Should the Older Americans Act be Reauthorized & Enhanced? (H.R. 4334)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 4334?
(Updated August 4, 2020)
This bill — the Dignity in Aging Act of 2019 — would reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) for five years beginning in FY2020 and increase funding for a number of programs to help older Americans live independently and with dignity. This bill’s key provisions are summarized below.
Increases funding for all Older Americans Act Programs
This bill would authorize an inflation-adjusted 7% in funding for OAA programs in FY2020, then annual 6% in the next four years of the reauthorization period. This lead to a 35% total increase in program funding over the five-year reauthorization period.
Increase support and outreach services
To improve support for both caregivers and elderly persons and access to resources, this bill would:
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Require outreach to identify individuals eligible for assistance under the OAA, with an emphasis on marginalized populations;
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Require the Assistant Secretary to publish a list of the resource centers and demonstration projects funded under the OAA on an annual basis;
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Provide more tailored support to family caregivers;
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Put a stronger focus on addressing social isolation among seniors by empowering local organizations to test local solutions;
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Require the Assistant Secretary for Aging at the Department of Health and Human Services to create a new focus on the issue of social isolation among older adults at the national level;
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Create a demonstration program specifically to provide grants to tribal organizations to carry out in-home and community supportive services; and
- Establish the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Age-Friendly Communities and tasks the Committee with coordinating efforts to promote safe and accessible independent living environments.
Support research, evaluation, and demonstration efforts relating to aging
This bill would establish a National Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Center for the Aging Network in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of HHS. This Center would be responsible for conducting, promoting, and coordinating research, including evaluation and demonstration projects, and related technical assistance for projects related to aging. It would also increase the repository of information on evidence- based programs and interventions available to the Aging Network.
Increase older individuals’ economic opportunity and multigenerational engagement
This bill would put improve economic opportunity and multigenerational engagement. Specifically, it would:
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Add individuals who are justice-involved as a priority population for the Senior Community Service Employment Program; and
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Allow demonstration funds to be used for multigenerational collaboration projects that provide opportunities for older individuals to participate in multigenerational activities and civic engagement activities.
Support aging in place
To help older individuals age in place, this bill would:
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Create an initiative to coordinate federal resources to promote the independence and safety of adults living at home as they age, including resources targeting falls prevention, home assessments, and home modifications;
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Codify the existing Falls Prevention and Chronic Disease Self-Management Education program into the OAA; and
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Add a focus on focus on expanding and improving the direct care workforce through demonstration projects.
Argument in favor
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the single most important piece of legislation offering support to aging populations in the U.S. and their caregivers so that elderly Americans can live with dignity. There’s no question that it should be reauthorized to support the aging U.S. population.
Argument opposed
The federal government already spends far too much on old people, to the detriment of its spending on children. In particular, this bill’s aggressive ramp-up of federal spending on the Older Americans Act (OAA) is too extreme, and will inevitably lead to skimping elsewhere in an already bloated and overextended federal budget.
Impact
Aging persons; support for aging persons and their caregivers; in-home care for aging persons; HHS; and the Older Americans Act (OAA).
Cost of H.R. 4334
The CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $10.9 billion over the 2020-2024 period and $1.4 billion after 2024.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced this bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) and increase funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and with dignity:
“Too many Americans struggle to meet basic needs and access crucial services as they age. The Dignity in Aging Act, an update of the Older Americans Act, will result in better outcomes for seniors and strengthen our communities. Though reaching a compromise can be challenging, I’m proud of the work we did to achieve a bipartisan agreement. I am committed to getting the Dignity in Aging Act signed into law, as well as continuing to do all I can to champion efforts that will build on this legislation and make sure every senior has access to the services they need, regardless of who they are or where they live.”
At this bill’s committee hearing, Rep. Bonamici said:
“As the number of older Americans continues to increase, Congress must strengthen our support for OAA’s proven, long-standing programs. We must recommit to providing basic services and compassionate care to vulnerable members of our communities.”
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) supports this bill. NCOA President and CEO James Firman says:
“Aging with dignity is not an aspiration, it’s a human right and we applaud the Democratic and Republican lawmakers who are joining us in defending this principle. On behalf of tens of millions of aging adults, their families, and caregivers, NCOA thanks these forward-thinking lawmakers for the Dignity in Aging Act, which not only reauthorizes the Older Americans Act but creates a path for a future where all adults can age well in their communities, with health and economic security.”
This legislation passed the House Education and Labor Committee by voice vote with the support of 23 bipartisan cosponsors, including 14 Republicans and nine Democrats.
A number of organizations advocating for older Americans support this bill. They include Meals on Wheels, AARP, the National Council on Aging, and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).
Of Note: The Older Americans Act (OAA) was originally passed in 1965. It is the primary legislation that covers social and nutrition services for older Americans and their caregivers. Today, it serves about 11 million older Americans through social services and community-based programs like Meals on Wheels.
However, funding for the program hasn’t kept up with the growth of the American over-60 population. In 2010, OAA funding was $42.95 per senior in today’s dollars. Today it is $27.25 per senior. Consequently, its service levels have suffered. According to a 2015 GAO report, 83% of low-income older Americans who experience food insecurity do not receive any meal services through OAA, even though the program should provide this service to them.
In 2017, the federal government spent $1.4 trillion — 37% of that year’s budget — on programs for the elderly. By comparison, it spent only $377 billion — 9.8% of that year’s budget — on children. According to a report by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, spending on children will fall to only 7% of the federal budget. Based on current trends, the Committee for a Responsible Budget projects that the government could end up spending twice as much servicing its debt as it does on children by 2030.
Media:
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Sponsoring Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) Press Release
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Sponsoring Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) Press Release After Committee Hearing
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Sponsoring Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) Press Release After Committee Passage
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National Council on Aging (NCOA) Press Release (In Favor)
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National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) Letter (In Favor)
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CBO Cost Estimate
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House Committee on Education and Labor Fact Sheet
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House Committee on Education and Labor Section-by-Section
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USA Today (Context)
Summary by Lorelei Yang
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