2023 Archives: Financial Security and Livable Communities

The following documents related to consumer affairs, financial security, and livable communities issues that benefit people 50-plus are presented in reverse chronological order.

March

L: On March 23, 2023, AARP sent a comment to Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Vanessa Countryman to submit its views in response to the SEC’s request for public comment on the Prohibition Against Conflicts of Interest in Certain Securitizations.  AARP works hard every day to help American workers save and effectively plan for retirement, and believes that all financial professionals should act in the best interest of savers, putting the client’s best interest first. With these comments, AARP took this opportunity to reiterate the broad importance of Regulations Bl, including the need for rigorous enforcement, in ensuring the protection of all investors, especially older Americans, in interactions with their financial advisers. (PDF)

L: On March 20, 2023, AARP sent a letter of endorsement to Senators Bill Cassidy, Tim Kaine, Susan Collins and Chris Coons for their legislation to improve the terminology the Social Security Administration uses in relation to retirement benefit claiming ages. This bipartisan bill would provide American workers with better and more understandable information about the impact claiming age has on their earned retirement benefits and help them make more informed choices about when to start collecting Social Security. (PDF)

L: On March 20, 2023, AARP sent a letter of endorsement to Senators Bill Cassidy, Tim Kaine, Susan Collins and Chris Coons for their legislation to once again place vital, paper Social Security statements in the hands of American workers. This bipartisan bill would help millions of Americans more effectively plan for retirement and better understand their stake in Social Security by requiring the Social Security Administration to send more regular paper statements via the mail. (PDF)

L: AARP filed comments on March 20, 2023 in response to a Federal Highway Administration Request for Information on Improving Road Safety for All Users on Federal-Aid projects. Our letter stresses the need to imbed safety accountability in all road projects, not just those funded with safety-specific program dollars. It also emphasizes the importance of applying the Complete Streets approach in design standards, regulations, and guidance particularly with regard to arterial roadways where older pedestrians are an elevated risk of death or serious injury. For more information, you may contact Debra Alvarez in Government Affairs. (PDF)

L: On March 9, 2023 AARP sent a letter to U.S. Representative Bill Huizenga expressing strong concerns regarding the discussion draft under consideration in the House Financial Services Committee that would direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to promulgate rules requiring the use of electronic means as the default delivery method for vital financial disclosures. While so many Americans still do not have access to reliable internet at home, or do not have the skills to use the technology, AARP opposes switching to electronic delivery as a default, however does support electronic delivery for those who choose to receive these important disclosures via email. When every American has full and affordable access to the internet, AARP will of course be open to digital disclosures by default. Unfortunately, we are still a long way from achieving that goal. (PDF)

L: On March 2, 2023, AARP sent letters of endorsement to Chair McMorris Rodgers and Ranking Member Scott of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and to U.S. Senators Robert Casey and Steve Daines for the reintroduction of the bipartisan Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act.  People with disabilities should not be treated differently or be paid less than non-disabled employees.  This legislation would phase out subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities and allow them to earn fair compensation. (Senate – PDF) (House – PDF)

February

L: On February 28, 2023, AARP sent a letter to Acting Commissioner Kijakazi of the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding customer service challenges at the agency and following the release of SSA’s fiscal year 2023 Operating Plan. In the letter, AARP expressed several concerns regarding SSA’s projected decline in phone and disability customer service for the upcoming year and requested additional service-related information from the agency. (PDF)

C: On Thursday, February 16th, AARP filed comments on the FCC’s Broadband Labels docket, “Empowering Broadband Consumer Through Transparency.” This is a follow-up order to last year’s Broadband Transparency Labels Order, which required broadband internet access service providers to display easy-to-understand labels allowing consumers to comparison shop for broadband services. This updated order is meant to refine and strengthen the label in ways the initial order did not address. AARP’s comments were cited extensively in the updated FCC order. AARP’s comments on this new Order speak to the questions around language accessibility, network management, and how to properly display price and speed information (PDF)

January

L: On January 23, AARP filed comments regarding the Department of Transportation’s proposed rule to ensure fee transparency in airline ticket purchasing. AARP endorsed the requirement to disclose the true price of a ticket including critical add-on fees the first time the fare is displayed at time of booking. Knowing the full cost of an airline ticket is essential for making informed decisions when shopping for affordable travel arrangements. The required disclosures would cover any fees for passengers to sit with their children, change or cancel a flight, and bring checked or carry-on bags. AARP further suggests that DOT act to reduce or eliminate such fees wherever possible. (PDF)

L: On January 19, 2023, AARP sent a letter to the Social Security Administration to advance our discussions regarding much-needed service delivery improvements at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Millions of older Americans, people with disabilities, and their families rely on Social Security, and they deserve to receive timely and accurate assistance from the agency. (PDF)