AARP Maryland Key Vote News Alert

AARP Praises House Passage of Health Care Reform Bill

Critical legislation would strengthen Medicare, improve coverage for all
Americans

BALTIMORE, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SUMMARY: Tonight the United
States House of Representatives passed critical health care reform legislation
that would strengthen Medicare for seniors and end discrimination by insurance
companies that prices millions of Americans out of affordable health coverage.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) makes prescription
drugs more affordable for seniors by closing the dangerous gap in Medicare
drug coverage and allowing the program to negotiate lower drug prices. It adds
cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste
and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits. In
addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with
disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the
Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.

For all Americans -- especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find
affordable insurance -- this plan strictly limits how much more insurance
companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage
based on a person's health history or gender. For those who still cannot find
affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase
insurance.

MARYLAND VOTED YES ON THE VOTED NO ON THE
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
FOR AMERICA ACT FOR AMERICA ACT
-------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Kratovil, Frank X
Ruppersberger, Dutch X
Sarbanes, John X
Edwards, Donna X
Hoyer, Steny X
Bartlett, Roscoe X
Cummings, Elijah X
Van Hollen, Chris X

How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating his or her
legislative performance, which should also include such things as constituency
services and committee work.

"We applaud those members of the House who supported this historic
legislation," said AARP Maryland Interim State Director Tiffany Lundquist.
"This bill will help hundreds of thousands of older Marylanders get the health
coverage they need, while strengthening Medicare for today's seniors and
future generations. We look forward to working with these lawmakers to pass
the Affordable Health Care for America Act this year."

"It's disappointing that some lawmakers voted against this bill and the
opportunity to fix our health care system," Lundquist added. "When millions of
older Americans are struggling to afford quality insurance and millions of
seniors must choose between their prescriptions and other necessities, we know
this legislation must move forward. We hope they will reconsider their votes
when a health care bill returns to the House for final approval."

AARP notified the 111th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key
legislation important to its nearly 40 million members and reporting the
outcomes of these votes back to its members.

AARP members can see how their representatives voted on health care reform by
going to www.aarp.org/governmentwatch. AARP's Government Watch is a one-stop
online portal that will be tracking and publicizing every designated key vote
on issues facing Americans age 50-plus. A "Key Vote Summary" highlighting
votes on these issues will be published at the end of each congressional
session.

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 35.5 million
readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's nearly 40 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 Maryland

Tiffany Lundquist of AARP Maryland, +1-410-869-2204 cell, or
tlundquist@aarp.org