Bill Text: NJ SR32 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to reauthorize Older Americans Act.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-23 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [SR32 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-SR32-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to reauthorize Older Americans Act.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act.
Whereas, The "Older Americans Act of 1965" (Pub.L.89-73) (OAA) was enacted in response to Congressional concerns about the lack of community-based social services for senior citizens around the nation; the OAA was passed as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society reforms, and modeled after the "Civil Rights Act of 1964" and the "Economic Opportunity Act of 1964," federal laws that established a centralized network of funding for a community-based service delivery system; and
Whereas, The original law gave States authority over grants for community planning, social services, research and development projects for the elderly, and personnel training on aging-related issues; the OAA also created the National Aging Network, which is comprised of the Administration on Aging, the federal agency responsible for administering the grant programs and advocating for and overseeing issues pertaining to older adults nationwide, and State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging; the law also established Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and the Long-term Care Ombudsman and National Family Caregiver Support programs; and
Whereas, The network provides funding to every state, based on the percentage of a state's population of persons 60 years of age and older, for legal, nutritional, supportive home, community-based social, community service employment, disease prevention, and health promotion services, and programs for the prevention of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and
Whereas, In 1965, when the OAA was enacted, there were 18 million Americans 65 years of age and older; today, there are approximately 35 million older adults living in the United States, a number that will grow to 88 million by 2050; in 2008 alone, three million people received services through the OAA; and
Whereas, Recipients of OAA services are more likely to be female, African-American, and living below the federal poverty guideline; people who benefit from OAA programs are also twice as likely to reside in the rural areas of this country, more likely to live alone and, on average, have less income, less education, and are less healthy than those people in the general population 60 years of age and older; and
Whereas, Funding for OAA programs has remained at the same level since 2002, and as a result, nearly 80% of states report waiting lists for home-delivered meals, over 50% report waiting lists for personal care, homemaker services, and respite care, and 70% have seen a rise in calls to adult protective services agencies relating to financial exploitation; and
Whereas, In 2006, the passage of the "Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006" (Pub.L.109-365), reauthorized Congress to fund the programs established under the OAA for an additional five years, increased the federal law's emphasis on home and community-based services, increased funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and created grants allowing states to improve transportation services for the elderly, deliver mental health screening and treatment services, and encourage civic engagement and elder justice activities; unfortunately, the reauthorization did not allow for increased funding for other OAA programs; and
Whereas, The current reauthorization of the Older Americans Act will end in federal Fiscal Year 2011, coinciding with the year that the first of the country's baby boomers turns 65; in order for OAA's programs to reach the growing population of older Americans in need, and to fulfill the OAA's mandate to allow senior citizens to lead healthy, productive and independent lives at home and within their communities, without the risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, Congress is urged to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and increase funding for the programs first established under the OAA; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Senate urges the United States Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) and to increase funding for the programs first established under the "Older Americans Act of 1965" in order for OAA's programs to reach the growing population of older Americans in need, and to fulfill the OAA's mandate to allow senior citizens to lead healthy, productive and independent lives at home and within their communities, without the risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Assistant Secretary for Aging in the Administration on Aging in the Department of Health and Human Services, and every member of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) and to increase funding for the programs first established under the "Older Americans Act of 1965" in order for OAA's programs to reach the growing population of older Americans in need, and to fulfill the OAA's mandate to allow senior citizens to lead healthy, productive and independent lives at home and within their communities, without the risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
