House Backs Bipartisan Bill to Modernize Services for U.S. Seniors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Without dissent, the U.S. House of Representatives 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 measure now awaits Senate action.

Past renewals of the Older Americans Act have been marked by significant partisan discord, but this year’s effort was remarkably cooperative and bipartisan.  The measure, authored by Select Education Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) was approved without opposition by the House Education & the Workforce Committee last month and is co-sponsored by Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the Committee’s senior Democrat George Miller (D-CA), and the Select Education Subcommittee’s ranking Democrat Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX).  Tiberi and Hinojosa held hearings across the country as they crafted the legislation, gaining valuable input from policymakers, senior services providers, and those who benefits from Older Americans Act programs.

“From Ohio to Texas to Washington, D.C., we heard suggestions about what works and what can be improved,” Tiberi noted.  “It is estimated that more than 36 million people in the United States are over the age of 65, and that number will rise sharply in future years.  This year, members of the Baby Boom generation begin turning 60, the age at which they become eligible for benefits under the Older Americans Act.  In 2011, the first ‘boomers’ will reach 65 and by 2030, it is projected that one in five people will be 65 or older.  Keeping up with these numbers and accommodating changing needs are among the challenges we’ve aimed to meet through the Senior Independence Act.”

Initially established in 1965, the Older Americans Act has transformed into the first stop for seniors to identify home- and community-based long term care options, as well as other supportive services that can help prevent or delay expensive institutional care and generate significant savings in federal entitlement programs.  The bipartisan Senior Independence Act builds on that progress by: 

• Promoting measures – such as nutrition programs and health screenings – that reduce seniors’ risk of injury, disease, or disability;

• Improving access to health care by supporting resource centers in every community where older Americans and their families can go for reliable information about long-term care options, community support services, and important health benefits such as Medicare prescription drug coverage; and

• Encouraging states and communities to plan for an increasing number of older Americans.

“As our seniors begin to see dramatic reductions in their prescription drug costs under the new Medicare prescription drug plan, I’m particularly happy the Senior Independence Act will make it easier for current and future seniors to access valuable information about federal services for which they’re eligible,” said McKeon.  “Improving access to preventive measures, key health benefits, and long-term care options will save substantial taxpayer resources in the long run by easing the burden on entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid.”

Specifically, McKeon underscored that H.R. 5293 will coordinate Administration on Aging and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support community-based efforts to assist low-income and limited-English speaking populations with enrollment in the Medicare prescription drug program.  The bill also will launch Aging and Disabilities Resource Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to create a single point of access to the range of services available to seniors, including home and community-based long-term care options and the new Medicare prescription drug program.

“In the past, reauthorizing the Older Americans Act was often a very partisan process,” concluded McKeon.  “However, this year, that has not been the case.  Both Democrats and Republicans on the Education & the Workforce Committee pulled together to make the reforms necessary to meet the challenges of an aging population.  I commend the work of my Committee colleagues, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Hinojosa, and Mr. Miller, in helping to craft this bill in such a thoughtful, bipartisan manner.  During this political season, that’s quite a rare feat.”

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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