The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on July 21 approved, by voice vote, a bill (S. 1536) to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA provides the federal framework for a variety of services for elderly citizens, including employment assistance, health screening and treatment, exercise and recreation, pension counseling, and nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels.
The OAA has not been reauthorized since its last reauthorization expired in 1995. In addition to reauthorizing existing programs, S. 1536 would authorize a new Family Caregiver Support initiative proposed by the President. The program would make grants to states to provide information, counseling, support groups, caregiver training, respite services, and adult day care services for those who care for elderly relatives.
Authorization for the Family Caregiver Support initiative was included in an OAA reauthorization measure (H.R. 782) approved last September by the House Education and the Workforce Committee (see The Source, 9/17/00). Both bills also call for a White House conference on aging issues.
However, the Senate and House versions differ significantly with regard to employment services for the elderly, many of whom find that they require income to supplement their Social Security. Under the OAA, ten private organizations receive federal funds to help senior citizens find and train for jobs. These organizations include the AARP, Green Thumb, the National Center on Black Aged, the National Indian Council on Aging, the National Urban League, the Associacion Nacional Pro Personas Mayores, the National Council on Aging, the National Council on Senior Citizens, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Although the OAA does not define a distribution formula for the employment services funding, traditionally 78 percent has been appropriated to the national organizations and 22 percent has been appropriated to the states. H.R. 782 would phase-in a change to that formula, so that organizations would receive 55 percent and states would receive 45 percent by FY2005. Although the change is strongly supported by House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Bill Goodling (R-PA), the bill has stalled due to controversy over it.
In contrast, S. 1536 has a “hold harmless” provision guaranteeing that all of the organizations and states will receive adequate funds to maintain FY2000 levels of operation. The groups and the states would split any excess funds at a ratio of 25 percent to 75 percent, up to $35,000. Any excess funds over $35,000 would be divided equally.
Additionally, S. 1536 would create a series of new demonstration programs, including one aimed at addressing violence against older women.
