2009 Key Vote Summary: Florida

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

About the Legislation: The bill, sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, contains provisions that will provide relief for those hardest hit by the economic crisis, lay the foundation for improving health care and building stronger communities, and jump-start our economy.  The bill includes: a $250 economic recovery payment that will help nearly 57 million retirees, veterans, and individuals with disabilities; an extension of unemployment benefits and health care for those who have lost their jobs; help for struggling homeowners; an increase in funding for the Social Security Administration to address the disability claims backlog; funding to make homes more energy efficient; and changes to improve our health care system, including health information technology, added research funding, and nurse and primary care training.  AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

About the Legislation:  The bill, sponsored by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state, and local needs. It will encompass a broad array of critical service arenas, including social services, the environment, health, caregiving, nurturing, mentoring, intergenerational solutions, education, and economic and community development.  And, the bill will improve older American’s opportunity to apply a lifetime of skills to fulfilling the needs of millions of struggling Americans.  AARP supported a Yes vote on this legislation

Medicare Physician Fairness Act

About the Legislation:  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MA), would have repealed the existing system used to pay Medicare doctors – under which physicians will receive a 21.5 percent cut in payment rates in 2010.  AARP supported this bill because it would have preserved Medicare patients’ access to their doctors, ensured doctors would continue to take Medicare patients and protect the doctor-patient relationship.  AARP supported a Yes vote on this legislation.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

About the Amendment: The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Snowe (R-ME), McCain (R-AZ.), Grassley (R-IA), and Stabenow (D-MI), would have allowed for the safe and legal importation of lower-priced prescription drugs from abroad. The amendment would have legalized the importation of FDA-approved medications from certain countries beginning with Canada, imposed strict safety standards to prevent drug counterfeiting, and included important provisions to prevent potential trade obstructions.  Unfortunately, since 60 were needed for passage, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 51-49.  AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

About the Amendment: The amendment, sponsored by Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carper (D-DE) and Menendez (D-NJ) was put forward as an alternative importation amendment that would in reality have prevented importation -- it would have given the government unnecessary discretion to block the importation of safe, lower cost prescription drugs, despite the fact that strong safety provisions were already built into amendment #2793.  Excessive certification requirements would have preserved the status quo and prevented Americans from having a safe and legal process for accessing lower-priced prescription drugs.  Thankfully, this amendment, which needed 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote of 56-43.  AARP supported a No vote on this amendment.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

About the Legislation: The Manager’s Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), makes insurance companies more accountable to consumers, protects patients’ freedom to choose their doctors, holds down the costs of coverage, and encourages states to provide long-term care services and supports to people in their homes and communities, rather than in costly institutional settings.
AARP supported a Yes vote on the amendment.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

About the Legislation: The bill, sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, contains provisions that will provide relief for those hardest hit by the economic crisis, lay the foundation for improving health care and building stronger communities, and jump-start our economy.   The bill includes: a $250 economic recovery payment that will help nearly 57 million retirees, veterans, and individuals with disabilities; an extension of unemployment benefits and health care for those who have lost their jobs; help for struggling homeowners; an increase in funding for the Social Security Administration to address the disability claims backlog; funding to make homes more energy efficient; and changes to improve our health care system, including health information technology, added research funding, and nurse and primary care training.  AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

About the Legislation:  The bill, sponsored by Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state, and local needs. It will encompass a broad array of critical service arenas, including social services, the environment, health, caregiving, nurturing, mentoring, intergenerational solutions, education, and economic and community development.  And, the bill will improve older American’s opportunity to apply a lifetime of skills to fulfilling the needs of millions of struggling Americans.  AARP supported a Yes vote on this legislation.

Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009

About the Legislation: The bill, sponsored by Representative John Dingell, would ensure Americans 50+ and their families can get the health care they need.  The bill would:  strengthen Medicare for seniors and future generations; lower drug costs for seniors; reduce waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiency in the Medicare program; require Medicare and insurance companies to provide free preventive services such as screenings for diabetes and cancer; prevent insurers from denying affordable coverage to anyone because of their age or health; limit how much your insurance company can make you pay out-of-pocket; provide affordable health insurance options for those who don’t have insurance or can’t afford it; and provide benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities. AARP supported a Yes vote on this legislation.