Advocacy

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 680 WOULD ESTABLISH TASK FORCE TO STUDY ISSUE

RICHMOND _ AARP volunteers head to the Virginia General Assembly next week to ask legislators to start a program to help workers save for retirement.

By Tamara Lytle

Do you own or work for a small business that can't afford to offer a retirement plan to employees?

When the Virginia General Assembly comes to town Jan. 11 for its 2017 session, AARP will be advocating to ensure that more Virginians have access to a retirement account at work.

With only a few days before the final Presidential debate, Northern Virginia AARP volunteers joined with AARP staff and volunteers from the national office and other states to ask Fox News, the debate sponsor, to question the presidential candidates for their positions on funding Social Security.

Lisa W., 52, is married with one daughter who is a senior in high school and planning to go to college next year. Lisa began working at the age of 16 and has been paying into Social Security for the past 36 years. She first worked in fast food in high school, waited tables in college, and managed restaurants for a time before settling into her current job as the Director of Marketing at a regional credit union.

If nothing is done to improve Social Security, benefits will have to be reduced by about 25 percent. We are encouraging the candidates to tell voters how they would make Social Security sustainable for future generations. Tell us your story about what Social Security means to your family.

Bruce Smith, 71 year old AARP member and activist from Woodbridge, Virginia

Lorraine Bratton of Roanoke is a veteran AARP volunteer. She has been active with the Take A Stand campaign, attending candidate events and representing Take A Stand at community activities. This is her report from a recent campaign event she attended.