AARP Hearing Center
The following documents related to consumer affairs and the financial security of people 50-plus are presented in reverse chronological order.
November
Government Watch Archive Legend
L = letter
C = comment
S = statement for the record
Archive of Previous Years
2011
L: AARP sent a letter to all Members of the Senate and House reiterating our opposition to adopting a chained consumer price index to calculate the Social Security cost of living adjustment for the purpose of reducing the deficit. (November 8) Senate PDF & House PDF
L: AARP sent a letter to Tom Vilsack Secretary of Agriculture for the United States Department of Agriculture thanking the agency for partnering with so many of our volunteers and staff in addressing the immeasurable devastation left by Hurricane Sandy. AARP urged the Department to sustain its current efforts and make available certain administrative exceptions where necessary to ensure that the most vulnerable persons and families can have access to essential nutrition. (November 7) PDF
L: On November 08, 2012 AARP sent a letter to members of Congress and the President opposing the deficit proposal that would reduce Social Security benefits by adopting the Chained Consumer Price Index (CCPI). In the letter AARP CEO A. Barry Rand states “Reducing Social Security benefits by moving to a chained consumer price index (CCPI) – estimated to take $112 billion dollars out of the pockets of current and future Social Security beneficiaries in the next 10 years alone – is inappropriate and unwarranted.” Rand also adds that “Social Security is not the cause of our current large budget deficits. In fact, as you know, Social Security is a self-financed, off-budget program and any reduction in Social Security does nothing to address the shortfall in the rest of the federal budget.” (Nov. 8) PDF
C: To the CFBP regarding its request for information on “Effective Financial Education”, to help consumers make better-informed financial decisions. (Nov. 1) PDF
October
L: Sign on letter to the Department of Transportation regarding development of several performance measures specified in MAP-21 for roads designated as part of the National Highway System, safety, congestion, and freight. (Oct. 25) PDF
August
L: Letter to Richard Cordray, Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection regarding consumer use of reverse mortgages. (Aug. 31) PDF
July
C: To a CFPB “Proposed Procedural Rules to Establish Supervisory Authority over Certain Nonbank Covered Persons based upon Risk Determination” (July 24) PDF
C: To the CFPB notice of proposed rulemaking on “Electronic Fund Transfer (Regulation E) related to Prepaid Cards.” Our comments address significant concerns that have been raised regarding high fees, hidden costs, and inadequate disclosures. (July 23) PDF
C: To the Employee Benefits Security Administration’s request regarding the Department’s attempt to gather information on the interrelationship of self-funded health plans and stop-loss insurance, and the impact of these plan designs on the private health insurance market. (July 2) PDF
JUNE
C: To the CFPB regarding the impacts of overdraft programs on consumers. (June 29) PDF
C: To the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in response to a request for information regarding scope, methods, and data sources for conducting a study of pre-dispute arbitration agreements. (June 22) PDF
C: Comment letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recommending enforcement priorities related to protecting older workers from age discrimination. (June 19) PDF
L: Letter to Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY) supporting her amendment to maintain and protect funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the Senate begins floor consideration of the Farm Bill reauthorization. (June 6) PDF
MAY
L: Sign on letter to the Transportation Conferees calling for the retention of the Senate-passed Cardin-Cochran amendment provision that gives local grants for pedestrian safety and other projects. (May 30) PDF
L: Sign on letter to the Transportation Conferees addressing provisions for older driver and pedestrian safety in the Highway Safety Improvement Program. (May 23) PDF