What Is NARVRE?

Stimulus Relief Aid is desperately needed for Amtrak and rail employees.  The Senate took another vacation and has chosen to ignore House passed legislation.  A stimulus package is needed now to help American citizens and businesses, due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Our mission is to urge Congress to include Amtrak and Amtrak employees in a legislative aid package.  NARVRE stands with all rail train service advocates and this latest letter from representative organizations asking Congress to remember that Amtrak is a viable transportation service in America, much the same as the airline industry.  Please make another call.  Let’s follow-up and contact our Representatives and Senators @ 877-668-3864 or 877-668-3866.   Remind Congress not to forget Amtrak in the next relief aid package…! 

TCU/IAM, All RAIL STAKEHOLDERS URGE CONGRESS TO PROVIDE AMTRAK, TRANSIT RELIEF: TCU/IAM joined with other groups representing rail passengers in the U.S., Amtrak workers, Commuter and Transit employees, and railway suppliers, to remind Congress not to forget about the other pieces of America’s national intercity transportation network: Amtrak and public transit systems.

Consider this an update on our continual work opposing proposals for heavier trucks in the U.S. Congress. NARVRE has an ongoing working relationship with the rail carriers (AAR) and rail labor, of course, as the rail industry stands to lose business if more cargo could be moved on bigger trucks and intermodal truck-rail freight shipping, causing more employee furloughs affecting railroad retirement. 

All Amtrak advocates are advising the Senate that we expect them to Act Now. 

The House has passed their legislation, and the Senate needs to act.

See Highlight ( www.vote.org)…Consider this as a courtesy and simple reminder to be prepared to vote on November 3, 2020.

We regret to announce the passing of NARVRE Area 2 Director JJ Grabner III, age 70. NARVRE offers our sincere condolences to Lauren, their family, and JJ’s many friends. His years of service and many contributions to NARVRE are certainly appreciated. According to information provided by Unit 151, East Liverpool, OH, JJ’s funeral services are private.

On October 10, 2018, a bill titled “Know The Lowest Price Act of 2018”, (S.2553) was passed and signed into law. This legislation stops private insurers from using so-called gag orders that “restricts” pharmacies from offering customers the same drug but at a lower price if they paid out-of-pocket. Turns out the insurance prescription drug plans prohibited the pharmacies from alerting the customer about the difference in price, and customers have been overpaying at the pharmacy counter more than 20 percent of the time. As example, an Rx for high blood pressure medication could be $20 with insurance coverage, but only $8.00 out-of-pocket (if the pharmacy were allowed to inform the customer). It should be noted that 25 states had already made these practices illegal. So, while this practice has been stopped, there are other provisions in other contracts that restrict our government from working to obtain the lower price of drugs for seniors, such as the Medicare Part D agreement with the healthcare industry. After the implementation of Medicare Pt D in 2006, seniors have argued that the provision restricting Medicare from negotiating the costs of drugs with the industry should be repealed, as pricing rates for industry drugs are private and not transparent, and billions in profits are made off of seniors enrolled in their Part D plans. Most seniors will remember the bus trips into Canada in years gone by, in order to save money. On that subject, we need new hearings to pass the “Safe Prescription Drug Importation Act”, and effectively demand that the pharmaceutical industry lower the costs of drugs here in the U.S. We look forward to a change in leadership on November 6th, but seniors must continue to pressure Congress, no matter who holds the Majority in 2019. NARVRE will be working with other senior organizations, like the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA), as we urge our members and retirees to contact Congress and insist they begin to work for their constituents, and not their political party. We continue to encourage all members to introduce yourselves to your Members in Congress, especially if you have a new, fresh face elected to the House or Senate. Let them know you are an active NARVRE member and expect them to protect our earned benefits, such as railroad retirement and Medicare.

Gary Faley, Legislative Director

The bill (HR 6147) that would preserve Amtrak service over the entire current Southwest Chief route has passed out of the Senate and is now headed for a conference committee in the House to reconcile the differences in spending bills from both chambers.  If you haven’t called your Representatives in the House, please do so.  We need to protect the Amtrak network and the rail jobs that could be adversely affected.

Over the years, we continue to receive different inquiries as to how NARVRE members might assist in our efforts to inform Congress on the existence and operation of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).  It is unfortunate that to many Congressional offices, for whatever reasons, are confused and/or ignorant to the facts regarding railroads and their employees, and the governing mandates of the Railroad Retirement Act.  While it is necessary for NARVRE members to contact Congress on a variety of issues immediately affecting railroad retirees, it is also necessary that we continue to furnish information to our elected officials as they have an inherent responsibility to their railroad constituents back home in their Districts.  The point of being involved in NARVRE is to inform Congress as to who we are and what we expect them to protect.  We want them to understand some critical facts on the history and structure of the Railroad Retirement System.  We want them to know us as active and voting constituents, and also as members of our national retiree association.  The work we do as individual constituents is a tool that binds us together as one voice speaking on behalf of all railroad retirees.  As NARVRE members, we have our own special interests in protecting our earned retirement benefits which include Medicare and Medicaid, and Social Security where applicable.  Hence, the communication with our Representatives in Congress can be a valuable tool and asset in protecting our railroad retirement system and our annuities.  The following example is for your review and use.  The best advice is to keep it concise and to the point.  I have tried to do both in the following example.  You might receive a response from an aide in your representative’s office.  Tell them to add your name to their email updates from Capitol Hill, and give them any other information on your history as an active constituent and railroad retiree.  They need to know you.

Thank you.

Gary Faley, Legis. Dir.