March 25, 2020 Press Release
Bill co-led by Wild,
Lee strengthens programs and services for seniors; new law will help with
response to public health emergencies
WASHINGTON, DC [03/25/20] – Today a
bipartisan update to the Older Americans Act led by Congresswoman Suzanne
Bonamici (OR-01), and co-led by Congresswomen Susie Lee (NV-03) and Susan Wild
(PA-07), was signed into law.
The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020 (H.R. 4334) increases
funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and
with dignity. It reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA), which
benefits roughly 11 million older Americans who use important social services
and community-based programs like Meals on Wheels.
The legislation also strengthens the aging
network's ability to respond to public health emergencies and emerging health
threats, like COVID-19.
“Seniors have served our communities for
decades and need our support now more than ever,” said Congresswoman
Suzanne Bonamici, Chair of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights
and Human Services. “Strengthening programs that benefit our seniors
has long been one of my top priorities, and I’m glad this significant update I
led to the Older Americans Act is now law. It will provide a strong foundation
to help meet the needs of seniors during this pandemic and beyond. I’m grateful
that this updated bipartisan law will support Meals on Wheels, fight elder
abuse, and help to address social isolation. At this time in our country, it’s
especially important that we care for those who cared for us.”
“The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic is
putting a strain on our seniors more than almost any other group of
Americans," Rep. Susie Lee said. "We're asking them
to vigilantly self-isolate to protect themselves from the virus, which makes
the dozens of critical programs funded by the Older Americans Act more
important than ever. From Meals on Wheels and family caregiver support to legal
services and transportation, the Older Americans Act does not just save lives
and improve Americans’ quality of life, it helps seniors avoid hospitalization
or long-term financial and medical difficulties. As our senior population
grows, we need to not just reauthorize but strengthen the vital Older Americans
Act programs, which is exactly what this law does. This is a big success during
a critical time for our country, and I want to thank my colleagues in Congress
and the President for coming together across party lines to put the needs of
our seniors first.”
“We have a duty to protect our older
populations and secure for them a life of dignity, good health, safety, and
economic security,” Rep. Wild said. “I am deeply proud to have
co-led the reauthorization and expansion of the Older Americans Act, which
passed unanimously in the House, because in a public health crisis, the
programs it supports are more critical than ever before. From funding for Meals
on Wheels, to empowering local governments to create local solutions to mitigate
the effects of social isolation, the Older Americans Act holistically addresses
the issues our seniors are dealing with now and the issues they will deal with
in the months to come. I am thankful for the contributions that older Americans
have made, which have shaped a nation and with it future generations, and that
Congress and the President are able to put aside partisanship in order to
properly pay our thanks and protect and uplift our senior communities.”
The Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020:
·
Authorizes a seven
percent funding increase for OAA programs in the first year, then annual six
percent increases in the following years;
·
Establishes a National
Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Center for the Aging Network in the
Office of the Assistant Secretary of HHS;
·
Calls for a study on
the coordination of federal resources to promote the independence and safety of
adults living at home as they age;
·
Provides more tailored
support to family caregivers, who play a vital role in helping aging Americans
maintain their independence; and
·
Puts a stronger focus
on addressing social isolation among seniors by empowering local organizations
to test local solutions.
To read the Supporting Older
Americans Act of 2020 bill text, click here.
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