Proposed Changes To The Older Americans Act PDF Download

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the major federal vehicle for the delivery of social and nutrition services for older persons. These include supportive services, congregate nutrition services (meals served at group sites such as senior centers, schools, churches, or senior housing complexes), home-delivered nutrition services, family caregiver support, community service employment, the long-term care ombudsman program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older persons. The OAA also supports grants to older Native Americans and research, training, and demonstration activities. The Administration on Aging (AOA) in the newly established Administration for Community Living (ACL), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers most OAA programs. The exception is the Community Service Employment for Older Americans (CSEOA) program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The ACL also administers several aging services programs authorized under the Public Health Service Act, such as the Alzheimer's Disease Supportive Services Program and the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Funding for OAA programs and other aging services is provided through appropriations legislation for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Education). FY2012 funding for OAA programs totals $1.913 billion, 1% less than in FY2011. The President's FY2013 budget request proposes $1.907 billion for OAA programs, 0.3% less than the FY2012 level. The President's budget proposal would eliminate $6.5 million in discretionary OAA funding for Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) also funded by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148, as amended). The Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (CR; P.L. 112-175) became law on September 28, 2012. For most discretionary programs, including OAA programs, the CR continues funding at close to FY2012 levels. The CR provides funding for October 1, 2012, through March 27, 2013, although amounts may change depending on whether certain actions, such as sequestration, are taken pursuant to the Budget Control Act (P.L. 112-25) and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA, P.L. 112-240). Since the enactment of OAA, Congress has reauthorized and amended the act numerous times. In the past, OAA reauthorization has included extending the act's authorization of appropriations for a five-year period. The last OAA reauthorization occurred in 2006, when Congress enacted the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (P.L. 109-365), which extended the act's authorization of appropriations for FY2007 through FY2011. The authorization of appropriations for most OAA programs expired at the end of FY2011. However, Congress has continued to appropriate funding for OAA authorized activities. In the 112th Congress, comprehensive OAA reauthorization legislation was introduced which would extend the authorization of appropriations for most OAA programs through FY2017 and would make various amendments to existing OAA authorities. This report provides details of FY2011, FY2012, and FY2013 funding for OAA authorized activities, as well as for other aging services programs administered by ACL under other statutory authorities.