February
L: On February 27, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Senators Tim Sheehy (R‑MT) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D‑DE), and Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Darren Soto (D-FL) endorsing the AI Fraud Accountability Act. Fraud losses—especially those targeting older Americans—have surged at an alarming rate, driven in part by the rapid proliferation of AI generated deepfakes that can deceive even the most vigilant consumers. By establishing clear federal prohibitions on the use of deepfakes for fraud, strengthening enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission, and empowering state attorneys general to act on behalf of their residents, this bill confronts a rapidly evolving threat head-on and significantly strengthens consumer protections at both the federal and state levels. (House-PDF) (Senate-PDF)
L: On February 24, 2026, AARP submitted a letter to key House and Senate committees outlining priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. The letter urges Congress to advance policies that support older adults by prioritizing transit programs, safe road networks, connected communities, motor vehicle safety, coordination and efficiency, and safety reporting. As the U.S. population ages, transportation policy must focus on accessible, age‑friendly options—including safe streets and reliable alternatives to driving—to help older Americans remain healthy, connected, and independent. More than one in five adults age 65 and older do not drive, and roughly 600,000 older Americans stop driving each year, increasing their reliance on transit, walking, and ride options. Addressing these needs is essential to ensuring mobility and independence for a growing segment of the population. (House-PDF) (Senate-PDF)
L: On February 23, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Senate Rules Committee Chair Mitch McConnell and Ranking Member Alex Padilla, urging careful attention to the unique circumstances of older voters as Congress considers changes to voting laws. The letter outlines specific challenges for older Americans, such as mobility, disability, document access, and fraud risks, including for residents of long-term care facilities. (PDF)
C: On Friday, February 13, AARP submitted a formal comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) opposing the agency’s proposal to repeal its existing disparate impact regulation under the Fair Housing Act. The letter outlines key legal precedents, reinforces the importance of maintaining the current rule, and urges HUD to retain it to preserve equal housing opportunities—emphasizing that its repeal would weaken Fair Housing Act protections and expose older adults to discriminatory housing practices. (PDF)
L: On February 13, AARP sent a letter to Representatives Dexter (D-OR) and Carey (R-OH) endorsing the Modernize SSI Stipends Act. This bill would make a long-overdue update to the $30/month personal needs allowance (PNA) of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries residing in nursing homes by doubling the amount and indexing it to inflation annually. The SSI PNA currently enables over 100,000 SSI beneficiaries residing in nursing homes to purchase items like clothing, toiletries, and haircuts that are not covered by Medicaid. It was last updated by Congress in 1987 and since then, the purchasing power of the benefit has declined by roughly 60 percent. (PDF)
L: On February 12, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Representatives Correa (D-CA) and Meuser (R-PA) endorsing the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act). The SCAM Act requires online platforms to verify advertisers, prevent the use of stolen or synthetic identities, and deploy robust fraud‑detection tools, including impersonation‑detection programs and both automated and manual review processes. It implements user‑friendly reporting mechanisms so consumers can quickly flag suspected scam ads and ensures timely platform action. The bill also directs the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations within one year, update them annually, and enforce violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the FTC Act. Additionally, it empowers State Attorneys General to take action and provides a private right of action for consumers harmed by fraudulent advertisements. By establishing strong protections and accountability measures, the SCAM Act will help safeguard older Americans from fraud and reduce the spread of harmful scam ads. (PDF)
L: On February 11, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Representative Ken Calvert (R‑CA) endorsing H.R. 1663, the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act. The bipartisan VSAFE Act strengthens the federal government’s ability to protect veterans and military retirees from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes by establishing a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This dedicated official would serve as a centralized leader responsible for preventing, identifying, and responding to scams targeting veterans, improving coordination across VA offices and enhancing collaboration with other federal agencies. By improving communication, incident response, and accountability, the VSAFE Act will help safeguard veterans’ financial security, benefits, and well‑being while addressing the growing threat of fraud aimed at those who have served our country. (House-PDF)
L: On February 11, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Senators Cornyn (R-TX) and Hassan (D-NH) endorsing S. 2501, the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act. The bipartisan VSAFE Act strengthens the federal government’s ability to protect veterans and military retirees from increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes by establishing a Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This dedicated official would serve as a centralized leader responsible for preventing, identifying, and responding to scams targeting veterans, improving coordination across VA offices and enhancing collaboration with other federal agencies. By improving communication, incident response, and accountability, the VSAFE Act will help safeguard veterans’ financial security, benefits, and well‑being while addressing the growing threat of fraud aimed at those who have served our country. (Senate-PDF)
S: On February 11, AARP submitted a statement for the record to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on the public listening session titled “Use of BEAD Funds Saved Through the Trump Administration's Benefit of the Bargain Reforms.” In the statement, AARP urged NTIA to make clear in forthcoming guidance that BEAD non‑deployment savings may remain in states to fund broadband adoption efforts—including short, practical, and measurable digital skills training delivered through trusted local partners such as libraries, community colleges, aging services providers, and other community‑rooted organizations. Digital skills are essential for older adults to access telehealth, prevent fraud, and stay connected to family and community. (PDF)
S: On February 6, AARP submitted a statement for the record for a House Education & the Workforce Subcommittee hearing on “Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work.” In the statement, AARP emphasized the opportunities and challenges older workers face with the use of AI. Older workers bring decades of professional experience that are essential for critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and ethical oversight—skills that are increasingly important in the development, deployment, and evaluation of AI systems. AARP urges the Committee to advance legislation that supports an age-friendly workforce and a fair integration of AI technologies. (PDF)
L: On February 2, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Senators Gallego (D-AZ) and Moreno (R-OH) endorsing the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct Act (SCAM Act). The SCAM Act requires online platforms to verify advertisers, prevent the use of stolen or synthetic identities, and deploy robust fraud‑detection tools, including impersonation‑detection programs and both automated and manual review processes. It implements user‑friendly reporting mechanisms so consumers can quickly flag suspected scam ads and ensures timely platform action. The bill also directs the Federal Trade Commission to issue regulations within one year, update them annually, and enforce violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the FTC Act. Additionally, it empowers State Attorneys General to take action and provides a private right of action for consumers harmed by fraudulent advertisements. By establishing strong protections and accountability measures, the SCAM Act will help safeguard older Americans from fraud and reduce the spread of harmful scam ads. (PDF)
January
L: On January 29, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Representatives George Whitesides (D-CA) and Jefferson Shreve (R-IN) endorsing H.R. 6681, the bipartisan National Scam Prevention Coordination Act. With Americans losing an estimated $195 billion annually to increasingly complex and coordinated fraud schemes, the bill would create a National Fraud and Scam Prevention Office within the White House to unify federal efforts, advise the President, and drive a comprehensive national strategy. By strengthening cross‑agency coordination and enabling better information‑sharing across government and the private sector, the legislation addresses longstanding gaps that leave older adults especially vulnerable. AARP’s support reflects the urgent need for centralized leadership to prevent scams, protect consumers, and help victims recover. (PDF)
L: On January 26, 2026, AARP sent a letter to Representatives Jefferson Shreve (R‑IN) and Tom Suozzi (D‑NY) endorsing the bipartisan Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act (H.R. 5490). The bill takes aim at the transnational criminal networks that steal billions of dollars from older Americans each year through increasingly sophisticated, technology‑enabled scams. The legislation establishes a federal task force—bringing together the State Department, Justice Department, Homeland Security, Treasury, and other agencies—to coordinate a whole‑of‑government strategy to dismantle overseas scam compounds, disrupt the criminal networks behind them, and hold corrupt foreign officials accountable. With older adults losing an average of more than $83,000 per scam, and many victims facing life‑altering financial harm, AARP’s endorsement underscores the urgent need for federal action to combat global fraud targeting older Americans. (PDF)
C: On January 20, AARP filed a comment letter in response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) request for continued approval of the information collection supporting the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). FARS is the most comprehensive nationwide source of information about fatalities from motor vehicle crashes and enables government agencies and other stakeholders to make informed decisions on vehicle design and roadway safety. Importantly, the FARS database has shown that older adults are at higher-than-average risk of death in vehicle crashes. (PDF)
C: On January 16, 2026, AARP filed comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding potential changes to “broadband nutrition label” requirements. Current FCC rules require broadband providers to display clear, point‑of‑sale information on prices, introductory rates, data allowances, speeds, and other disclosures. AARP’s comments urge the FCC to maintain the display of core information so older adults and other consumers can effectively compare broadband plans. (PDF)
T: On January 14, 2026, AARP’s Senior Director of Fraud Prevention Programs, Kathy Stokes, testified before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging at a hearing titled “Made in China, Paid by Seniors: Stopping the Surge of International Scams.”Her testimony detailed the explosive growth of fraud—driven largely by transnational criminal organizations—and the devastating financial and emotional toll on older Americans. She highlighted AARP’s extensive fraud‑prevention work, including education, victim support services, and efforts to reframe public narratives that unfairly blame victims. Stokes also underscored alarming trends such as tech‑support scams, bank‑impostor scams, financial grooming, and the rapidly increasing misuse of cryptocurrency kiosks. Her testimony called for systemic, whole‑of‑government action to combat fraud, improve law‑enforcement tools and data systems, strengthen consumer protections, and elevate coordinated national responses such as the National Elder Fraud Coordination Center. (PDF)
L: On January 13, AARP sent a letter to Representatives Mark Messmer (R-IN) and Josh Harder (D-CA) endorsing the bipartisan Empowering Employer Child and Elder Care Solutions Act. This bill removes the regulatory burden on employers to calculate an employee's overtime pay when providing elder care, making it easier for employers to offer these benefits. This will provide much-needed relief and assistance for the 63 million family caregivers, most of whom are juggling their jobs and family responsibilities. (PDF)
S: On January 7, AARP submitted a statement for the record for a House Education & the Workforce Committee hearing on “Modernizing Retirement Policy for Today’s Workforce.” In the statement, AARP emphasized the current retirement crisis and the need to improve access to and uptake of workplace savings, strengthen protections for defined benefit plans, close loopholes that allow conflicted advice, and ensure strong regulatory guidelines as investment products. (PDF)
