AARP Delaware Goes To Washington
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2003-10-09 11:51:00-04:00
Mr. Smith doesn't have anything on AARP Delaware's volunteers. When AARP says let's "rally" for a prescription drug benefit in Medicare - Delaware's volunteers do just that.
Rising in the wee hours of the morning, two busloads of AARP Delaware's volunteers and members traveled to Washington, DC to join nearly 1,000 other AARP members to participate in the "Keep Your Promise" event. The Capitol Hill gathering coincided with a West Coast prescription drug town hall in Irvine, California and the AARP Life@50 member event in Chicago, IL. Volunteers from Delaware's Claymont, Concord, Hockessin, Newark, Long Neck, South Coastal and South East Sussex Chapters were among other concerned AARP members who participated in the rally.
"I believe it's important to support AARP's efforts to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare," cited Joan Przywara of Wilmington, Delaware. "My husband is suffering from Alzheimer's, so for us, the high cost of prescription drugs is very real."
"Today's rally is not only a wonderful opportunity to associate with fellow AARP members, adding prescription drug coverage to Medicare is a worthwhile effort that all of us should be fighting for," according to Leon Ryan of Newark, Delaware.
"Millions of Americans are counting on Congress to help them afford the medications they need," stated Charles Jackson, who as AARP Delaware State President, served as a spokesperson for the Delaware contingent. "The House and Senate passed bills this summer to add a drug benefit to Medicare and must now make the final bill better before it becomes law."
Attendees heard from volunteers from Maryland and the District of Columbia including Bobby Cherry who christened the group CPAs. "You're all CPAs - Certified Pill Accountants," he acclaimed. "You'll be in the red until Congress can pass a prescription drug bill that will put you back in the black."
In addition to attending the rally, AARP Delaware's volunteers agreed to become Rx Block Captains. In their new activist role, the volunteers will distribute "prescriptions" to friends and neighbors with the remedy for the pending prescription drug legislation - to contact their members of Congress to tell them to "Fix It and Pass It - Keep YOUR promise!"
"We are going to keep the pressure on and calls going to Congress until the job is done," according to Jackson. The national "prescription" call-in number is (800) 713-6508.
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