AARP Maryland Brings Volunteers to Annapolis for Lobby Day

Members to Attend Hearings on Retirement Savings and Caregiving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR INTERVIEW, CONTACT: Tresa Ballard: (410) 370-5305 or tballard@aarp.org

Baltimore – AARP MD will testify today on several bills in the House and Senate on important issues for Marylanders 50+. Areas include retirement savings and security, caregiving and raising the state's tobacco tax. In addition to testimony by State Director Hank Greenberg and Advocacy Director Tammy Bresnahan, AARP members in red AARP t- shirts will fill meeting rooms to listen in.

AARP MD will be participating in hearings on the following legislation:

8:30 AM
SB 921 Secure Choice ---Senate Budget and Taxation Committee
This proposal would create another option for small business and their employees to save for retirement.
Please note: PRESS CONFERENCE on Secure Choice to be held at noon in the House Office Building Room 431 (Eastern Shore Delegation Room).

1:00 PM
SB 505 Task Force on Caregiving---Senate Finance Committee
Today 770,000 Marylanders are taking care of a loved one. Who’s looking out for the caregivers? AARP MD will urge lawmakers to pass a Caregivers Bill of Rights that would highlight the plight of caregivers, most of whom are family members.

SB 753 Safe Leave and Sick Act---Senate Finance Committee
AARP MD will support a bill that requires employers to provide employees with earned leave and requires employers to allow for the use of that leave.

HB 443 Healthy MD Initiative –Tobacco Tax—House Ways Means
This bill proposes to increase the tobacco tax rates on cigarettes and other tobacco products; require certain wholesalers of cigarettes and other tobacco products to report the amount of other tobacco products sold on a tobacco tax return, and raise the state’s tobacco tax by $1 per pack for cigarettes with a comparable increase for other tobacco products. This will raise necessary funds in addition to dramatically reducing teen and adult tobacco use, which in turn will save lives and save the state health care costs.

The following individuals are available to speak with the media:

• Clarence “Tiger” Davis, State President and Lead Volunteer for AARP MD
• Hank Greenberg, State Director
• Tammy Bresnahan, Advocacy Director
• AARP Members/Volunteers

For Interviews Today, Contact Tresa Ballard at (410) 370-5305 or tballard@aarp.org.

Want to attend our next Lobby Day on March 12? Register now. 

Keep up with AARP Maryland on our state blog, and on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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