AARP Praises Provisions in Bipartisan Federal Spending Deal

AARP Vermont State Director Greg Marchildon released the following statement on Dec. 18 upon the passage of FY 2020 appropriations bills H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865:

“AARP commends the bipartisan work that led to this agreement on federal spending for the 2020 fiscal year, and we are encouraged by the extra attention provided to health, housing and social services programs serving seniors. AARP is particularly pleased that roughly 4.4 million Americans with high health care costs can continue to deduct medical expenses on their taxes for another two years. The funding bill also extends the employer credit for paid family and medical leave for another two years. We are happy that more dollars will go to key Older Americans Act programs to help with group meals, community-based services and family caregiving. And we appreciate new money for job training and the State Health Insurance Program.

“In addition to these programs, AARP supports passage of two bills included in H.R. 1865. The SECURE Act of 2019 will make it easier for the 27 million part-time workers in the United States to save for retirement and for smaller employers to offer a retirement plan to their workers. The CREATES Act will help remove barriers that have prevented lower cost generic medications from entering the market. We look forward to continuing our work with Congress in 2020 to pass comprehensive legislation that can lower prescription drug prices and out-of-pocket costs.”