U.S. Representative Sandy Levin
12th District of Michigan

(Washington D.C.)- {U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak) announced today that Nick Ciaramitaro of Macomb County will attend as the 12th District Delegate to the 2005 White House Conference on Aging next week. Mr. Ciaramitaro was selected by Rep. Levin to participate in the White House conference because of his strong commitment to older Americans and issues of aging.

“Throughout Nick’s career, he has been a vocal advocate and policymaker on behalf of children and the elderly,” said Rep. Levin. “Nick has earned respect across our state. He will be an effective representative for the people of our state on such an important issue.”

Mr. Ciaramitaro, who lives in Roseville, currently serves as the Director of Legislation and public policy for the Michigan Council of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Prior to this position, he served as the Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor in 1999-2000 after a 20 year career as a state representative in the Michigan Legislature. In the State House, he served as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, chair of the Consumers Committee, chair of the Community Health and Judiciary subcommittees, and co-chair of the Mental Health and General Government subcommittees. His civic activities include the Macomb County Domestic Violence Council, Macomb Arc, and the Macomb County Chapter of the National Association for the Mentally Ill.

“It is my hope that the White House takes this opportunity to hear from people from Michigan and across the country, who work on a daily basis with older Americans, about the issues most important to them, including the value of Social Security and the confusion that has been created by the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit,” said Levin. “I am also hopeful the Bush Administration will reconsider its decision to restrict discussion and debate by eliminating the “10 percent rule,” which has always allowed delegates to raise issues at the conference. All of the delegates to the conference were chosen because of their knowledge of and insight into issues affecting older Americans, and allowing them to raise issues of concern to them greatly enhances the value of the conference, its discussions, and its end product.”

The White House has announced that this year’s conference will not allow delegates to amend resolutions and bring up new ones as they have in past conferences.  Past conferences followed the “10 percent rule,” which allowed any resolution or amendment to be brought up if it had the support of 10 percent of the delegates. Mr. Levin, in a letter to Conference Chairwoman Dorcas R. Hardy (see below), respectfully requested that the rule be reversed to allow for a full and thoughtful discussion of the issues.

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging, www.whcoa.gov, is held at Marriott Wardman Park in Washington during December 11th through 14th. The White House Conference on Aging occurs once a decade to make aging policy recommendations to the President and Congress, and to assist the public and private sectors in promoting dignity, health, independence and economic security of current and future generations of older persons. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging occurs as the first wave of the baby boom generation prepares for retirement, creating an important opportunity to creatively assess aging in America and improve the lives of older Americans. The 2005 White House Conference on Aging will be the first WHCOA of the 21st century.

NOTE: Mr. Ciaramitaro will be available for comment during the Conference and can be reached through Kristofer Eisenla in Congressman Levin’s office.

TEXT OF MR. LEVIN’S LETTER:

The Honorable Dorcas R. Hardy
Chairwoman
The White House Conference on Aging
4350 East-West Highway
Suite 300
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Dear Ms. Hardy:

I am writing to express strong concern about the decision to revoke the “10 percent rule” which has applied at all previous White House Conferences on Aging.  The Michigan delegates to the conference have expressed serious concern about this sudden change in the rules.

As I understand it, that rule allows any resolution or amendment to a resolution to be brought up if 10 percent of the delegates wish it to be.  All of the delegates to the conference were chosen because of their knowledge of and insight into issues affecting older Americans, and allowing them to raise issues of concern to them greatly enhances the value of the conference, its discussions, and its end product.

A number of issues affecting older Americans, ranging from health care to retirement income, are and have been under debate this year.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are also in the process of implementing a complex new Medicare prescription drug program.  It would be a shame to stifle discussion at the White House Conference on Aging that could be so valuable in adding local and beneficiary perspectives to our work.

I hope you will reconsider this change in policy and allow a full and robust discussion of all issues at the upcoming conference.   Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Sander M. Levin
 

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