Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - June 27, 2006)

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Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to support older Americans. Seniors today are living longer, healthier lives. We must do what we can to help them be as independent and active as possible.

We have worked together on both sides of the aisle and with aging organizations, including the organizations that make up the Leadership Council on Aging, to introduce S.3570, the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006, which I believe is a strong bipartisan bill. I would like to thank Chairman Enzi, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Senator DeWine for their work. I have worked closely with Senator DeWine in the past, and this is the second Older Americans Act that we have reauthorized together. This bill honors and maintains the commitment we made to the nation's seniors through the Older Americans Act.

The Older Americans Act is one of our most important responsibilities. The 1,200 delegates to the December 2005 White House Conference on Aging voted reauthorization of the act this year as their top priority. I am pleased that we were able to produce this bipartisan bill, but we still have work to do before the Older Americans Act is reauthorized.

We need to continue to work on the Community Service Employment Program for Older Americans, in title V. Much of our bill is quite similar to what the House passed last week, but title V is not. Our bill has maintained the strong community service employment aspect of the program, which has been an integral component since the beginning. The House bill has elements that will minimize and chip away at this community service employment element. The Community Service Employment Program for Older Americans helps seniors obtain employment at Meals on Wheels programs, senior centers, local area agencies on aging, public libraries, and many other public organizations that rely heavily on these seniors. Through community service employment, community organizations receive valuable support while participants receive valuable skill training. I am strongly opposed to losing the community service aspect of this program, and I am pleased our bill strengthens it. I expect that we will continue to protect this as we move to work with the House.

There are several principles that I believe must guide reauthorization. First, we must continue and improve the core services of this act to meet the vital needs of America's seniors. Secondly, we must modernize the act to meet the changing needs of America's senior population, including the growing number of seniors over 85, the impending senior boom, and the growing number of seniors in minority groups. Next, we must look for ways to help seniors live more independent and active lives. Finally, we must give national, State, and local programs the resources they need to carry out these vital responsibilities.

I believe the 2006 reauthorization bill strengthens current Older Americans Act programs and offers innovative ideas that will address the needs of our country's aging population. The reauthorization bill strengthens information and referral services that are the backbone of OAA programs, providing seniors and their family members information about supportive services and information needed to prepare for long-term care. Our bill also strengthens elder abuse programs.

The reauthorization bill also improves the core services of the Older Americans Act. Seniors have come to depend on the information and referral services, congregate and home-delivered meals, transportation, home care, and other OAA programs to meet their daily needs. Whether it is pension counseling or the long-term care ombudsman program--these are vital to helping seniors navigate the complex financial and health care systems. Not all seniors have family and friends that can assist them with complicated decisions, like choosing a long-term care insurance plan or a nursing home. These programs put information in terms seniors can understand. These programs are a safety net for many.

I am especially pleased that this bill authorizes programs to encourage community innovation to support and enhance the ability of seniors to age in place. Seniors will be able to remain in their homes and communities, close to family and friends by providing them necessary supporting services such as transportation, social work services, and health programs to help seniors remain independent and in their communities. Grant program will encourage innovation and build on the success of naturally occurring retirement communities, NORC, programs. NORC programs have been developed at the local level and have a proven record of success. We heard from successful programs in Maryland, Ohio, and New York at the Subcommittee on Aging hearing on NORCs last month. I thank them again for their work and leadership. I always say that the best ideas come from the people, and this is one of the best I have seen in a long time.

This bill also improves the National Family Caregiver Support Program. With the reauthorization of OAA in 2000, we worked hard to create the National Family Caregiver Support Program. In 2003, this program provided assistance to nearly 600,000 caregivers. Services include respite care, caregiver counseling and training, information about available resources, and assistance in locating services. These services are invaluable to seniors and their families. We have worked with the aging community to expand these services. Upon the advice of the Alzheimer's Association our bill lowers the age eligibility for the program for individuals with Alzheimer's from 60 to 50, allowing more individuals with Alzheimer's to qualify for services. Our bill also lowers the age of eligible grandparents to 55. This allows the program to target services to those who need it most.

Our bill also seeks to improve emergency preparedness for seniors. During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, who was left behind? The elderly, the sick, the disabled. We must plan for their needs and use the senior network that exists in our country to make sure that they are not forgotten. Our bill requires States and Area Agencies on Aging to coordinate to develop plans and establish guidelines for addressing the senior population during a disaster/emergency.

I believe that this bipartisan reauthorization bill honors and maintains the commitment Congress made to our Nation's seniors through the Older Americans Act when it was first created in 1965. Reauthorization of this program for America's seniors and their families is one of our most important responsibilities. I look forward to continuing to work to get a bill passed this year. It is an important responsibility that we have to our Nation's seniors.

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