Resolutions
The Alliance for Retired Americans policy agenda is set during quadrennial meetings of its membership and our board. Since 2001, they have adopted resolutions on important issues for older Americans and their families. These Resolutions include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, prescription drugs, housing, retiree health care, long-term care and pension and savings protections, among others.
2022
Improving Social Security Benefits Supports the Social Security 2100 Act, Social Security Expansion Act, and the Social Security Fairness Act, to increase benefits for all beneficiaries, enhance solvency, expand Social Security, and scrap the cap on earnings subject to Social Security.
Eliminating the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision Supports the Social Security Fairness Act and Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust Act, which would repeal WEP/GPO.
Medicare Prescription Drug Negotiations Urges Congress to repeal the prohibition of Medicare negotiating prescription drug prices and to require the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies
Strengthening Traditional Medicare Supports a strengthened traditional Medicare program and calls for a Department of Health and Human Services investigation into Medicare Advantage
Income Inequality Opposes reductions in tax rates for the wealthiest Americans and corporations and urges Congress to repeal the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
The Right to Vote Supports reducing burdens like ID requirements that make it hard to vote, and calls for the expansion of early voting, vote-by-mail, same day voter registration, the availability of ballots for disabled and visually impaired Americans, absentee voting, and secure ballot drop boxes.
Protect the Right to Organize (PRO) Act Endorses the PRO Act and urges Congress to pass it swiftly to protect workers’ right to organize
Pension and Retirement Savings Protections Applauds the passage of the Butch Lewis Act and urges Congress to revise corporate bankruptcy laws so pensions are protected.
Opposition to Misnomered “Rescue America Plan” Opposes Sen. Rick Scott’s “Rescue America Plan,” which would sunset Medicare and Social Security in five years, and urges Congress to reject the plan
Honoring Richard Trumka Mourns the loss of Richard Trumka, who served as AFL-CIO President from 2009 to 2021, and resolves that the Alliance will continue to work toward his vision of economic and social justice
Honoring John J. Sweeney Mourns the loss of John J. Sweeney, who served as AFL-CIO President from 1995 to 2009, and resolves to continue his vision of retiree activism
Honoring Ruben Burks Mourns the loss of Alliance Founding Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks and celebrates his achievements
Honoring George Kourpias Mourns the loss of Alliance Founding President George Kourpias and pledges to continue to ensure that the Alliance serves as a strong voice for retirees
Thanking Jo Etta Brown Recognizes and thanks Jo Etta Brown for her contributions and service as the Alliance’s Executive Vice President
Protecting Federal Employees: The Federal Government as a model for providing workers a secure retirement. Supports the passage of the Equal COLA Act, First Responder Fair RETIRE Act, adoption of the CPI-E for COLA calculation, and more funding for Social Security Administration operations
2018
Social Security Field Office Closings and Service Cuts Supports legislation that puts a moratorium on field office closings and SSA cuts, sets the funding for administrative expenses at 1.5 percent of benefits, and expands resources and staffing for field offices
Medicare for All Advocates for Medicare for All and supports taking steps to implement a single-payer health care system that provides universal coverage
Opposing the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision Opposes the GPO and WEP provisions of the Social Security Act and supports legislation to repeal them
Accessibility and Infrastructure Reaffirms support for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 and adopts universal design as a guiding principle for the Alliance
Furtherance of Racial Justice and Human Equality Supports forming a working racial and social justice group with support from the AFL-CIO and other allies from the community
2014
Against Corporate Attacks on Post-Retirement Healthcare Urges corporations to stop attacks on post-retirement health care, meet obligations to retired workers, and support health care for all
Ensuring Retirement Security in America Supports defined benefit pension plans and efforts to improve the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs
Honoring Ed Coyle Thanks founding Alliance Executive Director Ed Coyle for his lifelong leadership and wishes him the best in retirement
Honoring Judy Cato Congratulates retiring Alliance Executive Vice President Judy Cato and thanks her for her many years of service
Improving Social Security Benefits Supports the Strengthening Social Security Act and urges Members of Congress to co-sponsor the legislation and secure its passage
In Favor of Enacting Postal Banking Urges the US Postal Service to expand banking access for undeserved populations by offering basic banking services
Income Inequality Opposes tax reductions for corporations and the wealthiest Americans, calls for Wall Street to pay its fair share in taxes, and supports collective bargaining
Medicare Turns 50 Recognizes the 50th anniversary of Medicare and announces a national campaign to educate Americans on the merits and successes of the Medicare program
Mobilizing Seniors for the 2014 Election Commits the national Alliance and state affiliates to mobilize members for the fall election and distribute materials explaining what is at stake
New Equal Dignified Access for All Recognizes the hardships of disabled Americans and urges Congress to support measures to place power doors in Post Offices and other federal buildings
Older Americans Month Recognizes May as “Older Americans Month” and urges Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act
Opposing the Agenda of the American Legislative Exchange Council- ALEC Opposes ALEC’s agenda and supports a campaign to inform the public about ALEC and ALEC-linked politicians
Opposing the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision Opposes the GPO and WEP provisions of the Social Security Act and supports legislation to repeal them
Save Senior Corp Urges Congress to reject proposals in the Administration’s 2015 budget to dismantle senior corps programs and cut senior corps funding
Social Security Field Office Closings and Service Cuts Supports legislation to place a moratorium on SSA field office closings and calls for pursuing efforts to restore SSA service delivery
Support for Preserving the Senior Community Service Employment Program Urges Congress to preserve SCSEP by reauthorizing the Older Americans Act and restoring funding levels
2013
Social Security Supports maintaining a strong and vibrant Social Security program, and opposes harmful proposals including Chained CPI.
Retirement Security Proposes the establishment of a more effecitve retirement system through strengthening pensions and Social Security
Medicare Opposes cost shifting and means testing, supports an expanded Medicare program, and urges that Medicare Part D be provided by the traditional Medicare system
Medicaid Supports the Affordable Care Act’s Expansion of Medicaid and opposes mandatory spending or funding caps
Older Americans Act Urges Congress to reauthorize the OAA with sufficient funding to reflect inflation and population growth
Diversity Committee Establishes a permanent Diversity Committee of the Alliance for Retired Americans
2010
National Conference Resolutions From employment non-discrimination to preventing elder abuse, the Alliance addressed a variety of social issues at its 2010 Conference.
Senate Majority Rule Urges the U.S. Senate to use filibusters only on extraordinary occasions, abolish anonymous holds, and allow a lower threshold to invoke cloture.
2008
Holding Down Energy Costs States that rising energy costs place a disproportionate burden on older Americans with fixed incomes, and urges Congress to enact legislation on a number of issues in order to lower energy prices.
Second Economic Stimulus The Alliance supports an increase in the FMAP and emergency funding for the OAA, and calls upon Congress to enact a second stimulus package.
2007
Long Term Care Proposes a social insurance model for a long-term care system and supports increased funding for the Family Caregiver Support Program.
Affordable Housing and Services for Older Americans Supports an increase in construction of senior housing with supportive services in order to meet the varied needs of seniors’ households.
2006
Health Care
Medicare Supports a strengthened Medicare system that benefits both providers and beneficiaries and opposes any undermining of the program by turning it over to insurance companies.
Medicare Part D Urges that Part D be provided through, and administrated by, the traditional Medicare system, and supports the negotiation of drug prices by Medicare.
Medicaid Opposes changes in the current Medicare system and supports the continuation of guaranteed access to services for all those qualified.
National Health Care Supports a universal health care system in the United States.
Social Security Supports strengthening and improving the Social Security system, and opposes any increase in retirement age or erosion of benefits.
Economic Security
Health Care Price Transparency Supports the publicizing of prices charged by providers for health care services both online and by mail.
Electronic Medical Records Urges Congress to enact legislation that would create a nationwide electronic medical records system.
Supplemental Security Income Supports policies that modernize the Supplemental Security Income program, such as increasing the federal benefit standard and staffing.
Pensions and Retirement Savings Protections Urges Congress to enact protections for retirees against scams and illegal practices, and to provide law enforcement agencies the funding to protect seniors from wrongful practices.
U.S. Budget and Tax Policy Supports tax and budget policies that restore fiscal discipline and balance, and opposes making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
Community Services
Older Americans Act Urges Congress to draft reauthorization legislation and pass this legislation in 2006, as well as provide appropriate funding levels that reflect inflation and population growth.
Workers’ Right To Organize
Workers’ Right To Organize Supports passage of bipartisan legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act and any efforts to protect workers from federal workplace rules that undermine collective bargaining agreements.
