NAPGCM Public Policy E-Newsletter: Older Americans Act Reauthorization and Funding Update

Older Americans Act Reauthorization and Funding Update
Released to NAPGCM Membership on May 12, 2014

The Older Americans Act (OAA) funds services that keep older adults healthy and independent-services like meals, job training, senior centers, caregiver support, transportation, health promotion, and benefits enrollment.

Reauthorization

The Act is overdue for reauthorization and the NAPGCM is monitoring legislative activity in this area closely. At the same time, we are advocating for its reauthorization as part of the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations (LCAO).

The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2013 (S. 1562) is a consensus proposal crafted in the Senate after bipartisan negotiation. The LCAO supports this measure, click here to see letter of support.

Unfortunately, the funding formula component of the legislation continues to be controversial and is holding up the Senate-side process.

The House has not yet coalesced around a particular bill. Members are looking at various alternatives which might include a more narrow bill or moderate changes as part of the reauthorization process.

Funding

The annual appropriations process that determines FY 2015 OAA funding is just beginning. OAA programs require increased resources to maintain current programs due to population growth and cost inflation-as well as restore some of the cuts made by sequestration and federal budget reductions in the past few years. In the past, the NAPGCM supported increased funding for the OAA through the LCAO and presumably will do so again.

Grassroots

The LCAO has planned two call-in days this week to generate grassroots support for the OAA. The call in line will be open Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14. During those days, constituents can call 888-277-8686 and follow the prompts to be connected with their legislator's office.

You can call back multiple times to be connected to both your senators and your member of the House of Representatives.

Find your Member of Congress here: http://www.house.gov/ or http://www.senate.gov/