L: On August 19, 2024, AARP wrote to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) encouraging them to request additional temporary funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA) in the event Congress doesn’t pass a budget by September 30th. Millions of older Americans rely on Social Security to make ends meet and AARP is fighting to make sure it has the resources it needs to serve its customers. Last year, SSA had to forgo filling job openings when new congressional spending bills were delayed for months. This led to significant staffing shortages and limited SSA’s ability to fix its customer service issues. AARP is asking OMB to include in its request to Congress funding to ensure SSA can continue its efforts to improve customer service. (PDF)
L: On August 13, AARP sent a letter to Reps. Mike Carey (R-OH) and Danny Davis (D-IL) endorsing the EITC for Older Workers Act. This bipartisan legislation permanently removes the upper age cap on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which will help older workers who remain in the workforce and end an arbitrary tax increase on lower-income workers who turn 65 while still on the job. The EITC helps millions of people earn their way out of poverty, encouraging them to find and keep a job. (PDF)
C: On August 12, 2024, AARP submitted comments supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed rule limiting the use of medical debt information as part of a credit eligibility screening process. Research has shown that medical debt, unlike other types of consumer debt, isn’t reflective of a consumer’s creditworthiness. Millions of Americans have had their credit score impacted due to medical debt, making it harder for them to rent or buy a house, get a car loan or even a job. In our comment, AARP urged the CFPB to require consumer reporting agencies to establish a robust appeal process to address consumer complaints and grievances should the reporting agencies include medical debt information to potential creditors. (PDF)
R: On August 1, 2024, AARP submitted a response to the Treasury Department’s request for information on the uses, opportunities, and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial services sector. In the letter, AARP highlighted concerns about ensuring that AI tools, which can be used to make consequential decisions regarding a consumer’s financial well-being, are fair, reliable, and accurate. The letter also underscored the importance of ensuring that AI providers evaluate the factors in an algorithm to ensure the result is not an unjustifiable disparate impact on a protected class and that they are transparent about how consumer data is collected and used. (PDF)
July
L: On July 30, AARP sent a letter to Senators Kelly (D-AZ) and Rounds (R-ND) endorsing the Consumers LEARN AI Act, or Consumer Literacy and Empowerment to Advance Responsible Navigation of AI Act. This legislation will create a national strategy to increase artificial intelligence (AI) literacy for consumers, to help them make the best use of AI products and services as they become integrated into progressively more aspects of our daily lives. (PDF)
C: On July 30, AARP submitted comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in support of their Interpretive Rule on the use of digital user accounts to access Buy Now, Pay Later Loans (BNPL). AARP supports the regulation of these products as credit cards under the Truth in Lending Act’s Regulation Z because it would provide consumers with much needed protections. AARP also urged the CFPB to require that issuers evaluate a consumer’s ability to repay, establish clear disclosures on fees, interest, disputes, and purchase returns, in addition to clear guidance for issuers and consumers on the potential risks for BNPL loans. (PDF)
L: On July 25, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Reps. Pettersen (D-CO) and Flood (R-NE) endorsing the Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act. This bipartisan legislation will establish a dedicated task force on AI in financial services, comprising representatives from key financial services regulatory agencies, financial institutions, third-party vendors, and AI experts to explore the use of AI in the financial sector to commit and detect fraud. (PDF)
L: On July 23, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Reps. Feenstra (R-IA), Caraveo (D-CO), Bice (R-OK), and Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) endorsing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide consistency and certainty to businesses by making tax credit 45S permanent and the proposed enhancements to the credit will encourage more employers to provide paid leave to support working family caregivers. (PDF)
L: On July 16, 2024, AARP sent letters to Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and Angie Craig (D-MN); and to Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Tina Smith (D-MN) endorsing the Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act (H.R. 3032 / S. 3020). This bipartisan legislation will increase the charitable mileage reimbursement rate from 14 cents per mile to 67 cents per mile to match the current business rate. This will encourage more volunteers to provide rides to older adults for such essentials as health care, food, and medication, especially in rural areas where public transportation is very limited. Over six million adults age 65 and over do not drive. (PDF, PDF)
June
L: On June 13, AARP sent letters endorsing the bipartisan, bicameral Rural Housing Service (RHS) Reform Act (S.2790 / H.R.6785) to Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD); and to Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO). This bill makes several reforms to RHS programs. In particular, it will help keep rural housing affordable when property owners in the Section 515 rural rental program pay off their mortgages, which is happening with greater frequency. The bill also enhances homeownership for Native Americans and makes the home repair program less burdensome. One in five rural residents is age 65 and over. (House - PDF) (Senate – PDF)
L: On June 13, AARP sent letters endorsing the bipartisan, bicameral Reforming Disaster Recovery Act (S.1686 / H.R. 5940) to Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME); and to Rep. Al Green (D-TX). The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act will permanently authorize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program, which provides flexible, long-term assistance to states, tribes, and local governments to aid in rebuilding housing and infrastructure after a disaster. Currently, every disaster requires a new act of Congress to appropriate funding, adding months of delays when time is of the essence. Older adults make up a disproportionate share of fatalities in disaster events. (House – PDF) (Senate - PDF)
C: On June 12, AARP filed comments with DOT in response to its notice of proposed rulemaking regarding air travelers with disabilities using wheelchairs. AARP supports safe and dignified accommodations, including: prompt assistance with boarding, deplaning, and connections within the airport; timely notification of wheelchair handling; airline payment for rebooking if a change in aircraft after booking makes it impossible to stow a personal wheelchair; prompt repair of damaged wheelchairs; and improved training for airline employees and contractors; and enforcements of these regulations, including civil penalties for violations. (PDF)
May
L: On May 23, AARP sent letters to Senators Hassan (D-NH) and Budd (R-NC) and Representatives Tenney (R-NY) and Kildee (D-MI) endorsing the bipartisan, bicameral Retirement Investment in Small Employers Act (RISE Act). This legislation will increase the tax credit to $2,500 for small businesses with up to 10 employees to cover the start-up and administrative costs of setting up a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) plan. This will help millions of people who work at small businesses put money away for retirement and build their nest eggs, while helping these small companies recruit and retain their employees.(House PDF) (Senate PDF)
C: On May 22, 2024, AARP submitted a comment letter to Departments of Labor, Treasury, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on the effectiveness of reporting and disclosure requirements. In their comment, AARP emphasized the importance of improving reporting and disclosures so that participants and retirees may better comprehend their benefits to improve retirement outcomes. AARP urges the agencies to focus on the themes of accessibility and receipt, readability (comprehensible plain language), consistency, and uniformity in disclosures. (PDF)
L: On May 15, AARP sent letters endorsing the Yes In My Backyard Act (S. 1688/H.R. 3507) to bill sponsors Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Mike Flood (R-NE). The bipartisan, bicameral bill encourages local governments to allow the development of a variety of affordable housing types by requiring Community Development Block Grant recipients to regularly report on their implementation of inclusive land use and affordable housing policies, such as reducing minimum lot sizes and allowing varied housing types (e.g. accessory dwelling units, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage housing, townhouses, and manufactured homes). The letter notes that older adults are confronted with high housing costs and desire affordable housing choices in their communities that are more suitable to their needs. (House PDF) (Senate PDF)
L: On May 14, 2024, AARP sent letters to the Chairs and Ranking Members the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, asking that the Committees continue to make investments in programs that help ensure older Americans can live independently and with dignity as they age. Specifically, AARP urged investment in the programs that address the availability and affordability of housing for the elderly as well as the availability and accessibility of transportation options for older adults and people with disabilities. (Senate – PDF) (House – PDF)
L: On May 14, 2024, AARP sent letters to the Chairs and Ranking Members the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government asking that the Committees continue to make investments in the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program and the Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to help ensure older Americans receive the tax help they need and the refunds they are owed. AARP Tax-Aide helps on average taxpayers to get back more than $1 billion in refunds and tax credits each year. (Senate – PDF) (House – PDF)
L: On May 14, 2024, AARP sent letters to the Chairs and Ranking Members the U.S. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Subcommittees on Labor, Health & Human Services asking that the Committees continue to make investments in programs that help ensure older Americans can live independently and with dignity as they age. Specifically, AARP urged investment in the programs associated with the operation of the Social Security Administration and the many vital services provided through the Older Americans Act that older Americans rely upon. (Senate – PDF) (House – PDF)
L: On Tuesday, May 14, AARP sent members of Congress a letter urging them to support the Department of Labor’s Retirement Security Rule and reject any attempts to undermine or overturn the rule. In the letter, AARP highlighted a recent survey that found that 9 in 10 people believe a “best interest” standard should be required of their financial advisers. (PDF)
L: On May 8, AARP sent a letter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission urging them to strengthen its enforcement of the ADEA through AI-related technical assistance, requiring employers to report workforce age data and other pressing improvements to address age discrimination in the workplace. (PDF)
S: On Thursday, May 2, AARP sent a statement for the record to the Senate Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband for their hearing entitled “The Future of Broadband Affordability.” In the statement, AARP highlighted the critical roles that high-speed internet access and affordability play for older adults, enabling essential activities such as telehealth, social connection, and remote work. AARP noted, despite increased internet usage among older adults, affordability remains a major, obstacle, particularly for those on fixed incomes. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) addresses this issue, providing crucial discount to over 10 million households headed by adults 50 and older, yet its impending expiration poses a serious risk of disconnection, threatening access to benefits, medical care, and connection with loved ones. (PDF)
April
L: On Monday April 29, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Chair Cantwell of the Senate Committee on Commerce, and Chair Lujan of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media and Broadband. The letter supports the inclusion of $7 billion for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in the Spectrum and National Security Act. The legislation directs the use of future spectrum auction proceeds to fund the ACP. This is especially critical as ACP funding is set to expire in a matter of days. (PDF)
S: On April 16, 2024, AARP submitted a statement for the record to the Senate Judiciary Committee for their hearing entitled, “Small Print, Big Impact: Examining the Effects of Forced Arbitration.” The statement notes that AARP does not believe that mandatory and binding arbitration should not be a condition of getting or keeping a job. Pervasive age bias in hiring already makes it extremely difficult for older applicants. They should not have to surrender their rights against age discrimination to get or keep a job. The statement urges the Committee to advance the bipartisan Protecting Older Americans Act, which prohibits forced arbitration for age discrimination claims in the workplace. (PDF)
C: On April 15, 2024, AARP submitted comments to the Social Security Administration (SSA) on their proposed rule on the Use of Electronic Payroll Data to Improve Program Administration. AARP is supportive of SSA’s proposed rule to enter into information exchanges with payroll data providers to obtain, with the beneficiary’s authorization, wage and employment information that will help SSA improve payment accuracy, reduce or eliminate overpayments, reduce the reporting burden on beneficiaries, and allow more efficient use of SSA’s limited staffing and resources. (PDF)
L: On Tuesday April 9, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Senate Commerce Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz, urging to include funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), as part of future spectrum legislation. The ACP has proven to be successful in helping families across the country afford internet service. Nationwide, 23 million low-income households receive the monthly discount on broadband service, including 10 million households headed by residents age 50 or older. Unless Congress acts quickly, funding for the program will run out at the end of April. (PDF)
C: On April 5, AARP submitted a comment to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on its Notice 2024-22, Guidance on Anti-Abuse Rules Under Section 127 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 and Certain Other Issues with Respect to Pension-Linked Emergency Savings Accounts (PLESAs). AARP was an early supporter of employer-facilitated emergency savings and sponsors its own such program for employees. In its comment, AARP encouraged IRS to ensure PLESAs are simple, attractive, and workable for participants in order to help workers save for the unexpected. (PDF)
L: On Thursday, April 4, AARP sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Leader Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) urging passage of H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act. This bipartisan legislation modernizes the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs to better align with the current labor market while strengthening accountability to ensure the programs provide adequate job training and career services to help older job seekers. WIOA programs are essential for helping older job seekers remain in the workforce, bolstering their long-term financial security. (PDF)
C: On Monday, April 1, AARP submitted comments to the CFPB on its proposed rule on Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions. AARP outlined in their comment that overdraft lending affects the financial security of many older Americans, who are often on fixed incomes, relying primarily on Social Security, as well as other pensions and retirement savings. Unexpected expenses or fluctuations in monthly bills, such as unexpected medical bills or housing costs, can lead to overdraft situations, especially when income is limited. Over time, overdraft fees can accumulate, leading to a cycle of debt. These fees can erode savings and diminish financial security, making it harder for older adults to maintain their quality of life in retirement. While fees can serve as an appropriate reminder to consumers that they do not have funds to spend, financial institutions should apply fees in a fair and transparent manner. (PDF)
March
C: On Friday, March 28, AARP submitted comments to the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration on their proposed Automatic Portability Transaction Regulation. AARP has long fought to improve protections for retirement savers, including the preservation and portability of retirement amounts. In the comment, AARP urged the Department of Labor to ensure the protection of participants who find themselves subject to an automatic portability transaction, including ensuring fee transparency, proper disclosures, integrating automatic portability transactions within the Retirement Savings Lost and Found program, and providing the public with a venue to assess automatic portability providers. (PDF)
S: On March 21, 2024, AARP sent a statement for the record to the House Ways & Means Committee for their Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee hearing with the Commissioner of Social Security, Martin O’Malley. In the statement, AARP noted the importance of Social Security to millions of older Americans and their families, the need for increased funding from Congress to help improve customer service at the Social Security Administration, and the need to protect Social Security’s earned benefits for generations to come with a full and open debate in Congress. (PDF)
S: On March 20, 2024, AARP sent a statement for the record to the Senate Aging Committee for their hearing entitled “Keeping Our Promise to Older Adults and People with Disabilities: The Status of Social Security Today.” In the statement, AARP noted the importance of Social Security to millions of older Americans and their families, the need for increased funding from Congress to help improve customer service at the Social Security Administration, and the need to protect Social Security’s earned benefits for generations to come with a full and open debate in Congress. (PDF)
S: On March 20, 2024, AARP sent a statement for the record to the Senate Finance Committee for their hearing entitled “The President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Social Security Administration Budget.” In the statement, AARP noted the importance of Social Security to millions of older Americans and their families, the need for increased funding from Congress to help improve customer service at the Social Security Administration, and the need to protect Social Security’s earned benefits for generations to come with a full and open debate in Congress. (PDF)
L: On March 12, AARP sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) and U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) endorsing their Dignity and Autonomy for Our Supplemental Security Income PNA Beneficiaries Act. This legislation would annually increase the $30 per month personal needs allowance (PNA) of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries residing in nursing homes to account for inflation. 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)
C: On March 11, 2024, AARP filed comments with HUD regarding a proposed rule making changes to the Community Development Block Grant program to make it easier for recipients to promote economic development and recovery in low- and moderate-income communities. AARP expressed support for reforms that facilitate the use of CDBG funds by recipients to fill financing gaps and for a more flexible definition of “elderly.” AARP further recommended that HUD provide technical assistance to recipients and strengthen the citizen participation process. (PDF)
L: On March 7, AARP sent letters to Senators Blumenthal, Cassidy, Warren, Markey, and Murphy and Representatives Courtney, Larson, Brownley, Crenshaw, and Rogers endorsing S.2264/H.R.4539, the Casualty Loss Deduction Restoration Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would reinstate the casualty loss deduction, allowing taxpayers to deduct losses that were the result of unexpected disasters and theft, including fraud. It would also reinstate this deduction retroactively, with a cap of $50,000 for retroactive claims. This will provide victims of fraud with some relief from the losses they have faced, even if they are unable to recover the funds that have been stolen from them. AARP has long worked to educate consumers, support fraud victims, and improve fraud detection and prevention at financial institutions. (House-PDF) (Senate-PDF)
February
S: On February 28, 2024, AARP sent a statement for the record to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions for their hearing entitled “Taking a Serious Look at the Retirement Crisis in America: What Can We Do to Expand Defined Benefit Pension Plans for Workers?” In the statement, AARP highlighted three areas for potential collaboration with Congress and the Administration to improve retirement outcomes in this country: expanding access to retirement savings plans, ensuring protections and support for those with defined benefit plans, and closing retirement advice loopholes that allow conflicted advice to eat away at retirement savings. (PDF)
C: On February 20, 2024, AARP submitted comments to the Department of Treasury in response to their Request for Information on Financial Inclusion. AARP highlighted the ways that financial inclusion throughout one’s life can lead to better financial security at older ages by fostering more savings, noting that financial security hinges on two important aspects of our financial lives: access to safe and affordable banking and access to credit. (PDF)
S: On February 15, 2024, AARP sent a statement for the record to the House Committee on Education & the Workforce for their hearing entitled “Protecting American Savers and Retirees from DOL’s Regulatory Overreach.” In the statement, AARP urged members of Congress to support the Department of Labor Retirement Security Rule, which would require financial professionals put their clients’ best interests before their own when advising retirement savers about their investments. AARP noted that our polling shows that 9 in 10 adults over 50 support this requirement and that it is vital to ensure retirement savers have the protections they deserve. (PDF)
L: On February 14, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Senators Cassidy and Kaine and Representatives Fitzpatrick and Manning endorsing the Auto Reenroll Act of 2023. This legislation would permit plan sponsors to automatically reenroll non-participants at least once every three years, unless they affirmatively opt out, which will increase plan participation, help prompt employees to take better advantage of their benefits, and increase employees’ retirement savings. This legislation would help to ensure workers take advantage of their retirement plans and full employer match. (PDF)
L: On February 7, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Rep. Richard Neal (D-Ma.) expressing our support for the Automatic IRA Act of 2024. This legislation would expand retirement plan coverage to millions of workers who do not currently have employer-sponsored retirement plans. It would also require that these plans meet certain requirements, including automatic contribution. More than half of private-sector workers do not have access to retirement savings through their employer. Research has clearly found that access to retirement savings through the workplace make a tremendous difference: Americans are about 15 times more likely to save for retirement when they have a workplace plan and 20 times more likely to do so if contributions are automatic. (PDF)
January
C: AARP filed comments with HUD on January 30, 2024, in support of a proposed rule to require eviction notices 30 days in advance of eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent for residents in public housing and properties receiving project-based rental assistance. AARP also urges that the rule be extended to other reasons for eviction, that notices be required to include information about a tenant’s right to reasonable accommodation, and that rental repayments be required over time (rather than a lump sum payment), among other recommendations. (PDF)
L: On January 29, 2024, AARP sent a letter to U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and to U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) responding to a bipartisan, bicameral Request for Information on solutions to expand access to paid leave for all Americans. In the letter, AARP stresses how paid leave policy must include family caregivers to support the millions of older workers who provide care for either a child, an older loved one, or both. More importantly, family caregivers help older adults age independently in their own homes and communities, where the vast majority of them want to be as they age. (PDF)
L: On January 24, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Senators Hickenlooper and Tillis, and Representatives Smucker and Sewell, extending our support for the Retirement Savings for Americans Act. Nearly 1 out 4 Americans have no retirement savings and many more are concerned about their financial security in retirement. The Retirement Savings for Americans Act would help more families across the country save for retirement. (House-PDF) (Senate-PDF).
L: On January 24, 2024, AARP sent a letter to Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Senator Angus King (I-ME) endorsing the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act. This legislation will provide consistency and certainty to businesses by making tax credit 45S permanent. In addition, the proposed enhancements to the credit will encourage more employers to provide this important benefit to support working family caregivers with low to moderate incomes. (PDF)
S: On January 10, 2024, AARP sent a statement for the record to the House Financial Services Committee for their hearing on “Hearing Entitled: Examining the DOL Fiduciary Rule: Implications for Retirement Savings and Access.” In the statement, AARP urged members of Congress to support the Department of Labor Retirement Security Rule, which would require financial professionals put their clients’ best interests before their own when advising retirement savers about their investments. AARP noted that our polling shows that 9 in 10 adults over 50 support this requirement and that it is vital to ensure retirement savers have the protections they deserve. (PDF)
L: On January 9 and 10, 2024, AARP sent a letter to both the Senate and House, extending our endorsement for the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act of 2024. The bill seeks to provide $7 billion in additional funding to extend the program through 2024. The ACP, created by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, has helped more than 22 million households — including 10 million age 50 and older — get and stay online so they can communicate with their doctors, connect with caregivers, and fight isolation while aging at home. (House-PDF) (Senate-PDF).
C: On January 8, 2024, AARP submitted comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on their proposed rule, “Defining Larger Participants of a Market for General-Use Digital Consumer Payment Applications.” AARP noted they support the examination of consumer protections related to large participants operating payments systems such as funds transfers and wallet functionality through digital applications in the United States. Despite often being marketed as fast and secure, many of these platforms offer fewer protections to their users than is afforded to users of traditional credit and debit cards, which is a regulatory gap in the consumer financial protection framework surrounding emergent technologies. (PDF)
C: On January 8, 2024, AARP submitted a comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on the proposed “Trade Regulation Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees.” The FTC proposal would prohibit misrepresenting the total costs of goods and services by omitting mandatory fees from advertised prices and misrepresenting the nature and purpose of fees. AARP highlighted in its comment letter the impact of junk fees on older Americans and the importance of transparent and upfront fee disclosures to allowing consumers to make well-informed choices and fostering fair competition. (PDF)
C: On January 2, 2024, AARP submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Labor on their “Proposed Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary.” AARP emphasized this Proposal would address loopholes in existing regulations and require that financial advisers put their clients’ best interests before their own. AARP believes policies that inhibit savers’ ability to build their retirement savings and exacerbate our retirement crisis must addressed to ensure Americans have the ability to retire with financial security and dignity. (PDF)
