Pennsylvania AARP Members Delivering 57,000 Petitions to State Congressional Delegation

Seniors Want Washington to Oppose Budget Deal that Cuts Social Security and Medicare Benefits

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Pennsylvania members and volunteers are delivering an additional 57,766 petitions this week to members of the state's Congressional delegation signed by individuals who oppose any budget cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits. 

Nationwide, AARP is delivering more than 6.5 million petitions to members of Congress as part of an ongoing effort to communicate the need to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits from harmful cuts.  Earlier this summer, Pennsylvania AARP members distributed over 59,000 signed petitions to the state's Congressional delegation.

"With a typical income of less than $20,000, older Americans today rely on Medicare and Social Security," said AARP Pennsylvania State President Ed Ryan. "Our members are very concerned about potential cuts to these lifeline programs, and they're calling on their Senators and Representatives to look beyond the numbers and protect the people who have earned and need these benefits."

The text of the petition sent to Senators and Representatives follows:

"As one of your constituents and as a member of AARP, I urge you to oppose any budget deal that cuts Social Security and Medicare benefits to reduce the federal deficit.  Instead of cutting the benefits I worked for, Congress should be cutting waste and closing tax loopholes.  I worked my entire life and paid into the system so I'd have a guaranteed source of income and health coverage when I retired.  Congress needs to make responsible decisions to reduce our nation's deficit, but they can do so without harming the health and economic security of seniors and future retirees."

For more information about the petition and to see many of the millions of people who signed petitions, please visit:  www.aarp.org/protectseniors. An interactive map tracking grassroots actions can also be accessed here: action.aarp.org/map.   

"With time running down on the supercommittee's deliberations, we're taking every opportunity to make our members' voices heard and their message is simple: don't cut Social Security and Medicare benefits to fix the deficit," said Ryan.

AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership 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 nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, 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.

CONTACT:  Steve Gardner, AARP Pennsylvania
(717) 237-6481 or [email protected]

SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania