Alliance Endorses Ruben Gallego for the U.S. Senate

Members of the Alliance proudly announced their endorsement of Ruben Gallego for election to the U.S. Senate from Arizona Monday, citing his work to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, lower prescription drugs prices, and stand up for veterans. 

"Representative Gallego has a proven record. He will always fight for older Arizonans in the U.S. Senate. His pro-retiree votes in Congress have earned him a perfect 100% lifetime score in the Alliance’s annual Congressional Voting Record," said Linda Somo, President of the Arizona Alliance. "We know Ruben will work to expand and preserve our hard earned Social Security and Medicare benefits in the Senate. More than 1.5 million Arizonans rely on Social Security benefits every month. As a senator, Ruben will continue the fight for our earned benefits for current and future generations."

"I am honored to have earned the support of the Alliance for Retired Americans in this race. I will never stop fighting to ensure that Arizona's seniors have access to their hard-earned benefits and affordable prescription drugs," said Representative Gallego. "Extremists like Kari Lake want to rip away these benefits, but as Arizona's next U.S. Senator, I will continue to work in partnership with the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans towards our shared mission of protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering prescription drug costs, and making sure our seniors can retire with dignity."

Vic Peterson, First Vice President of the Arizona Alliance and a veteran, spoke about Gallego's work on behalf of veterans. Doug Hart, Arizona Alliance board member, spoke about how he is saving thousands of dollars thanks to a new law Gallego fought for that limits annual out-of-pocket prescription drug spending to $3,200 for Medicare beneficiaries. Read the full press release here.

Under Pressure, Postmaster General Agrees to Pause Consolidations at Dozens of USPS Facilities 

Embattled Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has agreed to pause some of the most controversial changes he has implemented in response to complaints from lawmakers and post office customers. 

This includes halting his plans to consolidate dozens of processing facilities until at least January 1, 2025, ensuring the overhaul is paused until after the upcoming presidential election, which is sure to include millions of ballots cast by mail. 

Republican and Democratic lawmakers have called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to delay or stop the consolidation plan, some of which would shift the bulk of mail processing across state lines. The decision marks a reversal for DeJoy, who just last week remained resolute in defending his vision as the only way forward for the Postal Service. 

According to Government Executive news, the Postal Service is moving processing operations away from hundreds of cities and towns in favor of 60 mega-centers throughout the country, among its sweeping changes. USPS is conducting “mail processing facility reviews” at local facilities to determine if they are good candidates for this consolidation effort, a procedure DeJoy has now agreed to temporarily stop. That will lead to nearly 60 facilities remaining open and operating normally.

Mail delays have spiked in fiscal 2024 and have been particularly problematic in places that have already implemented DeJoy’s plans.  

Many lawmakers had sounded the alarm that mail delays resulting from the network changes could adversely affect the upcoming election. However, USPS has vowed to comb through every sorting site to ensure mailed ballots are delivered in a timely manner, and the newly announced pause should help alleviate some of those concerns. 

A recent inspector general report found the use of a new regional processing center in Richmond, Virginia, led to worse service, a spike in late and canceled mail transportation trips and other issues. 

“This pause is welcome news for all seniors, voters and consumers who rely on the post office for many of their ballots, medications and other important documents and packages to be delivered – but this does not end our concerns,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “The Alliance fights for the USPS when there are misguided attempts to change things for the worse, and this is one of those times.”

KFF Health News: Forget Ringing the Button for the Nurse. Patients Now Stay Connected by Wearing One.

By Phil Galewitz

Patients admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital get a monitoring device about the size of a half-dollar affixed to their chest — and an unwitting role in the expanding use of artificial intelligence in health care.

The slender, battery-powered gadget, called a BioButton, records vital signs including heart and breathing rates, then wirelessly sends the readings to nurses sitting in a 24-hour control room elsewhere in the hospital or in their homes. The device’s software uses AI to analyze the voluminous data and detect signs a patient’s condition is deteriorating.

Read more here.

Registration is Still Open for Three Alliance Regional Meetings 

Join us in Las Vegas, Orlando and Washington, D.C.!

Registration remains open for the next regional meetings, and negotiated hotel rates are still available — the dates are: Western, June 5-6, 2024; Southern, June 11-12, 2024; and Northeast, July 30-31, 2024. Strengthen your skills as a retiree activist, make sure you’re ready to help elect pro-retiree candidates this November and win the fight for retirement security. Click here to find your region and register.

All meeting attendees will participate in four interactive workshops with fellow retiree activists. For more information, please contact Joni Jones by calling 202-637-5377 or e-mail:

[email protected].

Executive Director Fiesta Addresses Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

Alliance Executive Director Richard Fiesta traveled to Houston this week for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) Retirees’ International Convention. He provided an update on numerous federal issues affecting retirees, including risks to Social Security and Medicare, President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act’s role in lowering prescription drug prices and the importance of the retiree vote in the November elections. 

"Black Americans trust Joe Biden over Donald Trump," said Fiesta. "It is just one reason that about 3 in 4 Black voters say they will definitely or probably vote for Biden. Biden needs especially strong turnout from his supporters in the Black community and the work won’t stop between now and election day.”

Alliance Members Mark Memorial Day

and is set aside to remember Americans who were killed in action.

"Please enjoy a cookout or spend time with your loved ones, and also take a moment to think about those who no longer have such opportunities, and their families," said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance.

If you are commemorating the occasion with a barbecue, please be sure to check out the AFL-CIO’s list of Union-Made in America foods here.

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