AARPCO Volunteers Conduct Virtual Lobby Visits

AARP Colorado’s Volunteer Advocates Congressional Liaison team took the lead in AARP’s national Virtual Lobby Day, which to date has generated more than 260 meetings with Members of Congress and/or key members of their legislative staffs in Washington D.C. and throughout the country.

The topics addressed were mostly related to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and focused on three key areas:

1.) Asking for Congressional help in mitigating the disproportionate and, in many places, tragic impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes and other residential care facilities.
2.) Support for SNAP, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, during this time of increasing food insecurity.
3.) Support for state and local governments which provide so many of the services we rely upon every day. Decreasing revenues from sales and use tax and other sources have caused layoffs, furloughs and threaten dramatic cuts in services to older adults and indeed all residents.

AARP Colorado’s volunteer advocate chair Mary Fries spoke with the principal healthcare legislative aides in Washington D.C. for both Colorado Senators Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet. The three AARP priorities listed above were discussed. Fries urged support for two pieces of legislation: S. 3517, which would provide support for virtual visitation options at nursing homes around the country; and S. 1443, the Credit for Caring Act.

Fries also thanked the senators for their support of Colorado’s Critical Access Hospitals and Rural health care clinics, which are all badly needed right now.

AARP Colorado’s Congressional District 2 volunteer congressional liaison Leslie Kalechman of Boulder spoke with Represtative Joe Neguse and his legislative aide Katie Wallace. Their conversation focused on the three priorities above. Among other general comments of support, Rep. Neguse reiterated his strong support for the 2019 Credit for Caring Act.

AARP Colorado volunteer state president Jean Nofles spoke with the staff of Congressional District 6 Rep. Jason Crow. They reinforced the Congressman’s work in trying to close so many of the gaps brought on by the pandemic, with particular attention to the crisis at nursing homes. In addition, Rep. Crow is particularly concerned about the financial status of the U.S. Postal Service, and will be looking for ways to support it, especially in light of upcoming November elections, which are conducted by mail in Colorado.

In addition, AARP Colorado volunteer advocate Rita Fitzpatrick of Colorado Springs had a conversation with the new district director of the office of Congressional District 5 Rep. Doug Lamborn, during which she stressed AARP’s top priorities.