FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              CONTACT:  Mary Liz Burns,

November 5, 2009                                                                             202-434-2560

AARP Applauds Congress for Extending Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Relief Coming Soon for Millions of Older Workers Unable to Find Employment in

 Tough Economy

Washington , DC – AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond offered the following statement in support of House and Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits to millions of Americans in light of the highest unemployment rate in recent history.

“AARP strongly supports the extension of unemployment benefits to assist millions of workers who are struggling to find a job in this tough economy.  Today, there are nearly 2 million people age 55 and over who have a particularly difficult time gaining employment. These workers wait an average of 33 weeks or longer before finding another job, higher than most age groups.

“Extending unemployment benefits will assist nearly half a million workers age 65 and over who want to work but cannot get a job, which threatens not only their current financial health, but their long-term retirement security.   

“Many older workers stay on the job as the best way to compensate for low savings, plummeting housing values, and declining retirement portfolios in this economy.  The relief passed by Congress today is an important first step to address the financial security of millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, and we urge the President to sign this relief into law immediately.”

For more information, please visit www.aarp.org.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.  AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates.  We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s nearly 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org.  AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors.  We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.Virgin Islands.

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November is Driver Safety Month. In addition, November 1^st marks the end of daylight savings time, so everyone confronts driving in one more hour of darkness every night. AARP encourages all drivers to consider the link between night driving visibility and safe driving. If you have trouble seeing well at night, get your vision checked and consider taking a driver safety course to learn more about how to compensate in dark conditions.

With the arrival of the novel H1N1 (“swine flu”), many people are understandably confused about how to protect themselves against the flu this year. AARP is working with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) to encourage older Americans to protect themselves and those in their care by getting vaccinated. 

In 1989, Elsie and Don Johnson were instrumental in establishing AARP Chapter #3664-Green Mountain. Since then, they have served in various officers’ roles within their chapter and the Denver Metro Council. Most recently, they have been true leaders with the Divided We Fail initiative, staffing events weekly—and, when needed—they have helped out with last-minute requests. They have been a mainstay for tai chi at the Denver Botanic Gardens, AARP’s Sack a Seed Program, and the Dictionary Days event. Not only do Elsie and Don volunteer many hours with AARP, but they continue to give back to their community in other ways, by donating food and other items every week to the Jefferson County Action Center and the Battered Women Agency. They have also been known to help neighbors who have lost their spouses to remain independent.

To learn about other Andrus Award Winners, please visit Andrus Award

• Assist individuals struggling with the high cost of prescription drugs and basic necessities;
• Provide job training and assistance to older Americans who need to work to make ends meet;
• Help lower-income taxpayers qualify for the right deductions and credits;
• Protect older Americans from consumer fraud and identity theft;
• Protect against age discrimination;
• Help seniors manage their finances so they can remain in their homes and retain their independence;
• Support grandparents raising grandchildren;
• Provide education and training to older women reentering the workforce to support their families; or
• Help improve the lives of all seniors.