Ernst Hosts Tele-Town Hall with AARP Iowa, Discusses Bipartisan Work for Seniors
The Iowa senator was joined by AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson
WASHINGTON – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) hosted a telephone town hall with her guest, AARP Iowa State Director, Brad Anderson, inviting thousands of Iowa seniors to join the call, ask questions, and hear information about some of her ongoing bipartisan work in the Senate to support seniors across the state.
“Whether it’s fighting to lower prescription drug costs, expanding access to telehealth, or providing financial relief to our family caregivers, I’m proud to have a long history of working across the aisle to support Iowa’s seniors,” said Senator Joni Ernst. “Today’s telephone town hall was another great opportunity for me to hear from and speak directly with seniors in our state, take questions, and provide folks with an update on some of the bipartisan work I’m focused on in the Senate. Thank you to Brad Anderson with AARP Iowa for joining today’s discussions and providing important insight for folks on the call.”
"Fifty-six percent of Iowa family caregivers use their own money to help with their caregiving, which is why we appreciate Senator Ernst's sponsorship of Credit for Caring" said Brad Anderson, AARP Iowa State Director. "This is a top priority for AARP. Let's get it done this year."
Ernst has long fought to support Iowa seniors by expanding access to care and pushing to lower prescription drug costs. Last Congress, Ernst helped get signed into law the bipartisan CREATES Act, which provides for more competition in the prescription drugs marketplace to help drive down costs, and today is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act, work that she has been praised for by AARP Iowa’s Anderson as an effort of “reaching across the aisle and working together to deliver meaningful reform.”
In addition, Ernst is working on legislation with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to make the current telehealth flexibilities that have been put in place due to the pandemic permanent, in order to continue and expand access to telehealth for Iowans, including seniors, in rural areas. Ernst also is partnering with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on bipartisan legislation, called the Credit for Caring Act, to provide working family caregivers in Iowa, who play a critical role in supporting older folks across our state, with a tax credit of up to $5,000 to assist with out-of-pocket expenses related to caregiving.
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