NRTA/AARP

NRTA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
February 25, 2009

     
AARP Launches New Accountability Website: Government Watch
Government Watch is a one-stop, online portal that helps AARP’s 40 million members hold their elected officials accountable for the way they vote on the issues of greatest importance to Americans age 50+.  Government Watch went "live" at AARP.org after the final vote on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  AARP staff is working directly with senators and their staffs on Capitol Hill to strengthen the economic recovery legislation. AARP and NRTA are reaching out to their activists via e-mail and asking them to encourage their senators to move quickly to pass a bill that includes improving a provision that would help protect home and community-based care services and to provide seniors who no longer work with sorely needed additional economic relief.

The new Government Watch site is a response to AARP members’ requests for more transparency in government—their desire to know how their senators and representatives are voting on key issues and what the Obama Administration is doing to advance critical priorities.

The new site tracks Congressional voting records on issues vital to members, and provides AARP/NRTA members with a simple way to offer feedback to their elected officials about their votes. At the end of each congressional session, AARP will release a Key Vote Summary that will be posted on Government Watch.

In addition, Government Watch provides other resources including AARP Issue Briefs, One Minute Guides that describe priority bills (which are the basis for AARP’s Key Votes) and state fact sheets with data that underscore why it’s necessary to invest in health care reform and financial security measures.
           
How You Can Get Involved:  Please consider sharing the Government Watch website with your family, friends and REA members.  Take a moment to visit Government Watch at http://www.aarp.org/makeadifference/advocacy/GovernmentWatch.html/ for more information. 

AARP Launches DTV Help Line as Stations Begin Digital Conversion
Despite an AARP-backed extension of the transition to all-digital television to June 12, more than 400 television stations notified the FCC earlier this month of their plans to terminate analog broadcasting on the original Feb. 17 transition date. 

Currently, the cities losing analog broadcasting by at least three national networks are Burlington, VT; La Crosse, WI; Providence, RI; Rockford, IL; Sioux City, IA; and Waco, TX.  Among these cities, only Sioux City will lose analog signals for all four national networks. Other television stations are expected to follow, and AARP has established a Call Center dedicated solely to questions about the switch to DTV. There are an estimated 6.5 million households – many of whom are older residents – that are unprepared for the change.

AARP received a contract from the FCC for a Call Center dedicated solely to answering questions about the switch to DTV.  The center is now taking calls at the following times and at the toll-free number referenced:
ü      Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST
ü      1-877-698-8068
ü      The Call Center will be open through March 31, 2009

AARP Call Center representatives at that number above can provide answers to a wide range of inquiries, including questions about installing the converter boxes.  Those seeking information should call the dedicated number, and not the general AARP Call Center number.