House Panel Approves Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Federal Services for Older Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Without opposition, the U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce today approved the Senior Independence Act (H.R. 5293), a measure to reauthorize and strengthen services offered under the Older Americans Act, the chief federal law governing the organization and delivery of a number of social services for older Americans. 

The bill, which now moves to the full House, enjoys significant bipartisan support.  Co-sponsors include Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the Committee’s senior Democrat George Miller (D-CA), Select Education Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH), and the Subcommittee’s ranking Democrat Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX).

“Today, supporting the needs of older Americans is as important as ever,” noted McKeon.  “More than 36 million people in the United States are over the age of 65, making it the fastest growing age group in the country.  By the year 2050, that number will reach nearly 90 million and comprise almost a quarter of our population.  This trend requires additional reforms to ensure the quality and effectiveness of federal programs aimed at assisting the elderly.  The Senior Independence Act makes those reforms.”

First enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act authorizes the Administration on Aging within the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Department of Labor’s Senior Community Service Employment-Based Training program.  Initially established to govern a wide array of social services for aging Americans, the Older Americans Act has transformed into the first stop for older Americans to identify home- and community-based long term care options, as well as programs and services for which they may be eligible. 

“Over the last several months, we have worked in a bipartisan fashion to examine the current state of Older Americans Act programs, to learn about the evolving issues facing older Americans, and to listen to seniors in their own words,” said Tiberi, the author of the legislation.  “The measure we’ve developed is one that will help to bring senior services into the 21^st Century, while making the most out of the taxpayer investment in these vital programs.”

Specifically, the Senior Independence Act will: 

• Promote home- and community-based supports to help older individuals avoid institutional care;

• Strengthen health and nutrition programs;

• Improve educational and volunteer services;

• Increase federal, state, and local coordination; and

• Safeguard employment-based training for older Americans.

During today’s consideration of H.R. 5293, Committee Republicans offered amendments to further enhance the legislation.  Among the amendments approved were: 

• An amendment offered by Chairman McKeon to recognize that older individuals with disabilities may need access to assistive technologies, mental health screening, and referrals for treatment, and other supportive services, while ensuring that individuals who have occasional employment, such as lawn mowing or babysitting, remain eligible for the Senior Community Service Employment Program;

• An amendment offered by Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) to support federal, state, and local efforts to inform and enroll older individuals who may be eligible to participate in a variety of federal programs;

• An amendment offered by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) to authorize the first independent evaluation of nutrition services provided under the Older Americans Act.  The evaluation will provide information about the program’s contribution to participants’ health and ability to live independently;

• An amendment offered by Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) to support consumer-driven models of home and community-based care and to help prevent high-risk individuals from spending down their savings to receive Medicaid; and

• An amendment offered by Rep. Jon Porter (R-NV) and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) to strengthen efforts to prevent elder abuse and neglect and improve coordination of elder justice activities at the federal, state, and local levels.

“The bipartisan nature of this Older Americans Act reauthorization process is rare these days – and a welcomed change,” concluded McKeon.  “So many important issues are hijacked by partisan politics, but I commend my colleagues – particularly Mr. Tiberi and Mr. Hinojosa – for their work to keep this process focused on enhancing services for older Americans and nothing more than that.”

A complete summary of the Senior Independence Act is available at: http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/education/oa/oaabillsummary.htm.

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