vs 6,662 other HR bills in the 112th — cohort avg 39d
Summary
No CRS summary is available for this bill yet. The source title, actions, sponsors, and text versions below come from Congress.gov.
Lobbying filings that explicitly cite this bill (10)
These links require the bill number to appear in the filing's source-reported specific issue text. Client expenses and lobbying-firm income are separate disclosure fields.
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Discussed demographics and priorities for AARP members and the 50+ population in general. (no bill)
H.R.4050, Retirement Plan Simplication & Enhancement Act of 2012 - Discussed concerns regarding expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices. AARP Opposed adoption of "Chained CPI" as part of Fiscal Cliff debt. (no bill)
H. R. 677/S. 267, Lifetime Income Disclosure Act - Submitted letter of support to the original co-sponsors of the House and Senate versions of the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act. This legislation would provide individulas with a better understanding of the lifemtime value of their 401 (k) plan assets by including in a yearly benefit statement a conversion of their total accrued benefits into a monthly dollar amount as if they had opted to receive a lifetime annuity.
S. 1557/H.R. 4049, the Automatic IRA Act of 2011 - Lobbied on legislation to create automatic individual retirement accounts, funded via payroll deduction, to individuals who work for an employer of a particular size and tenure that do not currently offer a retirement savings vehicle to their employees.
Discussed S. 1558, the Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act, legislation to apply payroll taxes to remuneration and earnings from self-employment up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000. Provided an informational briefing on Social Security.
S. 1876, Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act - Supported legislation to change the index used to calculate annual Social Security COLA's from the CPI-W to the CPI-E.
H. R. 539, Preserving Our Promise to Seniors Act - Discussed legislation to make changes pertaining to Social Security, including the use of a new CPI-E index for COLA's, and to provide $250 relief payments to beneficiaries.
S. 2252, the Rebuild America Act - Discussed the Social Security and Pensions portions of this wide-ranging legislation designed to "rebuild the American middle class by creating jobs, investing in our future, building opportunity for working families, and restoring balance to the tax code."
Discussed the Department of Labor's proposed new fiduciary duty regulation with key staff of the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (no bill number).
Discussed possible proposals to improve pension rights for participants and reform proposals to improve pension coverage and adequacy. ( no bill)
Briefed Congress on AARP's "You've Earned A Say"- A national conversation on the future of Social Security and Medicare with AARP members and all Americans.
H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 - Lobbied against inclusion of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid legislation affecting benefit levels or service delivery in any end-of-the-session budget deal, and urged congress to not reduce spending levels below current services levels for various non-security discretionary programs, including Health Care (including Rx, medical research and premium support), Social Security (administrative expenses), Older Americans Act Supportive Service, Nutrition and Caregiver programs, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Weatherization, Elderly Housing and Transit/Transportation, Legal and Taxpayer Assistance, Consumer and Worker Protections and Postal Services. Discussed the current and future challenges faced by Social Security's Representative Payee program.
Discussed pending DOL regulations of summary documents for 401(k) fee disclosure. (no bill)
H.R. 4609, the Social Security Equality Act - Discussed bill which would authorize the treatment of permanent partnerships between individuals of the same gender as marriage for purposes of determining entitlement to OASDI benefits.
Letter sent to Congress expressing AARP's opposition to additional extensions of the temporary payroll tax holiday. (no bill)
Discussed pending DOL regulations on the electronic disclosure of ERISA-covered pension plan documents and related potential or current legislation H.R. 4050, the Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act.
Discussed potential legislation regarding the Social Security Administration's process for closing field offices. (no bill)
H.R. 4050, Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act of 2012 - Discussed concerns with Congressional staff regarding provisions to expand electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
Sent letter to DOL urging caution on any expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
S.3295, the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2013 - Lobbied to protect/increase funding for the Social Security Administration, Older Americans Act nutrition, family caregiver & supportive services programs, low income home energy assistance (LIHEAP), and to protect funding for program authorized under the Affordable Care Act, including CMS State Health insurance exchanges, state survey and demonstrations and preventive health.
Discussed with key staff of the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration and the GAO issue of electronic disclosure of ERISA-covered pension plan documents. (no bill)
Discussed with key staff of Congress and the Department of Treasury's Financial Management Service their efforts regarding the March 2013 move away from paper checks to electronic benefit payments for all Social Security beneficiaries. (no bill)
Lobbied Congress to prevent the inclusion of Chained CPI and extension of the temporary payroll tax holiday in any lame duck year end budget deal. (no bill)
Shared results of AARP public survey on electronic disclosure with Congressional staff and agency staff at DOL/EBSA, Treasury, OMB, CFPB and GAO.
Discussed with IRS staff concerns regarding recent guidance on deferred vested benefit notices to participants.
Discussed concerns with GAO staff regarding Form 5500.
Discussed with Congressional staff recent pension plan "derisking" activities.
Client expense: $2,490,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Bureau of the Census, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Federal Highway Administration (FHA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers. H.R. 798, H.R. 776, H.R. 456, S. 1876: provisions establishing a consumer price index for elderly consumers (CPI-E) to compute cost-of-living increases (COLA) for Social Security benefits. Chained CPI (No bill): proposal to replace the current index used to calculate the Social Security COLA with a chained CPI.
Social Security Privatization. H.R. 2109, H.R. 2889: proposals to convert Social Security to a system of private investment accounts.
Social Insurance Protection. H.Res. 733: provisions declaring that any agreement to replace the Budget Control Act of 2011 should not cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits, but should contain revenue increases.
Social Security Benefits. S. 1213, S. 804: provisions requiring progressive indexing, modifying COLAs, and increasing the Social Security retirement age.
Social Security Payroll Tax Holiday Extension. (No Bill): proposals extending the payroll tax holiday beyond calendar year 2012.
Annual Social Security Statements. S. 3295: options to modify the Social Security Administrations decision suspending the production and mailing of individual Social Security Statements.
Raising the Payroll Tax Cap. S. 2252: provisions raising the amount of wages subject to payroll taxes.
Social Security Mandatory Direct Deposit. (No bill): proposals to modify the Administrations mandate that federal benefit recipients receive benefits via direct deposit.
Womens Social Security Improvements and Protections. (No bill): proposals to safeguard and improve benefit equity for women, including improving survivor benefits; providing Social Security credits for caregiving; enhancing the special minimum benefit; equalizing rules for disabled and working widows; restoring student benefits; improving benefits for disabled children; strengthening the COLA; increasing the basic benefit; and equalizing benefits for same-sex married couples.
Social Security Equality. H.R. 4609: provisions requiring Social Security Administration to recognize legal partnerships for the purposes of survivor, retirement and other benefits.
Social Security Administration Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Appointments. (No Bill): issues surrounding the impending leadership transition at the Social Security Administration.
Client expense: $350,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Natl Economic Council (NEC), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), President of the U.S., SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Treasury, Dept of, Vice President of the U.S.
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Discussed demographics and priorities for AARP members and the 50+ population in general. (no bill)
H.R.4050, Retirement Plan Simplication & Enhancement Act of 2012 - Discussed concerns regarding expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices. H.R.4348/S.1813, Surface Transportation - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act - Supported addition of provisions to Revenue Provisions section to improve protections for pension participants.
Discussion on Automatic IRA proposal to provide automatic individual retirement accounts, funded via payroll deduction, to individuals who work for an employer of a particular size and tenure that do not currently offer a retirement savings vehicle to their employees. (no bill)
Discussed Social Security COLA relief. (no bill)
H. R. 677/S. 267, Lifetime Income Disclosure Act - Submitted letter of support to the original co-sponsors of the House and Senate versions of the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act. This legislation would provide individulas with a better understanding of the lifemtime value of their 401 (k) plan assets by including in a yearly benefit statement a conversion of their total accrued benefits into a monthly dollar amount as if they had opted to receive a lifetime annuity.
H.J. Res.1/S.J. Res.4 - Discussed AARP's concerns about efforts to cutting Social Security benefits as a way of addressing the nation's current budget deficits, including the impact on Social Security of capping spending at a certain level or via balanced budget amendments.
S. 1557/H.R. 4049, the Automatic IRA Act of 2011 - Lobbied on legislation to create automatic individual retirement accounts, funded via payroll deduction, to individuals who work for an employer of a particular size and tenure that do not currently offer a retirement savings vehicle to their employees.
Discussed S. 1558, the Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act, legislation to apply payroll taxes to remuneration and earnings from self-employment up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000. Provided an informational briefing on Social Security.
S. 1876, Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act - Supported legislation to change the index used to calculate annual Social Security COLA's from the CPI-W to the CPI-E.
H. R. 539, Preserving Our Promise to Seniors Act - Discussed legislation to make changes pertaining to Social Security, including the use of a new CPI-E index for COLA's, and to provide $250 relief payments to beneficiaries.
H. R. 3630/Senate Substitute, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 - Discussed legislation containing an extension or expansion of the current temporary payroll tax holiday.
S. 1917/1944, Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 - Discussed legislation containing an extension or expansion of the current temporary payroll tax holiday.
S. 1931, Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act - Discussed legislation containing an extension or expansion of the current temporary payroll holiday.
S. 2252, the Rebuild America Act - Discussed the Social Security and Pensions portions of this wide-ranging legislation designed to "rebuild the American middle class by creating jobs, investing in our future, building opportunity for working families, and restoring balance to the tax code."
Discussed various defined benefit/defined contribution pension reform proposals (no bill).
Submitted written testimony to the Senate Banking Economic Policy Subcommittee for their March 28, 2012, hearing entitled "Retirement (in) security: Examining the Retirement Savings Deficit."
Discussed the Department of Labor's proposed new fiduciary duty regulation with key staff of the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (no bill number).
Discussed possible proposals to improve pension rights for participants and reform proposals to improve pension coverage and adequacy. ( no bill)
Briefed Congress on AARP's "You've Earned A Say"- A national conversation on the future of Social Security and Medicare with AARP members and all Amerivcans. The goal of this effort is to ensure that Americans have a say in any debate about these programs. Provides Phase1 results and Phase 2 objectives. (no bill)
Submitted a letter to the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement for thsir April 18, 2012, hearing entitled "Document Fraud in Employment Authorization: How an E-Verify Requirement Can Help". (no bill)
Discussed the 2012 Social Security Trustees Report. (no bill)
Discussed Social Security's Future Systems Technology Advisory Panel (FSTA) with House Ways and Means Committee's Social Security Subcommittee's majority staff for their May 9, 2012, hearing on "the State of Social Security's Information Technology". (no bill) Discussed with GAO the current and future challenges faced by Social Security's Representative Payee program. GAO is undertaking the study to look at the history of the program, current and future challenges to managing the program, and other potential options for managing the program. (no bill)
Discussed pending DOL regulations of summary documents for 401(k) fee disclosure. (no bill)
H.R. 4609, the Social Security Equality Act - Discussed bill which would authorize the treatment of permanent partnerships between individuals of the same gender as marriage for purposes of determining entitlement to OASDI benefits.
Letter sent to Congress expressing AARP's opposition to aditional extensions of the temporary payroll tax holiday. (no bill)
Discussed pending DOL regulations on the electronic disclosure of ERISA-covered pension plan documents and related potential or current legislation H.R. 4050, the Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act.
Discussed potential legislation regarding the Social Security Administration's process for closing field offices. (no bill)
Discussed Social Security provisions contained within the Rivlin/Domenici Bipartisan Policy Center Debt Reduction Task Force plan as it pertained to the June 19 Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled "Confronting the Looming Fiscal Crisis". (no bill)
H.R. 4050, Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act of 2012 - Discussed concerns regarding expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
Sent letter to DOL urging caution on any expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
H.R. 4348/S.1813, "MAP-21" Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act - Supported the addition of provisions to revenue provisions section to improve protections for pension participants.
S.3295, the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2013 - Lobbied to protect/increase funding for the Social Security Administration, Older Americans Act nutrition, family caregiver & supportive services programs, low income home energy assistance (LIHEAP), and to protect funding for program authorized under the Affordable Care Act, including CMS State Health insurance exchanges, state survey and demonstrations and preventive health.
H.R. 4050, the Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act - Discussed this legislation with key Hill staff, particularly around the issue of electronic disclosure of ERISA-covered pension plan documents.
Discussed Senator Harkin's July 27 report entitled "The Retirement Crisis and a Plan to Solve It," particularly regarding its recommendations for retirement system improvements in the United States. (no bill)
Discussed the Department of Labor's proposed new fiduciary duty regulation with key staff of the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration. (no bill)
Discussed with key staff of the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration the issue of electronic disclosure of ERISA-covered pension plan documents. (no bill)
Discussed with key staff of the Department of Treasury's Financial Management Service their efforts regarding the March 2013 move away from paper checks to electronic benefit payments for all Social Security beneficiaries. (no bill)
Discussed the continuing work of the Department of Treasury's Financial Management Service to move to electronic benefit payments for all Social Security beneficiaries with House Ways and Means Committee's Social Security Subcommittee's majority staff for their September 12, 2012, hearing on "the Direct Deposit of Social Security Benefits". (no bill)
Client expense: $2,720,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Bureau of the Census, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Federal Highway Administration (FHA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers. H.R. 798, H.R. 776, H.R. 456, S. 1876: provisions establishing a consumer price index for elderly consumers (CPI-E) to compute cost-of-living increases (COLA) for Social Security benefits.
Chained CPI (No bill): proposal to replace the current index used to calculate the Social Security COLA with a "chained CPI." Social Security Privatization. H.R. 2109, H.R. 2889: provisions converting Social Security to a system of private investment accounts.
Social Security Protection. S. 582, S.AMDT. 207 to S. 493: provisions removing Social Security Trust Fund receipts and disbursements from the federal budget baseline; limiting Trust Fund proceeds to OASDI purposes; prohibiting increases to the retirement age or the early retirement age; reducing cost-of-living increases; reducing benefit payment amounts; and creating private retirement accounts carved out of Social Security payroll tax revenues.
Social Insurance Protection. H.Res. 733: provisions declaring that any agreement to replace the Budget Control Act of 2011 should not cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits, but should contain revenue increases.
Social Security Benefits. S. 1213, S. 804: provisions requiring progressive indexing, modifying COLAs, and increasing the Social Security retirement age.
Social Security Payroll Tax Holiday Extension. (No Bill): proposals extending the payroll tax holiday beyond calendar year 2012.
Annual Social Security Statements. S. 3295: options to modify the Social Security Administrations decision suspending the production and mailing of individual Social Security Statements.
Raising the Payroll Tax Cap. S. 2252: provisions raising the amount of wages subject to payroll taxes.
Social Security Mandatory Direct Deposit. (No bill): proposals to modify the Administrations mandate that federal benefit recipients receive benefit via direct deposit.
Womens Social Security Improvements and Protections. (No bill): proposals to safeguard and improve benefit equity for women, including improving survivor benefits; providing Social Security credits for caregiving; enhancing the special minimum benefit; equalizing rules for disabled and working widows; restoring student benefits; improving benefits for disabled children; strengthening the COLA; increasing the basic benefit; and equalizing benefits for same-sex married couples.
Social Security Equality. H.R. 4609 : provisions requiring Social Security Administration to recognize legal partnerships for the purposes of survivor, retirement and other benefits.
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus
H.Con.Res. 34 - FY12 Budget Resolution
H.R. 3485 and S. 1910 - Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act
Tax fairness and safety nets, incl. Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, generally vs. corporate taxation and corporate welfare Aging of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Americans, especially Social Security Equality Act (H.R. 4609)
Client expense: $40,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Corporation for Natl & Community Service, Education, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, President of the U.S., SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Anti-discrimination protections, related provisions under and potential amendments to the reauthorization (H.R. 4297) of the Workforce Investment Act (Public Law No: 105-220, especially Title I, Subtitle E, Section 188), formerly the Job Training Partnership Act (Public Law No: 97-300) Campaign finance reform and congressional response to the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision (reversed Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce) incl. legislation and constitutional amendments not mentioned herein, as well as additional litigation, especially before the Supreme Court
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and its relationship to the rights and welfare of natural persons in the 2011-2012 Supreme Court term incl. National Federation of Independent Businesses v. Sebelius (11-393), HHS v. Florida, et al. (11-398), Florida v. HHS (11-400), Arizona v. US, Knox v. SEIU, and Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and its relationship to the Danielczyk case being heard by the Fourth Circuit, especially Republican National Committee briefs filed in Danielczyk
Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus
Constitutional amendments related to the Supreme Courts ruling in the Citizens United case, incl. 111th H.J.Res. 68, H.J.Res. 82, S.J.Res. 28, and S.J.Res. 36, and their reintroduction for the 112th Congress, as well as 112th H.J.Res. 8, H.J.Res. 72, H.J.Res. 78, H.J.Res. 82, H.J.Res. 86, H.J.Res. 88, H.J.Res. 90, H.J.Res. 92, H.J.Res. 97, H.J.Res. 100, H.J.Res. 111, S.J.Res. 29, S.J.Res. 33, and S.J.Res. 35, and hearings thereof
Department of Education Dear Colleague Letter Harassment and Bullying (October 26, 2010), especially Page 7 regarding Title IX: Gender-Based Harassment
Department of Education Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2011-2014, especially Goal 4: Equity: Ensure Effective Educational Opportunities for All Students Regardless of Race, Ethnicity, National Origin, Age, Sex, Disability, Language, and Socioeconomic Status.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Fair Housing Act Regulations Amendments Standards Governing Sexual Harassment Cases (65 FR 67666) and the proposal and adoption in 2012 of a final regulation regarding sexual harassment and other types of harassment, including that based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, and disability, covered by the Fair Housing Act (Public Law No: 90-284 Title VIII)
District of Columbia voucher provisions under and potential amendments to FY13 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (H.R. 6020 and S. 3301)
Ensuring local democracy for the District of Columbia, especially voucher provision mentioned herein, as well as budget autonomy through legislation incl. the District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act (H.R. 345) and the District of Columbia Local Budget Autonomy Act (S. 2345)
Executive Order 13199 Establishment of White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Executive Order 13279 Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations
Executive Order 13498 Amendments to Executive Order 13199 and Establishment of the President's Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships
Executive Order 13559 Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations
Faith-based initiatives and other government-related religion proposals generally incl. funding and grant-making practices, proselytization and employment discrimination concerns, and anti-discrimination language
Faith-based initiatives and other government-related religion proposals governed by federal anti-discrimination laws incl. the Civil Rights Act (Public Law No: 88-352 Title VII)
Faith-based initiatives and other government-related religion proposals outlined by Candidate Obama on July 1, 2008 at a speech in Zanesville, OH and those outlined by President Obama on July 22, 2011 at a town hall meeting in College Park, MD
Faith-based initiatives and other government-related religion proposals outlined by Joshua DuBois, Special Assistant to President Obama and Executive Director of The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, incl. remarks before the Pew Forum on June 11, 2009, in a conference call on September 22, 2009, and those cited by PBS Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly on May 28, 2010 and August 12, 2011
Federally funded private school voucher programs, especially relating to House Education & the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, May 16, 2012, Exploring State Success in Expanding Parent and Student Options"
H.R. 1048 and S. 540 Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act
H.R. 1076 To prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content H.R. 1397 and S. 811 Employment Non-Discrimination Act
H.R. 1681 and S. 1770 Every Child Deserves a Family Act
H.R. 3485 and S. 1910 Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act
H.R. 3541 Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA)
H.R. 4010 and S. 2219/3369 Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act
H.R. 4970 Rules Cmte Amdt 1 Religious Discrimination Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
H.R. 5326 Amdt 1087 Profiling FY13 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations (also Amdt draft prior to introduction)
H.R. 5855 Amdt 1259 Profiling FY13 Homeland Security Appropriations
Hearings on Muslim radicalization in America conducted by the House Committee on Homeland Security
Holding of Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress in the matter of information requested by Congress of him and the Department of Justice regarding the Fast and Furious program, especially politicization of this pursuit; involvement of Speaker John Boehner and Chairman Darrell Issa; June 7, 2012 hearing mentioned herein; oversight conducted and report recommended (June 20, 2012) by the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform; and debate and vote on H.Res. 711
House Judiciary Committee, June 7, 2012, Oversight of the United States Department of Justice
House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, November 18, 2010, Faith-Based Initiatives: Recommendations of the Presidents Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Community Partnerships and Other Current Issues
House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, October 26, 2011, "The State of Religious Liberty in the United States"
Implementing the recommendations of the Presidents Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, as contained in "A New Era of Partnerships: Report of Recommendations to the President," March 2010
Implementing the recommendations of the Interagency Working Group on Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Partnerships, as contained in "Recommendations of the Interagency Working Group on Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Partnerships," April 2012
Marriage equality and litigation challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (Public Law No: 104-99), especially congressional action taken in Windsor v. United States, Pedersen et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al., Gill et al. v. Office of Personnel Management et al., and Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, also filing of Blesch et al. v. Holder
Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1519 and S. 797/3220 incl. as they relate to Ordering the Previous Question on H.Res. 667)
Public Law No: 103-141 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (per Department of Justice: Office of Legal Counsel memo, June 29, 2007)
Repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (Public Law No: 104-99) through the Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 1116 and S. 598)
Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 1648 and S. 506) and its inclusion in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (Public Law No: 107-110) and the underlying Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Public Law 89-10)
School safety and anti-bullying/harassment prevention programs generally incl. Administration-proposed initiatives (incl. March 2011 White House Conference on Bullying and June 2011 Federal LGBT Youth Summit) and enumerated anti-bullying provisions under and amendments to the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (Public Law No: 107-110) and the underlying Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Public Law 89-10)
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, April 17, 2012, Ending Racial Profiling in America
Student Nondiscrimination Act (H.R. 998 and S. 555) and its inclusion in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) (Public Law No: 107-110) and the underlying Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Public Law 89-10), as well as its inclusion in the reauthorization (H.R. 4970 and S. 1925) of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (Public Law No: 103-322, Title IV)
H.R. 2517 and S. 1360 Shareholder Protection Act
Public Law No: 107-155 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (especially as it relates to FECA Section 441b)
Public Law No: 92-225 Federal Election Campaign Act (see especially Section 441b)
Attorney General's Advisory Committee, Civil Rights Subcommittee, May 24, 2012 Convening incl. Voting Rights, Immigration, Hate Crimes, Fair Sentencing, Community Re-Entry From Prison, Disability Rights, and Foreclosures People For the American Way, "The War on Women: How the War on Women Became Mainstream: Turning Back the Clock in Tea Party America," April 13 and April 16, 2012, incl. Birth Control, Contraception Coverage, Choice, Violence Against Women Act, Single Mothers and Working Women, and Equal Pay
Marriage equality and President Obama's May 9, 2012 announcement, announcement itself and its following on the May 8, 2012 vote on North Carolina Amendment One
Aging of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Americans, especially Social Security Equality Act (H.R. 4609)
Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) (H.R. 1537 and S. 821), its inclusion in the Reuniting Families Act (incl. H.R. 1796, Title II), and its inclusion in comprehensive immigration reform (incl. S. 1258, Title II, Subtitle C, Part II, Chapter 2)
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers. H.R. 798, H.R. 1086, H.R. 776, H.R. 539, H.R. 456, S. 1876, S. 2037, S. 2252: provisions establishing a consumer price index for elderly consumers (CPI-E) to compute cost-of-living increases for Social Security and Medicare benefits and authorizing a cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients. Chained CPI (No bill): proposal to replace the current index used to calculate the Social Security COLA with a chained CPI.
Social Security Privatization. H.R. 2109, H.R. 2889: provisions converting Social Security to a system of private investment accounts.
Social Security Protection. H.R. 1118, H.R. 796, H.R. 1630, S. 582, S.AMDT. 207 to S. 493: provisions removing Social Security Trust Fund receipts and disbursements from the federal budget baseline; limiting Trust Fund proceeds to OASDI purposes; prohibiting increases to the retirement age or the early retirement age, reductions in cost-of-living increases, reductions of benefit payment amounts, or the creation of private retirement accounts carved out of Social Security.
Social Security Benefits. S. 1213, S. 804: provisions requiring progressive indexing or modifying cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to one percent below the Consumer Price Index and implementing longevity indexing (i.e., raising the retirement age) of Social Security old-age insurance benefits and increasing the Social Security retirement age.
Social Security Payroll Tax Holiday. (No bill): proposals to extend the payroll tax holiday beyond Calendar Year 2012.
Annual Social Security Statements. S. 3295: options to modify the Social Security Administrations decision suspending the production and mailing of individual Social Security Statements.
Social Security direct deposit requirement. (No bill): proposals whereby beneficiaries with disabilities could apply for waivers to the new direct deposit requirement.
Raising the Payroll Tax Cap. S. 2252: provisions raising the amount of wages subject to payroll taxes.
Mandatory Direct Deposit. (No bill): options to modify the Administration mandate that federal benefit recipients collect there monthly benefit via direct deposit.
Womens Social Security Improvements and Protections. (No bill): proposals to improve benefit equity and benefit safeguards for women, including improving survivor benefits; providing Social Security credits for caregiving; enhancing the special minimum benefit; equalizing rules for disabled and working widows; restoring student benefits; improving benefits for disabled children; strengthening the COLA; increasing the basic benefit; and equalizing benefits for same-sex married couples.
Equal Benefits for Same-Sex Married Couples and Partners. H.R. 4609: provisions authorizing the treatment of permanent partnerships between individuals of the same gender as marriage for purposes of determining entitlement to Social Security benefits.
Cited source text, amounts, lobbyists, and targets
Discussed demographics and priorities for AARP members and the 50+ population in general. (no bill)
H.R.4050, Retirement Plan Simplication & Enhancement Act of 2012 - Discussed concerns regarding expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices. Sent letter to DOL urging caution on any expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
H.R.4348/S.1813, Surface Transportation - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act - Supported addition of provisions to Revenue Provisions section to improve protections for pension participants.
Discussion on Automatic IRA proposal to provide automatic individual retirement accounts, funded via payroll deduction, to individuals who work for an employer of a particular size and tenure that do not currently offer a retirement savings vehicle to their employees. (no bill)
Discussed Social Security COLA relief. (no bill)
H. R. 677/S. 267, Lifetime Income Disclosure Act - Submitted letter of support to the original co-sponsors of the House and Senate versions of the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act. This legislation would provide individulas with a better understanding of the lifemtime value of their 401 (k) plan assets by including in a yearly benefit statement a conversion of their total accrued benefits into a monthly dollar amount as if they had opted to receive a lifetime annuity.
H.J. Res.1/S.J. Res.4 - Discussed AARP's concerns about efforts to cutting Social Security benefits as a way of addressing the nation's current budget deficits, including the impact on Social Security of capping spending at a certain level or via balanced budget amendments.
S. 1557/H.R. 4049, the Automatic IRA Act of 2011 - Lobbied on legislation to create automatic individual retirement accounts, funded via payroll deduction, to individuals who work for an employer of a particular size and tenure that do not currently offer a retirement savings vehicle to their employees.
Discussed S. 1558, the Keeping Our Social Security Promises Act, legislation to apply payroll taxes to remuneration and earnings from self-employment up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000. Provided an informational briefing on Social Security.
S. 1876, Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act - Supported legislation to change the index used to calculate annual Social Security COLA's from the CPI-W to the CPI-E.
H. R. 539, Preserving Our Promise to Seniors Act - Discussed legislation to make changes pertaining to Social Security, including the use of a new CPI-E index for COLA's, and to provide $250 relief payments to beneficiaries.
H. R. 3630/Senate Substitute, Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011 - Discussed legislation containing an extension or expansion of the current temporary payroll tax holiday.
S. 1917/1944, Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 - Discussed legislation containing an extension or expansion of the current temporary payroll tax holiday.
S. 1931, Temporary Tax Holiday and Government Reduction Act - Discussed legislation containing an extension or expansion of the current temporary payroll holiday.
S. 2252, the Rebuild America Act - Discussed the Social Security and Pensions portions of this wide-ranging legislation designed to "rebuild the American middle class by creating jobs, investing in our future, building opportunity for working families, and restoring balance to the tax code."
Discussed various defined benefit/defined contribution pension reform proposals (no bill).
Submitted written testimony to the Senate Banking Economic Policy Subcommittee for their March 28, 2012, hearing entitled "Retirement (in) security: Examining the Retirement Savings Deficit."
Discussed the Department of Labor's proposed new fiduciary duty regulation with key staff of the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (no bill number).
Discussed possible proposals to improve pension rights for participants and reform proposals to improve pension coverage and adequacy. ( no bill)
Lobbied Congress on AARP's "You've Earned A Say"- A national conversation on the future of Social Security and Medicare with AARP members and all Amerivcans. The goal of this effort is to ensure that Americans have a say in any debate about these programs. Provides Phase1 results and Phase 2 objectives. (no bill)
Submitted a letter to the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement for thsir April 18, 2012, hearing entitled "Document Fraud in Employment Authorization: How an E-Verify Requirement Can Help". (no bill)
Discussed the 2012 Social Security Trustees Report. (no bill)
Discussed Social Security's Future Systems Technology Advisory Panel (FSTA) with House Ways and Means Committee's Social Security Subcommittee's majority staff for their May 9, 2012, hearing on "the State of Social Security's Information Technology". (no bill) Discussed with GAO the current and future challenges faced by Social Security's Representative Payee program. GAO is undertaking the study to look at the history of the program, current and future challenges to managing the program, and other potential options for managing the program. (no bill)
Discussed pending DOL regulations of summary documents for 401(k) fee disclosure. (no bill)
H.R. 4609, the Social Security Equality Act - Discussed bill which would authorize the treatment of permanent partnerships between individuals of the same gender as marriage for purposes of determining entitlement to OASDI benefits.
Letter sent to Congress expressing AARP's opposition to aditional extensions of the temporary payroll tax holiday. (no bill)
Discussed pending DOL regulations on the electronic disclosure of ERISA-covered pension plan documents and related potential or current legislation H.R. 4050, the Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act.
Discussed potential legislation regarding the Social Security Administration's process for closing field offices. (no bill)
Discussed Social Security provisions contained within the Rivlin/Domenici Bipartisan Policy Center Debt Reduction Task Force plan as it pertained to the June 19 Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled "Confronting the Looming Fiscal Crisis". (no bill)
H.R. 4050, Retirement Plan Simplification and Enhancement Act of 2012 - Discussed concerns regarding expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
Sent letter to DOL urging caution on any expansion of electronic disclosures of pension documents and notices.
H.R. 4348/S.1813, "MAP-21" Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act - Supported the addition of provisions to revenue provisions section to improve protections for pension participants.
S.3295, the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill for FY 2013 - Lobbied to protect/increase funding for the Social Security Administration, Older Americans Act nutrition, family caregiver & supportive services programs, low income home energy assistance (LIHEAP), and to protect funding for program authorized under the Affordable Care Act, including CMS State Health insurance exchanges, state survey and demonstrations and preventive health.
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Employment & Training Administration, Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Vice President of the U.S.
Client expense: $40,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Corporation for Natl & Community Service, Education, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, President of the U.S., SENATE, Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office
Client expense: $350,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Employment & Training Administration, Executive Office of the President (EOP), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Vice President of the U.S.
Client expense: $2,740,000 · Firm income: Not reported
Government targets: Administration on Aging, Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Bureau of the Census, Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Energy, Dept of, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Federal Highway Administration (FHA), Federal Reserve System, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Justice, Dept of (DOJ), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), Natl Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, White House Office