AARP for AARP

Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities FIN

Discussed support for the Department of Labor Fiduciary rule. Sent a letter to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in support of a uniform standard that would apply to both broker-dealers and investment advisers when providing personalized investment advice to retail customers. Discussed support for Dodd-Frank regulations related to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Sent letter to Senate opposing a congressional review act (CRA) vote on the CFPBs arbitration rule. H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (H.R. 3280) 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: Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); SENATE; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Bills named: H.R. 3280 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th)

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties CIV

S. 443/H.R. 2650, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act - Supported bill. H.R. 1313, Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act - Opposed bill and any weakening of civil rights protections. Discussed activities to commemorate 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act with congressional staff and EEOC. H.R. 620, ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 - Spoke with staff about concerns. H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (H.R. 3267 & S. 1662) Commerce, Science & Justice Appropriations bill for FY 2018, (H.R. 3266 & S. 1609) Energy & Water Appropriation bill for FY 2018 and (H.R.3280) 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: Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

Bills named: H.R. 3267 (115th), H.R. 620 (115th), H.R. 2650 (115th), H.R. 3266 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), H.R. 1313 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 3280 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), S. 1662 (115th), S. 443 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), S. 1609 (115th)

Transportation TRA

S. 1885, AV START Act - Discussed autonomous vehicles. Discussed traffic safety and older pedestrians. Discussed safe road design for all users of the road.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE; Labor, Dept of (DOL); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 1885 (115th)

Telecommunications TEC

Met with FCC Chairman Ajit Pays office and FCC Commissioner OReillys office in regards to Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, WC Docket No. 17-84.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); SENATE; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

S. 1151/H.R. 2505, the Credit for Caring Act; S. Amdt. 1589 to H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Amendment 288 in the Senate Finance Committee to H.R. 1 - Discussed the bill and the amendments and support for them and related strategy. S. 208/H.R. 3632, Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone (PACE) Act - Responded to inquiry on bill. S. 1977/H.R. 3590, Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2017 - Discussed passage and importance of 7.5% threshold for medical expense deductions. H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - Discussed inclusion of language from H.R. 3590 and/or S. 1977 in final passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Discussed health and retirement tax incentives: sent letter to House and Senate committee leadership addressing medical expense deduction, taxation of Social Security benefits, the retention of the extra standard deduction for those ages 65 or older, state and local tax treatment, 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.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (H.R. 3280) Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied to protect and enhance funding levels for IRS VITA & TCE taxpayer assistance programs.

Contacted: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Bills named: H.R. 3280 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), H.R. 2505 (115th), H.R. 3590 (115th), H.R. 3632 (115th), S. 1151 (115th), S. 208 (115th), H.R. 1 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), S. 1977 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th)

Retirement RET

Discussed bill related to taxes on Social Security benefits (no bill). Responded to inquiry on Social Security. Discussed support for the Department of Labor Fiduciary rule. Discussed retirement issues relevant to tax reform. S. 2147/H.R. 4444, Butch Lewis Multiemployer Pension Act - Supported bill. H.R. 4523, Automatic 401(k) Retirement Act - Supported bill. H.R. 4547, Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act - Supported bill. Met with House and Senate staff to discuss retirement issues relevant to tax reform. Discussed pending Social Security issues with House and Senate staff. Met with House and Senate staff to discuss multiemployer pension issues. Discussed miscellaneous retirement issues, including issues related to insurance annuities, small employer plans, and a national retirement clearinghouse. Submitted comments to DOL on employer sponsored disability plan claims procedures.

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 2147 (115th), H.R. 4547 (115th), H.R. 4523 (115th), H.R. 4444 (115th)

Health Issues HCR

S. 2076/H.R. 4256, Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimers Act - Discussed bill, home and community-based services, and nursing home quality. Shared AARPs comment letter to CMS on the CMMI RFI (no bill number). H.R. 3778, Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act - Discussed feedback on the bill. S. 1977/H.R. 3590, Seniors Tax Hike Prevention Act of 2017 - Discussed passage and importance of 7.5% threshold for medical expense deductions. Discussed implications and importance of Alexander/Murray stabilization proposal on health insurance markets. S. 1835, Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act of 2017 - Discussed reinsurance legislation and impact on health insurance enrollee premiums and markets. H.R. 4695, Bipartisan Market Stabilization and Innovation Act of 2017 - Discussed implications on older Americans with bill sponsor. Discussed general strategies and proposals to improve and build upon the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Discussed nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (H.R. 3358 & S. 1771) 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: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); SENATE; Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 2076 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 4695 (115th), S. 1977 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), S. 1771 (115th), H.R. 4256 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), H.R. 3590 (115th), S. 1835 (115th), H.R. 3778 (115th), H.R. 3358 (115th)

Medicare/Medicaid MMM

Shared AARPs comment letter on Medicare home health payment system proposed rule. Responded to request for hearing questions regarding disaster preparedness. Responded to inquiry on Medicare and telehealth. Discussed nursing home oversight, quality of care, disaster preparedness and response. S. 2227, Ensuring Medicaid Provides Opportunities for Widespread Equity, Resources and Care Act (EMPOWER Care Act) - Discussed support for the bill. Signed onto letter to HHS/CMS re: nursing home conditions of participation and arbitration. S. 910/H.R. 2472, Disability Integration Act - Discussed the bill. S. 2076/H.R. 4256, Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimers Act - Discussed bill, home and community-based services, and nursing home quality. Shared AARPs comment letter to CMS on the CMMI RFI (no bill number). S. 1334/H.R. 2797, Patient Choice and Quality Care Act - Signed letter in support of legislation. Discussed coverage of oral health care under Medicare. Sent letter on Helping Ensure Access for Little Ones, Toddlers, and Hopeful Youth by Keeping Insurance Delivery Stable (HEALTHY KIDS) Act of 2017. Discussed expanding access to hearing aid technologies. Filed comments on 1115 waiver applications or 1115 waiver amendment applications for Utah and Massachusetts. Discussed opposition to income-related premiums for Medicare. Expressed support for re-authorization of the CHIP program. Participated in an informational call regarding Medicaid-For-All legislation. H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R.244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (H.R.3358 & S.1771) Labor-HHS 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.

Contacted: SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Bills named: S. 1334 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), S. 1771 (115th), H.R. 2797 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), H.R. 3358 (115th), H.R. 2472 (115th), S. 2076 (115th), H.R. 4256 (115th), S. 910 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), S. 2227 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th)

Budget/Appropriations BUD

H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R. 244 & H.R. 601, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (H.R. 3268 & S. 1603) Agriculture-Rural Development & Related Agencies bill for FY 2018, (H.R..3267 & S. 1662) Commerce, Science & Justice Appropriations bill for FY 2018, Energy & Water Appropriation bill for FY 2018, (H.R. 3280) Financial Services & General Government Appropriations bill for FY 2018, (H.R. 3358 & S. 1771) 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. S. Con. Res. 25/H. Con. Res. 71 - Discussed AARPs views on the FY2018 Senate budget resolution.

Contacted: Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Labor, Dept of (DOL); SENATE; Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Bills named: S.Con.Res. 25 (115th), H.R. 244 (115th), S. 1771 (115th), S. 1603 (115th), H.R. 601 (115th), H.R. 3268 (115th), S. 1662 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), H.Con.Res. 71 (115th), H.R. 3280 (115th), H.R. 3358 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th)

Family issues/Abortion/Adoption FAM

S. 1028/H.R. 3759, RAISE Family Caregivers Act - Discussed support for the bill and the amended House bill, urged co-sponsorship, thanked for cosponsoring and supporting, and discussed advancing the legislation and ACT Caucus Dear Colleague. Discussed family caregiving summit. S. 1028/H.R. 3759, RAISE Family Caregivers Act - Discussed bill and implementation and Older Americans Act. H.R. 3759, RAISE Family Caregivers Act - Responded to inquiry on family caregiving from Dep't of Veterans Affairs. S. 1151/H.R. 2505, the Credit for Caring Act; S. Amdt. 1589 to H.R. 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; Amendment 288 in the Senate Finance Committee to H.R. 1 - Discussed the bill and the amendments and support for them and related strategy. Responded to inquiry about policy ideas and legislation relating to family caregiving or paying for long-term services and supports (LTSS). Extended invitations to family caregiving summit and discussed panel logistics. Extended invitations to family caregiving Hispanic/Latino documentary screening and discussed event logistics. Discussed special orders in the House on family caregiving including the RAISE Family Caregivers Act and provided facts and information on family caregiving. Discussed ACT Caucus Dear Colleague for National Family Caregivers Month. Discussed event logistics for family caregiving summit (including with staff from Administration for Community Living). Responded to inquiry regarding Virtual Caregiving Fair and a family caregiving summit. H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R. 244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31), (H.R. 3268 & S. 1603) Agriculture-Rural Development & Related Agencies bill for FY 2108, Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2018 (H.R. 3358 & S. 1771), Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill for FY 2018 (H.R. 3353 & S. 1655), and Energy & Water Appropriation bill for FY 2018 (H.R. 3266 & S. 1609) - Lobbied in support of funding for various programs, including Social Security administrative expenses, senior nutrition (Commodity Supplemental Food program and Older Americans Act Title III), caregiving, energy assistance, supportive services, housing and volunteer community service programs.

Contacted: Labor, Dept of (DOL); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); SENATE; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 244 (115th), S. 1151 (115th), H.R. 3759 (115th), H.R. 3353 (115th), H.R. 3268 (115th), H.R. 3266 (115th), S. 1028 (115th), H.R. 1 (115th), S. 1771 (115th), S. 1609 (115th), S. 1603 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), H.R. 3358 (115th), H.R. 2505 (115th), S. 1655 (115th)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

S. 443/H.R. 2650, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act - Supported bill. H.R. 1313, Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act - Opposed bill and any weakening of civil rights protections. Discussed activities to commemorate 50th Anniversary of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act with congressional staff and EEOC. Discussed workforce development reforms to better serve older workers (no bill).

Contacted: Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); SENATE; Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Labor, Dept of (DOL); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Bills named: S. 443 (115th), H.R. 1313 (115th), H.R. 2650 (115th)

Pharmacy PHA

Provided comments to CMS on value-based pricing arrangements for prescription drugs. S. 974/H.R. 2212, CREATES Act - Discussed support of bill. H.R. 2051, FAST Generics Act - Discussed support of bill. S.1131/H.R. 2439, FAIR Drug Pricing Act - Discussed support of bill. S. 124, Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Discussed support of bill. Advocated for biosimilar drugs to be added to the Medicare Part D Coverage Gap Discount Program. Cody Miller PMI Act - Participated in meetings with the sponsoring office to discuss updates to the bill text and re-introduction in the 115th Congress. Submitted a letter outlining the reforms we support to lower prescription drugs costs to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate HELP Committee when they held hearings on the drug supply chain. Discussed possible ways to improve Medicare Part D. Discussed Rx Price Watch Reports and the impact of high drug costs. Discussed drug pricing reforms AARP supports, including secretarial negotiation, importation, reducing exclusivity for biologics, and ending pay-for-delay deals. H.R. 3354, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2018, H.R. 1370, H.J.R. 123, Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018, H.J. Res. 99 (P.L. 115-30), H.R. 244, Consolidated Appropriations Act 2017 (P.L. 115-31) and (H.R. 3358 & S. 1771) Agriculture-Rural Development & Related Agencies bill for FY 2018 - Lobbied in support of increased funding for FDA drug processing funding and user fees.

Contacted: Federal Communications Commission (FCC); Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA); Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); SENATE; Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS); Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Labor, Dept of (DOL)

Bills named: H.R. 244 (115th), H.R. 3358 (115th), S. 124 (115th), H.R. 1370 (115th), H.R. 2212 (115th), H.R. 2051 (115th), S. 1771 (115th), H.R. 2439 (115th), H.R. 3354 (115th), S. 1131 (115th), S. 974 (115th), H.J.Res. 99 (115th)