North Carolina 2009 Key Votes and Legislative Summary AARP Advocacy
North Carolina 2009 Key Votes and Legislative Summary --AARP Advocacy
AARP supported a Yes vote on the amendment.
2009 Key Vote Summary North Carolina
Senate Votes br
Bill Number H.R. 1 S. 277 S. 1776 S. AMDT 2793 S. AMDT 3156 MGRS AMDT AARP Position Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Sen. Burr No Yes No No Yes No Sen. Kagan Yes Yes Yes No Yes YesH.R. 1 – Economic Recovery
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 About the Legislation: The bill, sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, contains provisions that will provide relief for those hardest hit by the economic crisis, lay the foundation for improving health care and building stronger communities, and jump-start our economy. The bill includes: a $250 economic recovery payment that will help nearly 57 million retirees, veterans, and individuals with disabilities; an extension of unemployment benefits and health care for those who have lost their jobs; help for struggling homeowners; an increase in funding for the Social Security Administration to address the disability claims backlog; funding to make homes more energy efficient; and changes to improve our health care system, including health information technology, added research funding, and nurse and primary care training. AARP supported a YES vote on this legislationS. 277 – Volunteerism
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act About the Legislation: The bill, sponsored by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities to address pressing national, state, and local needs. It will encompass a broad array of critical service arenas, including social services, the environment, health, caregiving, nurturing, mentoring, intergenerational solutions, education, and economic and community development. And, the bill will improve older American’s opportunity to apply a lifetime of skills to fulfilling the needs of millions of struggling Americans. AARP supported a Yes vote on this legislationS. 1776 – Protects Access to Doctors
Medicare Physician Fairness Act About the Legislation: The bill, sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MA), would have repealed the existing system used to pay Medicare doctors – under which physicians will receive a 21.5 percent cut in payment rates in 2010. AARP supported this bill because it would have preserved Medicare patients’ access to their doctors, ensured doctors would continue to take Medicare patients and protect the doctor-patient relationship. AARP supported a Yes vote on this legislation.S.AMDT 2793 – Rx Drug Importation
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act About the Amendment: The amendment, sponsored by Sens. Dorgan (D-N.D.), Snowe (R-ME), McCain (R-AZ.), Grassley (R-IA), and Stabenow (D-MI), would have allowed for the safe and legal importation of lower-priced prescription drugs from abroad. The amendment would have legalized the importation of FDA-approved medications from certain countries beginning with Canada, imposed strict safety standards to prevent drug counterfeiting, and included important provisions to prevent potential trade obstructions. Unfortunately, since 60 were needed for passage, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 51-49. AARP supported a YES vote on this legislation.S.AMDT 3156 – Prevents Rx Importation
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act About the Amendment: The amendment, sponsored by Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ), Carper (D-DE) and Menendez (D-NJ) was put forward as an alternative importation amendment that would in reality have prevented importation -- it would have given the government unnecessary discretion to block the importation of safe, lower cost prescription drugs, despite the fact that strong safety provisions were already built into amendment #2793. Excessive certification requirements would have preserved the status quo and prevented Americans from having a safe and legal process for accessing lower-priced prescription drugs. Thankfully, this amendment, which needed 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote of 56-43. AARP supported a No vote on this amendment.The Manager's Amendment – Affordable Care
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act About the Legislation: The Manager’s Amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), makes insurance companies more accountable to consumers, protects patients’ freedom to choose their doctors, holds down the costs of coverage, and encourages states to provide long-term care services and supports to people in their homes and communities, rather than in costly institutional settings.AARP supported a Yes vote on the amendment.