AARP Praises Passage of Bipartisan Older Americans Act in Senate

AARP applauds the bipartisan action this week on July 16, 2015, on S. 192, the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA), introduced by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) with Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The Senate passed the bill the same week that we celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of the OAA.

 

At AARPMA, we thank Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) for their affirmative action and leadership on the OAA.

This carefully crafted legislation reflects over three years of bipartisan work reflected in a balanced, pragmatic approach to helping older Americans live longer with independence and dignity in their homes and communities.

The OAA reauthorization addresses AARP’s core concern that any proposed legislation include protection of an essential array of programs and services that assist, protect, nourish and sustain the nation’s older Americans, help them maximize their choices, and promote dignity and independence in a fiscally responsible way. The OAA helps save precious federal and state tax dollars by keeping older Americans out of nursing homes and preventing unnecessary hospital readmissions.

Since it was enacted into law in 1965, millions of our most vulnerable older Americans have relied on the services provided by the OAA for their health and economic security. These services help older Americans live independently by:

• Supporting nutrition programs, including Meals-on-Wheels;
• Providing home and community-based services, including preventive health services and transportation assistance;
• Assisting family caregivers with information and referral, counseling and respite care;
• Preventing and detecting elder abuse; and
• Providing part-time community service employment and training, including the Senior Community Employment Program (SCSEP), which has helped more than 1 million older Americans enter the workforce.