Nancy LeaMond, AARP's
Executive Vice President of Social Impact, today announced the
Association's next round of activity to encourage the enactment of the
Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.
After having been passed by both chambers of Congress with veto-proof
margins, the bill now sits with the President. Administration officials
have indicated his intention to veto the bill.
"We're hoping for the best and preparing for everything else," said
LeaMond. "We are not taking any signature or vote for granted. We've come
too far in this campaign to let up at the end."
Earlier today, AARP and its volunteers began reaching out to the White
House encouraging the President's signature of the bill. AARP CEO Bill
Novelli is sending a letter to the White House asking the President to
reconsider his intention to veto given the bill's strong bipartisan
support. The White House also received more than 45,000 emails on Friday
from grassroots volunteers encouraging the President to sign the bill
today.
AARP is also launching a national effort to thank the overwhelming
bipartisan majority of Representatives and Senators who voted to pass the
bill and ask them to continue their support in the event of a vote to
override a presidential veto.
AARP's activities early next week will include:
- Coordinated visits from constituents to Washington and district
offices of the bill's supporters;
- A national write-in effort from volunteers to opinion-leaders and
news outlets;
- Ads placed in key outlets encouraging a veto override, if necessary;
and
- Continued grassroots contacts to legislative offices.
Since launching its national Keep Medicare Fair campaign in April, AARP
volunteers have sent more than 910,000 emails, phone calls, faxes and
petition signatures to Congress in support of a bill to improve and protect
Medicare.
"After months of debate on how to strengthen and protect Medicare, we
finally have a bill that would improve low-income, prevention, and mental
health programs, and boost health care quality through national
e-prescribing," added LeaMond. "We are confident and hopeful that this
bill, which has earned broad bipartisan support, will become law."
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization 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 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source
for AARP's 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, 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.
SOURCE AARP
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