the PBGC to discuss possible legislation regarding multiemployer pensions. Testified before the ERISA Advisory Council on ideas to simplify pension and health plan reporting requirements. S.1076, Keep Our Pension Promises Act - Endorsed bill. S.959, Protection of Social Security Benefits Restoration Act - Endorsed bill. Discussed bipartisan bill enabling graduate student to start IRAS and Retirement Clearinghouse Registry for frozen retirement accounts. AARP supported the latter bill last Congress. Discussed support for proposals to expand Roth coverage in tax preferred accounts.

Contacted: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Social Security Administration (SSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.Res. 66 (115th), H.R. 1513 (115th), S. 959 (115th), S.Res. 34 (115th), H.R. 2028 (115th), H.Res. 67 (115th), S. 218 (115th), H.R. 624 (115th), S.Res. 33 (115th), S. 1076 (115th)

Health Issues HCR

H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) and Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628) - Discussed opposition to the bill because of provisions regarding the age tax, changes to Medicaid, pre-existing conditions, and Medicare. Shared data on the impact of the legislation, including state data. Discussed priorities for older adults in health care reform legislation including Medicare, private health insurance/age tax, Medicaid, and prescription drugs. H.R. 1313, Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act - Opposed bill. Discussed health care tax provisions - Sent letter to House and Senate committee leadership addressing preservation of tax exempt status of employer-sponsored insurance coverage, maintenance of tax subsidies for lower- and moderate-income Americans to purchase health insurance coverage in health care marketplaces, the creation of a new, non-refundable tax credit for working family caregivers, and the retention of the medical expense itemized deduction. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (no bill numbers) Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2018 and Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied in support of increased funding for CMS' state survey and certification program and opposition to hostile policy riders re Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and various related medical care research and supportive services.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Social Security Administration (SSA); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 1313 (115th), H.R. 1628 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th)

Veterans VET

S. 591, H.R. 1472, Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017 - Supported bill. With other groups, wrote to the VA about transparency, standardization, education, and validation in relation to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. Shared possible witness questions for hearing on military caregivers.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Social Security Administration (SSA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

Bills named: S. 591 (115th), H.R. 1472 (115th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) and Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628) - Discussed opposition to the bill because of provisions regarding the age tax, changes to Medicaid, pre-existing conditions, and Medicare. Shared data on the impact of the legislation, including state data. Discussed priorities for older adults in health care reform legislation including Medicare, private health insurance/age tax, Medicaid, and prescription drugs. S. 870, Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 - Discussed support for/endorsed bill. Discussed Medicaid home and community-based services. S. 568, H.R. 1421, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act - Discussed our support for/endorsed bill. S. 445, H.R. 1825, Home Health Planning Improvement Act of 2017 - Discussed our support for/endorsed bill. S. 464, Independence at Home Act of 2017 - Discussed our support for/endorsed bill. S. 1334, H.R. 2797, the Patient Choice and Quality Care Act of 2017 - Provided feedback on and discussed support for/endorsed bill. Discussed proposed changes to final federal regulations regarding conditions of participation for long-term care facilities and arbitration. Discussed nursing home abuses and nursing home quality. Responded to inquiry on Medicare buy-in legislation. H.R. 2575, Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act of 2017 - Endorsed bill. Discussed legislation for Medicare coverage of opioid abuse screening and counseling (no bill number).

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Social Security Administration (SSA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; White House Office

Bills named: S. 870 (115th), S. 445 (115th), H.R. 2797 (115th), S. 568 (115th), S. 1334 (115th), H.R. 1421 (115th), H.R. 1628 (115th), H.R. 2575 (115th), H.R. 1825 (115th), S. 464 (115th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Discussed House and Senate ACT Caucus appropriations letter. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (no bill numbers) Agriculture-Rural Development & Related Agencies bill for FY 2108, Commerce, Science & Justice Appropriations bill for FY 2018, Energy & Water Appropriation bill for FY 2018, Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2018, Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2018, and Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied to protect funding levels for federal programs which provide health, nutrition, housing, energy assistance, legal aid and retirement security.

Contacted: Social Security Administration (SSA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Labor, Dept of (DOL); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); White House Office; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

Bills named: H.R. 244 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th)

Family issues/Abortion/Adoption FAM

Discussed scheduling and hosting of CMS Caregiver Work Group quarterly meeting. S. 1151, H.R. 2505, Credit for Caring Act - Discussed support for/endorsement of bill and urged cosponsorship. Invited Members of Congress to speak at an event regarding the bill, family caregiving, and tax reform. S. 1028, Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act - Discussed support for/endorsement of bill and markup. Discussed the Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus, an ACT Caucus Dear Colleague, encouraged joining the caucus. S. 1188, H.R. 2535, Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act - Discussed support for/endorsement of bill. Discussed possible family caregiving event on the Hill. Discussed House and Senate ACT Caucus appropriations Dear Colleague. Discussed Americans Giving Care to Elders (AGE) Act (no bill number). S. 591, H.R. 1472, Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2017 - Supported bill. Discussed the In-Home Caregiver Assessment Resources and Education Act (no bill number). S. 1255, Social Security Family Caregiver Credit Act - - Discussed bill. S. 1091, Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act - Sent endorsement letter. Discussed legislation to create an elder abuse registry. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (no bill numbers) Agriculture-Rural Development & Related Agencies bill for FY 2108, Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2018, Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill for FY 2018, Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill for FY 2018, and Energy & Water Appropriation bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied in support of funding for various programs, including senior nutrition, caregiving, energy assistance, supportive services, housing and volunteer community service programs.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); White House Office; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); SENATE; Social Security Administration (SSA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 1028 (115th), H.R. 1472 (115th), S. 1151 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), S. 1188 (115th), S. 1255 (115th), S. 1091 (115th), H.R. 2535 (115th), S. 591 (115th), H.R. 2505 (115th)

Insurance INS

H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) and Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628) - Discussed opposition to the bill because of provisions regarding the age tax, changes to Medicaid, pre-existing conditions, and Medicare. Shared data on the impact of the legislation, including state data. Discussed priorities for older adults in health care reform legislation including Medicare, private health insurance/age tax, Medicaid, and prescription drugs.

Contacted: Social Security Administration (SSA); SENATE; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Bills named: H.R. 1628 (115th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

Discussed direct care workforce bill (no bill number). H.R. 1313, Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act - Opposed bill. S. 443, H.R. 2560, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. ADEA @ 50 EEOC Hearing - Testified in support of stronger protections. Discussed activities to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act with EEOC Commissioners and staff.

Contacted: Social Security Administration (SSA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)

Bills named: S. 443 (115th), H.R. 2560 (115th), H.R. 1313 (115th)

Pharmacy PHA

H.R. 1628, American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) and Better Care Reconciliation Act (H.R. 1628) - Discussed opposition to the bill because of provisions regarding the age tax, changes to Medicaid, pre-existing conditions, and Medicare. Shared data on the impact of the legislation, including state data. Discussed priorities for older adults in health care reform legislation including Medicare, private health insurance/age tax, Medicaid, and prescription drugs. H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (no bill numbers) Agriculture-Rural Development & Related Agencies bill for FY 2108 - lobbied in support of increased funding for FDA drug processing funding and user fees. S. 974, the Creates Act - Endorsed bill. H.R. 2051, FAST Generics Act - Endorsed bill. S. 1131, H.R. 2439, Fair Drug Pricing Act - Endorsed bill. S. 124, H.R. 1776, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Endorsed bill. Discussed with the Hill and Administration our support for other drug proposals including secretarial negotiation, safe importation and other administrative options to address drug prices.

Contacted: White House Office; Social Security Administration (SSA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: S. 124 (115th), H.R. 1628 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), S. 1131 (115th), H.R. 2439 (115th), H.R. 1776 (115th), S. 974 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), H.R. 2051 (115th)

Welfare WEL

Discussed and shared information on Senior hunger, food insecurity, SNAP, and nutrition.

Contacted: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Social Security Administration (SSA)