Alliance Enthusiastically Endorses Joe Biden for Reelection

Citing President Biden’s record of commitment to retirement security for every American, the Alliance endorsed Joe Biden for reelection as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President on Tuesday.

“Older Americans can trust Joe Biden because he always fights for us. With another term, he will do even more to strengthen and expand Social Security and Medicare, lower drug prices and protect the pension benefits we have earned,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance.

“Everything is at stake for seniors in this election,” Roach continued. “Our members know how to get things done and will be talking with their friends and family about the Biden-Harris record, making calls, knocking on doors and ensuring people know when and where to vote.”

President Roach also stressed that thanks to President Biden, all Medicare beneficiaries are paying no more than $35 per month for insulin; all recommended vaccines are free; and Medicare Part D beneficiaries will pay no more than $3,200 out of pocket annually for drugs. He added that President Biden forced wealthy pharmaceutical corporations to negotiate lower drug prices with Medicare for the first time in history, which will save seniors and taxpayers billions of dollars over the next several years.

The Alliance noted in its press release that retirees with pensions are going to receive the benefits they earned due to the Administration’s success. The Butch Lewis Act, signed into law by Biden as part of the American Rescue Plan in 2021, is keeping 2 to 3 million workers’ pension plans solvent and able to pay full benefits through at least 2051.

“As a kid from Scranton, President Biden wakes up every day working hard to make life better for working people, and that includes delivering on a deeply held commitment to care for America’s seniors,” Biden campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez said in a statement. “The more than 4 million members of the Alliance of Retired Americans will be critical to a win in November, and President Biden is honored to have earned their support.”

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Reaches Important Milestone; HHS Launches Resource Hub for Medicare Beneficiaries

vascular disease, and cancer taken by millions of Medicare enrollees. President Biden issued a statement on the milestone.

Also on Thursday, HHS launched LowerDrugCosts.gov, a resource hub for Medicare beneficiaries, community members, and advocates including educational information about the Administration's progress lowering drug prices, materials to share on social media, and fact sheets.

In addition, HHS officials released two reports this week: The first reveals that Americans pay 3x what people in comparable countries pay for the same drugs, underscoring the importance of the policies to lower costs in the Inflation Reduction Act. The second report analyzes the impact of Medicare's Extra Help program, which expanded last month to help low-income enrollees pay for their prescription drugs.

“The only reason Americans pay three times what consumers pay in other countries for the same drugs is corporate greed,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “The Alliance worked for more than 20 years to require Medicare to negotiate on behalf of the American people, and now we are seeing results.”

“Drug corporations and their lobbyists have filed nine lawsuits against Medicare drug price negotiation as they desperately try to protect their profits,” added Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “The overwhelming majority of Americans - Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, support this policy. We will not back down.”

KFF Health News: The FTC Is Attacking Drugmakers’ ‘Patent Thickets’

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

The Federal Trade Commission has challenged the validity of over 100 drug product patents, focusing on devices used to deliver medicines, like inhalers and autoinjectors, in an effort to increase competition and potentially lower some prices.

The FTC says drugmakers illegitimately use the patents to prevent competitors from offering cheaper generic alternatives.

It’s the first time the FTC has tried the tactic, said Hannah Garden-Monheit, director of the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning.

“We are using all the tools we have to bring down drug prices and reduce barriers to generic competition,” she said in an interview.

President Joe Biden has instructed his Federal Trade Commission to be more aggressive in reining in the pharmaceutical industry. Under its chairperson, Lina Khan, the agency is aggressively testing the limits of its powers in pursuit of that goal.

Click here to read more.

Alliance Joins AFL-CIO, White House in Celebrating Black History Month

The contributions of Black workers to the nation’s labor movement date back generations. This February during Black History Month, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting the critical role Black unionists played in the formation of unions, securing hard-fought workplace protections that we all enjoy today and advancing civil rights across the country.

Throughout the month, the AFL-CIO will be spotlighting Black leaders and activists from across the labor movement. The profiles will be posted on the AFL-CIO blog and on social media, and select profiles will be exhibited in the lobby of the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. The exhibition highlights Black workers who are shaping a new era for the labor movement and are leading the charge for a more equitable and just economy and society.

The Administration is also commemorating the occasion.

“In its proclamation celebrating Black History Month, the White House notes that more Black Americans have health insurance than at any previous time in American history,” said President Roach. “We commend the Biden-Harris Administration on this accomplishment.” 

President Roach Speaks at Texas Alliance’s Biennial Convention

The Texas Alliance (TARA) held its biennial convention in Austin Saturday. TARA members were welcomed by Texas AFL-CIO officers Rick Levy, President; Leonard Aguilar, Secretary-Treasurer; and Lee Forbes, Texas AFL-CIO Director and TARA Liaison.

Alliance Regional Director Tony Padilla introduced Robert Roach, Jr. for the Keynote Address, and President Roach presided over the reelection of TARA Officers by acclamation: President Gene Lantz, Secretary Chris Cruz and Treasurer Elaine Jones.

Left to right: Rick Levy, President Roach, Gene Lantz; Leonard Aguilar, 
and Judy Bryant, TARA Field Organizer

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