AARP for AARP

Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD

Discussed the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and intellectual property chapter provisions on pharmaceuticals.

Contacted: Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Defense DEF

S. 2943, H.R. 4909, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2017 - Opposed provisions that exempt defense contractors from the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.

Contacted: Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Treasury, Dept of; White House Office; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: H.R. 4909 (114th), S. 2943 (114th)

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

S. 3067, H.R. 5485, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill, FY 2017 - Discussed potential hostile riders concerning SEC and DOL fiduciary duty rules with House and Senate Appropriations Committee staff.

Contacted: Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); White House Office; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); SENATE; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Treasury, Dept of; Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Bills named: S. 3067 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), H.R. 5485 (114th)

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

S. 2180, H.R. 5574, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act - Supported bill. S. 2943, H.R. 4909, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2017 - Opposed provisions that exempt defense contractors from the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order. H.R. 2028, Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act of 2017 - Opposed provisions that exempt defense contractors from the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order. Discussed outstanding agenda with EEOC.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); White House Office; Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Treasury, Dept of; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Bills named: H.R. 4909 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), H.R. 5574 (114th), S. 2180 (114th), S. 2943 (114th)

Transportation TRA

H.R. 22, FAST Act - Discussed implementation of the Safe Streets provision. Met with Department of Transportation officials and staff regarding implementation of FAST Act provisions related to pedestrian safety and access. S. 2844, H.R. 5394, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill, FY2017 - Lobbied in support of bill report language regarding Safe Streets provision in FAST Act, housing rental assistance, among other programs. Discussed autonomous vehicles. Discussed implementation of FAST Act provisions for pedestrian and bicycle safety and access with DOT staff. Discussed possible legislative approaches to increase safety and access for non-motorized modes of transportation.

Contacted: Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); SENATE; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 22 (114th), H.R. 5394 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), S. 2844 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

S. 2759, H.R. 4708, Credit for Caring Act - Urged co-sponsorship, responded to inquiries on the bill, and discussed the bill in the current and new Congress. S. 3111, Senior Tax Prevention Hike Act - Discussed bill. S. 3067, H.R. 5485, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill, FY 2017 - Lobbied to protect and enhance funding levels for IRS VITA & TCE taxpayer assistance programs.

Contacted: Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Treasury, Dept of; Federal Transit Administration (FTA); White House Office; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Bills named: H.R. 5485 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), S. 3067 (114th), S. 3111 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), S. 2759 (114th), H.R. 4708 (114th)

Retirement RET

H.R. 2317, Lifetime Income Disclosure Act - Discussed bill. S. 3040, H.R. 5926, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, FY 2017 Discussed potential hostile riders concerning DOL fiduciary duty rules with House and Senate Appropriations Committee staff. Discussed SSA FY 2017 and FY 2018 funding levels (SSA, OMB). Discussed Social Security, SSDI, retirement savings issues, multiemployer pension issues, fiduciary duty issues and retirement fees (House, Senate). Discussed multiemployer pension issues (WH, PBGC, Treasury, DOL). Discussed state sponsored non-ERISA plans (OMB). Discussed Take A Stand social security campaign. H.R. 711, Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act - Supported bill. H.R. 6489, Social Security Reform Act of 2016 - Discussed bill.

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); White House Office; Treasury, Dept of; SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 5325 (114th), H.R. 711 (114th), S. 3040 (114th), H.R. 5926 (114th), H.R. 2317 (114th), H.R. 6489 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th)

Health Issues HCR

S. 3040, H.R. 5926, H.R. 5325,H.R. 2028, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations, FY2017 - Lobbied for funding support for various health and health care related programs serving seniors. S.3111, Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act - Discussed medical expense deduction for the 65 plus population. Advocated on the issue of limited age rating for private health insurance. S. 3335, H.R. 6043, FAIR Drug Pricing Act - Supported bill. Discussed the Confidence in Long-Term Care Insurance Act (S. 159)/Long-Term Care Insurance Reform Act (H.R. 63) (bill numbers are in the 112th Congress). Discussed ACA repeal, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Contacted: Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); White House Office; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Treasury, Dept of; SENATE

Bills named: H.R. 5926 (114th), H.R. 63 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), S. 159 (114th), S. 3335 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), H.R. 6043 (114th), S. 3040 (114th), S. 3111 (114th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

S. 3040, H.R. 5926, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, FY2017 - Lobbied in support of increased funding for CMS' state survey and certification program. Discussed Medicaid per capita caps and block grants. Discussed DOJ investigation regarding findings of Olmstead and ADA violations by South Dakota. Discussed Olmstead and older adults roundtable and next steps (Administration for Community Living). Discussed arbitration provision in long-term care facility requirements final rule and related issues (no bill, Senate) and discussed final rule in general (CMS webinar). Provided information regarding Medicaid managed long-term services and supports and discussed family caregiver assessment in Medicaid home and community-based services. Discussed impending nursing home closure and resident relocation in the Virgin Islands and related issues. Discussed extension of the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program. Discussed long-term services and supports financing, Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2015 (H.R. 3377), and family caregiving. S. 3504, Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act - Discussed and provided feedback on draft bill. PL 113-185, Participated in CMS call on the Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation (IMPACT) Act of 2014. Discussed caregiver-focused health risk assessment in Medicare physician fee schedule final rule. Discussed AARP statement on Medicare physician fee schedule. S. 843, H.R. 1571, Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2015 - Discussed bill. Discussed health care quality and measurement. Discussed changes to the Medicare benefit design, such as copays, premiums, and deductibles. Discussed MACRA implementation. P.L. 111-148, P.L. 111-152 - Discussed potential repeal of Affordable Care Act. S. 9 - Sent endorsement letter for the Over the Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2016.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); SENATE; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Treasury, Dept of; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); White House Office

Bills named: S. 3040 (114th), H.R. 3377 (114th), S. 9 (114th), H.R. 5926 (114th), S. 3504 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), H.R. 1571 (114th), S. 843 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

Discussed issues in FY2017 budget. S.3040, S.2844, H.R. 5394, S.2837, H.R. 5394, S. 3067, H.R. 5485, S. 2956, H.R. 5054, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act of 2017 - Lobbied in support of various federal programs serving seniors, including nutrition assistance, medical care, supportive services, family caregiver and energy assistance, housing rental assistance, among other programs.

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Treasury, Dept of; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); White House Office; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 2844 (114th), H.R. 5054 (114th), S. 3040 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), S. 2837 (114th), H.R. 5485 (114th), H.R. 5394 (114th), S. 2956 (114th), S. 3067 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th)

Family issues/Abortion/Adoption FAM

S. 1719, H.R. 3099, RAISE Family Caregivers Act - Urged cosponsorship, House passage of legislation/enactment, discussed related issues and the bill in the new Congress. S. 2759, H.R. 4708, Credit for Caring Act - Urged cospsonsorship, responded to inquiries on the bill, and discussed the bill in the current and new Congress. Discussed and urged Member offices to join Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus; discussed co-chair of caucus in the new Congress. Provided information regarding Medicaid managed long-term services and supports and discussed family caregiver assessment in Medicaid home and community-based services. Provided information regarding family caregiver out-of-pocket cost report and discussed S. 2759, H.R. 4708, Credit for Caring Act, and S. 1719, H.R. 3099, RAISE Family Caregivers Act. Extended invitation regarding a long-term services and supports event. Provided information regarding Hispanic family caregivers and family caregiving for people with disabilities. S. 1719, H.R. 3099, Discussed Dear Colleague for National Family Caregiver Month and RAISE Family Caregivers Act. Shared National Acadamies' Report on family caregiving with Hill staff. Participated in CMS Caregiver Workgroup.

Contacted: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Treasury, Dept of; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); SENATE; White House Office; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: S. 1719 (114th), H.R. 4708 (114th), S. 2759 (114th), H.R. 3099 (114th)

Travel/Tourism TOU

Discussed potential fee increase for the National Park Service lifetime pass.

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); White House Office; SENATE; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Treasury, Dept of; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

S. 2943, H.R. 4909, National Defense Authorization Act for FY2017 - Opposed provisions that exempt defense contractors from the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order. S. 2180, H.R. 5574, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act - Supported bill. S. 3040, H.R. 5926, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, FY2017 - Lobbied in opposition to policy riders adverse to AARP interests, including several fair labor standard and financial security policy riders.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); SENATE; Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Treasury, Dept of; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: S. 2180 (114th), H.R. 5926 (114th), H.R. 4909 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), S. 2943 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), S. 3040 (114th), H.R. 5574 (114th)

Pharmacy PHA

H.R.6 - Discussed the House Energy and Commerce Committee 21st Century Cures Initiative and Senate HELP Committee efforts focused on drug and medical device innovation issues. S. 31, H.R. 3061 - Discussed the importance of potential savings to both consumers and the federal government of granting Secretarial negotiating authority to the HHS Secretary under Medicare Part D. S. 2019 - Discussed legislation to address pay-for-delay agreements used by drug manufacturers to block lower cost drugs from entering the market. S. 3094, H.R. 5573 - Discussed legislation to reduce the market exclusivity period for biologic drugs. Discussed biologic drug issues including implementation of the new approval pathway for biosimilar drugs. S. 3335, H.R. 6043 - Discussed the need for price transparency on prescription drug prices and comparativeness effectiveness research. Discussed legislation to address the opioid abuse epidemic including fraud and abuse provisions. Discussed opioid issues generally. S. 3056 - Discussed legislation to address abuse of Risk-Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) by brand name drug companies to block lower-cost generic drugs from entering the market. S. 3455 - Discussed legislation to allow temporary importation authority in cases of drug shortages and non-competitive markets. S. 2956, H.R. 5054, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Agriculture Appropriations, FY2017 - Lobbied in support of FDA funding. H.R. 6043, FAIR Drug Pricing Act - Supported bill to require manufactures of certain drugs and biological products to report to HHS price increases that result in a 10% or more increase in the price of a drug over a 12 month period.

Contacted: Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); SENATE; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Treasury, Dept of; White House Office; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC)

Bills named: S. 31 (114th), H.R. 3061 (114th), H.R. 5573 (114th), S. 3455 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), S. 2956 (114th), H.R. 6 (114th), S. 3094 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), S. 3056 (114th), S. 2019 (114th), S. 3335 (114th), H.R. 6043 (114th), H.R. 5054 (114th)

Welfare WEL

S. 3040, H.R. 5926, H.R. 5325, H.R. 2028, Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations, FY 2017 - Lobbied to increase nutrition, supportive services and home energy assistance for low-income seniors.

Contacted: Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Treasury, Dept of; White House Office; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Food & Drug Administration (FDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Natl Institutes of Health (NIH); Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS)

Bills named: H.R. 5926 (114th), H.R. 5325 (114th), H.R. 2028 (114th), S. 3040 (114th)