AARP CEO A. Barry Rand released the statement below following the State of the Union Address by President Obama:

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The New Hampshire Senior Leadership Series in now taking applications for 2010-2011.   

• The leadership series strives to teach through a variety of educational methods. We include discussions, web-based learning, small- and large-group learning, independent research and application, as well as video and audio resources. Each session combines educational information and direct experience. Professionals in the field, caregivers and family members join together not only to provide information, but to offer strategies for collaboration and implementation.

•  Each participant is asked to pay a $25 fee. People needing additional supports (such as respite care, transportation, interpreter, physical assistance) will be assisted in every way possible to facilitate their attendance and participation.

• The 2010-2011 New Hampshire Senior Leadership Series will take place in several areas across the state including the Seacoast, Plymouth, Manchester and Concord. The series will kick off with an overnight in Plymouth (at no cost to you); however remaining sessions are one-day workshops.
  
  
•  Each session will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. All expenses (hotels, meals, materials) are covered for participants. Reimbursement is available for travel and respite expenses for those who need it.

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement after a vote in the U.S. Senate on a proposed fast-track debt commission:

“On behalf of the association’s nearly 40 million members, AARP is relieved that the Senate rejected a provision that would likely have targeted significant reductions in the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs that serve as lifelines for millions of Americans in the name of debt reduction.  Our members have contacted their senators to express their strong opposition to this commission, which would have operated on a fast track without the benefit of full transparency, congressional accountability, or open debate and amendment. 

“AARP will continue to evaluate any budget proposals, including any commission or task force proposals, by examining the long-term impact on older Americans -- indeed all Americans – in strengthening the pillars of health and retirement security.  We must ensure that Congress and the Administration address our nation’s debt in an open, fair and transparent process, where balanced proposals are subject to full debate and amendment by accountable, elected Members of Congress. 

“Our nation is facing an important challenge to manage the nation’s budget while at the same time strengthening the health and economic security of millions of Americans.  AARP looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to address the long-term fiscal health of our nation and to improve the lives of all older Americans and their families.”

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The AARP Foundation announced it has established the AARP Foundation Haiti Relief Fund (www.aarp.org/foundation ) to aid relief efforts aimed at older earthquake victims in Haiti. One hundred percent of contributions will go directly to help those most in need and AARP CEO Barry Rand announced today that the organization will match donations up to $500,000.

AARP New Hampshire State Director Kelly Clark released this statement after this morning’s passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote allows members of the House of Representatives and Senate to begin merging their respective bills and enact health reform legislation early in the New Year.

AARP: Consumer and Investor Protection Critical to Ensuring Retirement Security

AARP applauds House passage; urges Senate to act

AARP applauds passage of broad legislation that will modernize America’s financial rules in response to the financial crisis of the past year. 

The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173), which passed by a vote of 223-202, includes a comprehensive set of reforms including the creation of a new consumer protection agency, and new rules to better protect investors and prevent predatory lending practices.

“It is clear that the retirement security of Americans may be one of the greatest casualties of the financial crisis that wiped out an estimated $2 trillion in the retirement savings of Americans,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “Today’s action by the House brings us that much closer toward restoring accountability and responsibility in the financial markets that will help rebuild confidence and protect all Americans as they save for their retirements.  We urge the Senate to act soon so that working families saving for the future can do so with confidence.”

In addition, AARP has long supported the creation of the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), whose mission is solely devoted to protecting Americans from abusive financial products and unfair practices.  The CFPA’s creation was included in the bill the House passed today.  AARP was further pleased that the bill increases the SEC’s ability to better protect investors and regulate the nation’s securities markets. Finally, the legislation will prevent egregious industry lending practices, and ensure that loans benefit the consumer and that borrowers can repay the loans they are sold.

LeaMond added, “As older households have had to deal with declining pensions and investment income, and rising costs for basic expenses such as prescription drugs, health care, and utilities, many have been forced to rely on credit and payment products to make ends meet.  Providing necessary and comprehensive regulation has become a priority.  The creation of the CFPA along with strong investor protections will help all Americans, but particularly older Americans who are beyond or near the end of their earning years and thus have little or no ability to rebuild their savings or investment funds.”

The new CFPA will expand regulatory authority over products that previously had weak oversight, while consolidating existing regulatory authority into one more effective agency to protect consumer interests.

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond today announced the Association’s opposition to a measure that would require Congress to fast track votes on spending reductions that could jeopardize Medicare and Social Security benefits that millions of Americans have earned through a lifetime of hard work. 

In a letter to Senate leaders, AARP pledged to work constructively with Congress and the Administration in open, bipartisan efforts to advance solutions to address the nation’s long-term fiscal challenges, but made clear that it does not support efforts that could harm the Social Security and Medicare programs that older Americans depend upon for their health and economic security. 

Key excerpts of the letter follow below:

“AARP acknowledges that the nation’s long-term debt requires attention…  We oppose, however, providing fast-track authority to a task force that will function with limited accountability outside of the regular order of Congress and will be exclusively focused on debt reduction. We further oppose the establishment of such a taskforce in light of the targeted Medicare savings and proposed Medicare Advisory Board (that would have further authority to reduce Medicare spending) in the pending Senate health care reform legislation.”

“AARP believes the issues that the fiscal task force is meant to address—including the revenue gap, health care costs and the long-term solvency of Social Security—are among the most fundamental challenges we face as a nation.  As such, they are issues that Congress itself, through its regular order, should tackle. “

“A task force that is directed to identify proposals to restore the nation’s long-term fiscal health cannot do so without regard to the impact its recommendations would have on individuals.  Broad, deep cuts to the nation’s health and economic security pillars –Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security –could reduce long-term imbalances, but would do so by shifting significant burdens and risks to older Americans and millions of others who rely on these benefits.”

“Furthermore, we urge that Social Security not be considered in the context of deficit reduction—the program does not contribute to the deficit, and its long-term solvency can be resolved by relatively modest adjustments if they are made sooner rather than later.”

“…AARP is committed to working on a bipartisan basis with Congress to develop and advance responsible policies to address the nation's long term fiscal challenges. However, given the significance of these programs to the well-being of nearly all Americans, AARP believes a full and open debate is essential to ensuring the development of equitable solutions. As such, we oppose legislation that would bypass or short circuit the protections afforded by regular order.”