AARP Recognizes Massachusetts Leaders for Outstanding Work on Behalf of Americans 50+

AARP Honors Four Bay State Leaders

AARP Recognizes Massachusetts Leaders for Outstanding Work on Behalf of Americans 50+

As part of our 50th anniversary, this year AARP launched a new Congressional Awards program to honor members of Congress for their outstanding work on behalf of Americans 50+.  In the Bay State, four elected officials received awards.

• Senator Edward Kennedy, for his leadership on improving Medicare, including keeping Medicare premiums fair, preserving access to doctors, preventing harmful medical errors by requiring electronic prescribing and providing assistance to the most vulnerable people on Medicare.

• Representative Barney Frank, for his leadership on foreclosure prevention, and particularly for legislation that will improve older Americans' access to reverse mortgages by increasing the available equity, reducing fees and protecting them from fraud.  Reverse mortgages  will be especially helpful to borrowers with major health and long-term care costs, as access to more equity can mean the difference between staying in one's home and needing costly institutional care.

• Representative James McGovern, for his outstanding leadership on legislation that will help millions of our nation's most vulnerable families get the nutrition they need to stay healthy.  And, at a time when millions of Americans are struggling to put food on the table, this legislation will help keep seniors, children and families across the nation from going hungry.

• Representative Richard Neal, for his leadership on providing all workers with a simple, dependable way to save for retirement at work.  Payroll deduction IRAs at work would be a win-win for small business owners and employees—employers get to recruit and retain talented employees and employees get to build the nest egg they will need for a secure retirement.

AARP recognized twenty Members of Congress (ten in both the House and Senate) who championed legislation in the following areas:  economic stimulus, Medicare, housing, nutrition, falls prevention, workplace IRAs and 401(k) fee disclosure.