AARP Iowa Leaders Visit Capitol Hill to Urge Social Security Debate, Responsible Solutions to Strengthen Medicare

Today AARP volunteers and staff from Iowa and every other state in the nation visited Capitol Hill today to express opposition to the President’s proposed Social Security benefit cut known as Chained CPI and to support responsible solutions to strengthen Medicare.  In meetings with members of the entire Iowa Congressional delegation and their staffs, including Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Tom Harkin, Rep. Bruce Braley, Rep. Dave Loebsack, Rep. Tom Latham and Rep. Steve King,  AARP leaders urged the delegation to have a separate debate on Social Security and to back specific proposals that would strengthen Medicare and the health care system overall.

“Our families, friends, and neighbors want Washington to listen to them when it comes to Medicare and Social Security,” said AARP Iowa State President, Volunteer Tony Vola of Des Moines. “AARP Iowa members have made their voices heard online, at community meetings and events all over the state, and today we’ve brought their message to Washington with the hope that we can go home and tell the people who live in our neighborhoods that Congress will strengthen these lifeline programs that matter so much to us.”

In addition to pushing for a broader retirement security debate on Social Security that is separate from ongoing budget negotiations, AARP Iowa volunteers and staff discussed embracing health care reforms that eliminate waste and improve care in order to drive positive change throughout the entire health care system and bring down health care costs for everyone, including in Medicare.

By taking action on items that include reducing waste and inefficiency, improving care coordination, and reforming Medicare’s payment incentives to doctors and hospitals in Iowa for providing good care, Medicare can remain strong into the future.

AARP Iowa volunteers and staff will continue to oppose harmful cuts and push for responsible change to strengthen Medicare and Social Security when they return home from Washington. For more information visit earnedasay.org