Welcome to the online home of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

As Chairman of the Aging Committee, I am pleased to join with Ranking Member Mel Martinez in leading our committee to explore and investigate issues that concern all elderly Americans. Today, many seniors are struggling to meet rising health care and prescription drug costs. They are bearing more risk in their pension plans and are coping with new challenges that stand in the way of a secure retirement. And as Hurricane Katrina taught us, we are now aware that seniors are often overlooked in our nation's emergency response plans.

I am proud of the work that the Aging Committee has done to help protect seniors. We have led the effort to improve the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program and strengthen Social Security. We have lent bipartisan support to the Stem Cell Research Act--research that may lead to cures for our society's most debilitating diseases. And we have worked to shine a bright light on the problems many of our most vulnerable seniors face, such as investment fraud, elder abuse, and nursing home neglect. We have also highlighted the outstanding contributions older Americans make to our country economically, creatively, and intellectually.

Our work is just beginning and will remain vital in the coming years and decades. In 2000, 35.1 million Americans were senior citizens. That number will nearly double by 2025, to 63.5 million senior citizens. I hope you will find this site informative and share its resources with your friends and family.

Sincerely,

Chairman Herb Kohl (WI)