Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014

Signed on to a letter to President Obama urging him to address in his 2016 budget proposal the impending cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance benefits due to the projected depletion of the reserve funds. Supported the CHAMPVA Childrens Protection Act (H.R. 288/S. 325). This legislation increases from 23 to 26 the maximum age of eligibility for certain dependent children of veterans for medical care under CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs). Discussed improvements to HR 4090, the Social Security Fraud and Error Prevention Act of 2014 and HR 5260, the Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014. Supports providing improved guidance around notification on Medicare eligibility to individuals not yet collecting Social Security benefits. Supports Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, HR 647/S. 313. Continue to advocate for improvements to the law.

Client expense: Not reported · Firm income: $75,000

Government targets: Defense, Dept of (DOD), Education, Dept of, Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Health & Human Services, Dept of (HHS), Housing & Urban Development, Dept of (HUD), Labor, Dept of (DOL), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), SENATE, Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Discussed demographics and priorities for AARP members and the 50+ population in general. (no bill) Discussed with lawmakers & the Administration to keep Social Security separate from all budget negotiations/deficit reduction measures and opposed proposals for a "Chained CPI"Discussed the Department of Labor's intent to propose new fiduciary duty regulation with Congressional staff. 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. Lobbied against cuts to Social Security benefits via the adoption of chained CPI to calculate annual cost of living adjustments for Social Security and Veterans benefits, among others. (no bill) S.500, the Keeping Our Social Security Promise Act - Discussed legislation to apply payroll taxes to employment and self-employment taxes to remuneration up to the contribution and benefit base and to remuneration in excess of $250,000. S. 308, the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act - Discussed legislation to implement the CPI-E for annual Social Security COLA's and to eliminate the cap on maximum taxable wages under Social Security. S.567, the Strengthening Social Security Act - Discussed legislation to implement the CPI-E for annual Social Security COLA's and to eliminate the cap on maximum taxable wages under Social Security. Discussed current and future challenges of Social Security's Representative Payee program. (no bill) Discussed pending DOL regulations of summary documents for 401(k) fee disclosure. (no bill) ERISA fiduciary protections to safeguard the savings of worker investments in retirement accounts. H. R. 1601, the SSI Restoration Act - Signed on to Leadership Council of Aging Organization's (LCAO) endorsement letter on legislation to update aspects of the Supplemental Security Income Program. Lobbied to prevent the inclusion of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefit cuts in any package pertaining to the continuing resolution or the debt ceiling. Discussed retirement bills in draft with multiple staffers. (no bill) Discussed legislation to improve SSA administrative services. (no bill) Letter to Congress and White House staff on the need to update definition of "fiduciary" under ERISA. (no bill) Discussed spousal pension protections. (no bill) Multiemployer Pension Reform Act - Opposed provision granting authority to distressed multiemployer plans to cut accrued pension benefits. (no bill until H.R. 83)H.R. 2229, the Safeguarding Social Security Numbers Act of 2013 - Discussed legislation with Hill staff to establish a universal standard for the truncation of Social Security Numbers to prevent identity theft and fraud. H.R. 2171/S. 1145, the Lifetime Income Disclosure Act - Support for bipartisan legislation to express on annual 401(k) benefit statements the approximate annuity value of the lump sum value of the account. Discussed potential AARP comments to the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration's Announcement of Proposed Rulemaking on lifetime income illustrations given to participants in defined contribution pension plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. (no bill) Discussed with officials from DOL Employee Benefits Security Administration the planned re-proposal of regulations to update the definition of a fiduciary for ERISA covered pension plans. (no bill) H.R. 2374, the Retail Investor Protection Act - Expressed opposition to H.R. 2374 to delay the DOL's planned re-proposal of regulations to update the definition of a fiduciary for ERISA covered pension plans until 60 days after the potential release of similar regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission. H.R. 2154, the CPI for Seniors Act of 2013 - Discussed legislation to implement a Consumer Price Index for Seniors for calculating annual Social Security cost of living adjustments. Lobbied to prevent inclusion of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefit cuts and protect vital health, social services, housing and transportation programs in any Deficit Reduction proposals and from enhanced redutions under sequestration. (no bill) H.R. 2374, Labor, HHS and Related Agencies Appropriations bill 2015 - Letter and lobbying in opposition to this bill that would delay or prevent a DOL proposed rulemaking on Fiduciary Duty. Conducted briefings in both House and Senate. Met with DOL officials to urge reissuance of a proposed rule to update fiduciary duty as it applies to ERISA. (no bill) Sent letter to Congress to urge the House and Senate to take steps to avoid default on our national debt and avoid risking benefits for current Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Sent letter to White House to urging the President to take steps with Congress to avoid default on our national debt and avoid risking benefits for current Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries. (no bill) Lobbied to prevent the inclusion of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid cuts for the purpose of achieving deficit reduction, a budget agreement, or as a tradeoff for scheduled sequestration cuts or other government spending. (no bill) Submitted testimony to Finance Committee for hearing on December 18th on Social Security. Discussed draft Social Security legislation with several Congressional staffers. (no bill) S. 1979, the USA Retirement Funds Act - Lobbied for additional protections to ensure older workers and retirees pension benefits are fully protected. S. 1970, the Retirement Security Act - Lobbied for additional protections for lower income and other workers to ensure that promised benefits are equitably provided. Sent letter of qualified support. S. 2089, the SSI Restoration Act - AARP considered the need to update and index SSI benefits for inflation. Met with Department of Treasury on pending retirement initiatives. Met with NEC staff on retirement issues. Met with DOL on retirement issues. Met with Administration staff to discuss issuance of proposed rules on Fiduciary duty. Letter to SEC demonstrating the harm from maintaining the suitability standard as opposed to imposing a fiduciary duty on broker/dealers to investors. (no bill) Discussed the need for fiduciary duty and user fees to fund the examination of registered investment advisors. (no bill) Letter to SEC in support of efforts to improve marketing and advertising of target date funds.Sent letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee in support of rebalancing funding to ensure timely payment of SSDI benefits. S. 2742, Social Security Access Act of 2014 - Sent a letter of support. H.R. 5260, Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014 - Discussed SSDI legislation. Discussed problems related to the "de-risking" of defined benefit pension plans. Submitted comments to the Department of Labor and related agencies on retirement topics including lifetime income and target date retirement funds.

Client expense: $2,180,000 · 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), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Energy, Dept of, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Executive Office of the President (EOP), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 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), Natl Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), SENATE, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Social Security Administration (SSA), Transportation, Dept of (DOT), Treasury, Dept of, Veterans Affairs, Dept of (VA), White House Office

Financial regulatory reform issues including implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act H.R. 466 - Social Security Death Master File Privacy Act of 2013 - all provisions H.J. Res. 59 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 - Social Security Death Master File Provisions H.R.776 - Security in Bonding Act of 2014 S. 2102- A bill to clarify the application of certain leverage and risk-based requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act S. 2270- Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014 H.R. 4510- Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014 H.R. 5461- To clarify the application of certain leverage and risk-based requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, to improve upon the definitions provided for points and fees in connection with a mortgage transaction, and for other purposes. H.R. 5260- Stop Disability Fraud Act of 2014 H.R. 647- ABLE Act of 2014

Client expense: $370,000 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, Treasury, Dept of