Almost ____ million older adults benefit from the federal governments oaa nutrition program.

[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 24732-24740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               REAUTHORIZATION OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, as the lead sponsor of the Older Americans 
Act, along with my friend, the chairman of the committee, Senator 
Jeffords, I thought I would take a few moments, even though we are not 
technically on the bill at this point, to begin a discussion of this 
bill. I make note to my colleagues in the Chamber that I will be a few 
minutes in doing this, so if any of my colleagues do want to proceed in 
morning business on other matters, I will be more than happy to yield 
when they come to the floor.

[[Page 24733]]

  We will begin today a debate about a bill that has been long in 
coming. Previous Congresses have had difficulty reaching agreement on 
reauthorizing the Older Americans Act for any number of reasons, and 
previous Congresses have failed to do that. But I think anyone who 
works in this field, anyone who understands what is going on with the 
Older Americans Act, knows it is past time for Congress to reauthorize 
the bill.
  This is a bipartisan program. It is a program that dates over 35 
years. It is a program that delivers great services to the senior 
citizens of this country. What we have done in this bill in a very 
bipartisan fashion is to bring it up to date to meet the needs of 
senior citizens entering this new century.
  This bill is going to help ensure the continuation of valuable 
supportive services for lower income older Americans. It will establish 
new and reliable services from which every older American can benefit 
and provide support for those caring for older adults.
  This reauthorization would not be a reality if it were not for the 
persistent, bipartisan efforts and dedication of the Senate Aging 
Subcommittee ranking member, Senator Mikulski; Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions Committee chairman, Senator Jeffords and the 
ranking member, Senator Kennedy; the House Education and the Workforce 
Committee chairman, Congressman Goodling, and the ranking member, 
Congressman Clay; as well as the House Postsecondary Education, 
Training, and Life-Long Learning Subcommittee Chairman McKeon and 
Congressman Martinez. Each has worked tirelessly on this legislation, 
along with the members and staff of the Senate Aging Subcommittee, the 
full Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and the Senate 
Select Committee on Aging.
  I also thank additional colleagues, such as Senator Hagel, Senator 
Collins, and Senator Wyden, for their insights and contributions to 
reaching a bipartisan agreement on this bill. I will mention later the 
great work that Senator Grassley has also done to offer a new provision 
in this bill which, again, meets the needs of seniors in this century. 
Because of this support and help, we are going to see the Older 
Americans Act finally reauthorized.
  Reauthorization attempts in both the 104th and 105th Congresses 
failed for many reasons. So as chairman of the Aging Subcommittee, I 
introduced S. 1536, with the hope we could get a reauthorization passed 
in this Congress. At the end of this past July, our committee marked up 
that bill and developed a solid piece of legislation that reflects 
months of hard work and deliberation. I am very pleased that yesterday 
the House of Representatives passed this bill overwhelmingly by a vote 
of 405-2. They passed their reauthorization bill which represents the 
combined legislative efforts of both the House and the Senate.
  I point out to my colleagues that one of the things we did as we 
worked through this bill for the last 2 years was to work with the 
House Members on both sides of the aisle so we would finally emerge 
with a consensus bill and a bill we would be able to pass in both the 
Senate and the House.
  This reauthorization bill we have before us today represents a 
modernized and streamlined Older Americans Act and one that maintains 
some of the most important and successful programs the Federal 
Government provides for our senior citizens.
  As an editorial in a newspaper in my home State of Ohio, the 
Cincinnati Post, on September 20, 1999, stated:

       The Older Americans Act has been the closest thing on 
     record to a national policy on aging.

  That is a pretty strong statement, but it is true. It is true because 
the Older Americans Act created and is responsible for programs that do 
the following: Provide nutrition both at home and at senior community 
centers; protect the elderly from abuse, neglect, and unhealthy nursing 
homes; offer valuable jobs to seniors; furnish transportation which is 
so vital for the way seniors live today; and render valuable in-home 
services such as homemaker and home health aides, chore services, 
respite care, and personal care services.
  To be sure, as our senior population grows larger and larger, these 
services and many others become more and more important--not just 
important but, in many cases, essential to maintain the quality of life 
of our senior citizens, central to the continued well being and 
prosperity of our aging senior community. That is why it is fundamental 
to the security of our seniors that we reauthorize, protect, and 
improve the Older Americans Act. Our reauthorization bill does just 
that.
  First, it will permit States to implement cost sharing for some of 
the services provided under the Older Americans Act. This means that 
States will be able to obtain payments from wealthier seniors for 
services. Doing so enables States to expand services to additional 
older individuals.
  This is something that was asked for by the people who testified in 
our committee. They told us the current rules and regulations were 
complicated, very difficult to understand, and were being interpreted 
differently from county to county within a State, such as my State of 
Ohio.
  Working in a bipartisan fashion, we put together the language that 
will make it much easier for these laws to be administered.
  Second, our authorization will increase flexibility for States by 
authorizing the Assistant Secretary on Aging to issue waivers to States 
with certain provisions of the Older Americans Act. This flexibility 
will help eliminate obsolete, duplicative, and burdensome requirements 
of a State plan and the area plan.
  Third, our bill includes the first major changes to the Senior 
Community Service Employment Program, title V. It begins to change the 
allocation of funds between the States and the organizations that 
provide jobs. It allocates 75 percent of the first $35 million in 
additional funding for the program to the States and 25 percent to 
organizations. Any increase in funding over $35 million will be split 
50-50 between the States and the national organizations. Historically, 
the funding split has been practically the reverse, with 78 percent 
allocated to national sponsors and 22 percent to the States. This is an 
improvement that has received bipartisan support of the Governors 
across the country.
  Let me stop for a moment and say how much we have relied on the 
Governors as we have fashioned this bill and how much they support this 
bill. This bill is supported by the NGA; it is supported by the 
southern Governors. It has received a great deal of support and help 
from them. We thank them for that support.
  Additionally, our bill provides Governors greater responsibility and 
influence over the allocation of title V job slots within their States, 
and it includes performance measures that all organizations and States 
must meet. Failure to meet such standards will result in the loss of 
job slots. Those slots then will be redistributed through open 
competition and will help eliminate poorly performing grantees in the 
program--one more way the Governors will have more say in title V and 
more say in how these slots are allocated and, not only a say in how 
they are allocated, but a say in what happens with them, and they will 
have the ability to measure the success or failure of these programs.
  These improvements are the result of our efforts to make sure our 
reauthorization bill addresses the most important concerns facing older 
Americans. That is why even before drafting the reauthorization bill, 
as chairman of the Aging Subcommittee, we held six subcommittee 
hearings covering titles of the existing law.
  I see on the floor my colleague, Senator Mikulski, who played such a 
major role in those committee hearings. In fact, those six hearings 
were very helpful in eliciting information to make this a better bill.
  At one of those hearings, for example, we heard from Reeve Lindbergh, 
the daughter of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Her mom was 
subjected, according to her testimony, to 10 years of financial and 
other abuse and, as Reeve pointed out: ``It''--referring to that type 
of elder abuse--``can happen to anyone.''

[[Page 24734]]

  Because of similar testimony, we included language in the 
reauthorization to protect elders not only from physical abuse and 
neglect but also from financial abuse and exploitation. We also added 
language to coordinate State and local advocacy and protection services 
directly to State and local law enforcement agencies, as well as 
linking them to the court system.
  I will now turn to a provision that has bipartisan support and whose 
lead sponsor is my friend, Senator Chuck Grassley. This is the National 
Caregiver Support Act which is an integral part of this bill.
  Another one of our Aging Subcommittee hearings focused on the bill I 
just referenced, the National Family Caregiver Support Act, which 
Senator Grassley sponsored, along with Senators Breaux, Bryan, Dodd, 
Hutchinson, Kohl, Lincoln, Mikulski, Reed from Rhode Island, Reid from 
Nevada, Santorum, and Wyden.
  Following moving testimony from people such as Carolyn Erwin-Johnson 
from Baltimore, MD, we included this important act as a provision in 
our reauthorization bill. At our subcommittee hearing, Carolyn spoke 
movingly of one of the most important aspects of the Caregiver Support 
Act--the need for respite care. Let me explain.
  When her elderly mother became unable to care for herself anymore, 
Carolyn decided against placing her in a nursing home. She chose, 
instead, to care for her mom at home. When her mother first moved in 
with her, Carolyn said she had to discontinue her doctorate program. 
She had to find a job and more accommodating hours. Unfortunately, and 
not surprisingly, that job also paid less money.
  Carolyn continued in her testimony that she needed advice about 
lifting her mother, feeding her mom, medications, and many other 
challenges, things she had not faced before in her life, and most of us 
have not.
  Most of all, however, because of her mother's constant care needs, 
Carolyn testified that she just needed some rest, she just needed a 
break. With the National Family Caregiver Support Act provision 
included in our reauthorization, Carolyn will get that break in the 
form of respite care--someone to take over for her for maybe a weekend, 
maybe a day, maybe just a few hours, so she can shop for herself and 
complete some overtime work or just rest. Again, this is an attempt to 
bring this bill up to date and to authorize the type of services that 
are so very important today.
  In addition to respite care, the Caregiver Support Act brings an 
intergenerational element to the reauthorization of the Older Americans 
Act.
  During an Aging Subcommittee field hearing we held in Cleveland, we 
heard from grandparents who, for any number of reasons, were caring for 
their grandchildren, raising their grandkids. In some cases their own 
children were addicted to drugs or were in prison or died. There are 
any number of reasons why these folks were doing something that we did 
not see done that much 20 or 30 or 40 years ago but something that is, 
frankly, very common today. Rather than relinquishing their 
grandchildren to foster care, these grandparents took on the 
responsibility of raising them and keeping the family together. That is 
something that we in Congress should support when people make that 
choice.
  The grandparents who testified in front of our committee in Cleveland 
are not alone. The number of grandparents raising children is growing 
and growing. In fact, a Census Bureau report released last year 
indicated that 3.9 million children in the United States were living in 
homes maintained by their grandparents. That is up an astounding 75 
percent since 1970.
  A 1998 study by the University of Cincinnati found that grandparents 
are caring for their grandchildren in 10 percent of Ohio households 
with children, and of that 10 percent, approximately 32,000 
grandparents statewide are the sole providers for their grandchildren. 
Amazing figures.
  Let's look at the example of a Cleveland woman in her early seventies 
named Bertha. At our hearing last year, she told us her story. She told 
us about the difficulties she faced in taking on the responsibility of 
raising her three great-nephews--Clarence, age 12; Joseph, age 11; and 
Christopher, age 10.
  The boys' father--a horribly sad story--died from AIDS. Their drug-
addicted mother was simply in no shape to take care of them at all. 
Someone needed to take care of those boys, so Bertha took them in.
  When the three boys first moved into Bertha's home, she had no way to 
support them financially. To be eligible for assistance, she became a 
licensed foster mother. But despite doing so, a full year went by 
before the county gave her any financial assistance at all. 
Additionally, she testified it has been very difficult getting 
information about available services. In the process, she has 
encountered mounds of bureaucratic redtape.
  New information and assistance services in the Older Americans 
Reauthorization Act, as well as the respite care and support groups 
provided in the Caregiver Support Program, will provide much needed 
assistance to people, relatives, great-aunts, grandparents--people such 
as Bertha, people who have taken on a tremendous responsibility many 
years after raising their own children, many years, I am sure, after 
they thought they would ever be doing this.
  Many older Americans who are now raising children for the second time 
need information, and they need respite care. Our bill would provide 
those kinds of services.
  I see my colleagues on the floor, Senator Mikulski and Senator 
Kennedy. And Senator Jeffords will be here in a moment. Let me conclude 
for now by saying that this is a long time in coming. It is a good 
reauthorization bill. It is the product of a great deal of work by many 
Members of this Chamber. It is a bill we can all be proud of, a bill we 
can be proud today to pass and send to the President. Our 
reauthorization bill makes the most substantial reforms in the Older 
Americans Act since its creation.
  Our bill is a key step toward preparing for the demographic tidal 
wave of aging baby boomers in the next few decades. The fact is that we 
are an aging nation. Today, 12.7 percent of the U.S. population is over 
the age of 65. By the year 2030, that number will grow to 20 percent. 
There is no indication that this trend will slow anytime soon.
  Americans, thank heavens, are living longer, making it all the more 
pressing we ensure that supportive services exist for every older 
American now and in the future. By working together, on a bipartisan 
and bicameral basis--both sides of the aisle; both the House and the 
Senate--we have crafted a bill that will make a lasting contribution to 
all older Americans; and that is something we can all be proud of as a 
major accomplishment as this 106th Congress ends.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, first of all, I thank Senator DeWine and 
Senator Jeffords for their leadership. As Senator DeWine has pointed 
out, this has been a long, continuing struggle for the last 2 years. 
This has been a bipartisan struggle. We are grateful for the efforts of 
the House of Representatives.
  I wish to say on our side, the real champion for this program is on 
my left, Senator Mikulski, from the State of Maryland, who over the 
period of these last 2 years has been an absolutely tireless advocate 
on this particular issue, as she has been on so many others. We would 
not be here this morning in the final hours of this session if not for 
her strength and determination to see this measure move ahead.
  I think what she and others have understood is that it has been 5 
years since we have seen this important legislation expire. As a 
result, we have seen even funding on the Older Americans Act. In that 
respect, there has been a falling behind in the attention to the 
services for our senior citizens.
  This is a much better bill than the last authorization; and it will 
benefit our senior population in a much more

[[Page 24735]]

sensitive and extensive way. Hopefully, it will gain acceptance and 
support from our colleagues in the Senate and the House and will be 
sent to the President so we can strengthen the outreach programs that 
are lifelines to our senior citizens.
  So I pay particular tribute to my colleague, Senator Mikulski, for 
her leadership. I thank the administration and President Clinton for 
the strong priority that he has placed on this and the attention that 
the Secretary has given to getting this action.
  I think most of us know we are operating in a very highly charged 
political atmosphere as we are coming to the last 2 weeks of a 
political campaign for election to the House and the Senate. But the 
House of Representatives yesterday passed this bill 405-2. We are very 
hopeful that we will have a similar outcome. It does indicate that when 
people of good will want to move a process forward, it can be done. I 
commend all of those who have worked over a very considerable period of 
time and have really tried to find common ground on some very difficult 
and complex issues.
  Finally, I wish to highlight the very important aspects of this 
legislation. I think the most powerful and obviously important parts 
are the nutrition programs, which have been the largest and the longest 
standing of the programs--this traces back to 1965. Meals on Wheels and 
congregate meals have been an incredibly important program in 
permitting so many of our seniors to live at home, and also to benefit 
from nutritious meals in these congregate sites. It is an important 
nutritional aspect for many of our seniors who are hard pressed.
  This bills value in terms of our elderly population cannot really be 
measured in terms of dollars and cents. It includes important 
preventive health programs, absolutely essential transportation 
programs, and important employment opportunities as well. These 
opportunities enable many of our seniors continue to be useful, 
constructive, and productive workers, primarily focused on serving 
communities.
  There are extraordinary workers under this program. I have met so 
many of them in travels around my own State of Massachusetts. What they 
do in terms of adding an additional dimension of services in local 
communities is really extraordinary. Many people believe, with regard 
to programs in which they are particularly interested, that they get a 
great bang for the buck. This Nation, with this program, gets enormous 
advantages in terms of permitting our seniors to live in the kind of 
peace and dignity and with a degree of security in these areas which 
they would be hard pressed to have if this legislation were not on the 
books.
  The Older Americans Act was enacted in 1965, three years after I was 
first elected to the Senate. I am proud to have been one of its 
original supporters. Over the years since then, we have repeatedly 
expanded the act to meet more of the needs facing older citizens.
  Today, the Senate is about to approve a reauthorization of the act 
which keeps faith with the nation's senior citizens. Current law 
supports a broad array of home-based and community-based support 
services to enhance the health and well-being of persons over sixty 
years of age. This legislation preserves and strengthens these 
programs, which provide vital links between senior citizens and their 
communities.
  For seniors who are healthy and active, the act offers community 
service employment opportunities, preventive health services, and 
transportation services. It also supports a range of social activities, 
including congregate meals. The act supports more than 6,400 
multipurpose senior citizen centers across the country.
  For those frail seniors who lack mobility, it helps to maintain a 
lifeline to the outside world. It provides daily home-delivered meals, 
in-home care services, home-maker services, and transportation to 
doctors and other caregivers, and it supports programs to protect 
vulnerable seniors from abuse and exploitation. The long-term care 
ombudsman program investigates and resolves complaints of elderly 
residents of nursing home facilities and other adult care homes.
  These programs make a significant difference for those they were 
designed to help. This legislation reaffirms our commitment to ensuring 
that older Americans continue to receive the services which are so 
essential to their quality of life. This reauthorization means 
increased federal financial support of these very worthwhile programs.
  Of all the Older American Act programs, nutrition assistance is the 
largest and longest running. It was created as a response to disturbing 
evidence that, due to poverty and isolation, many senior citizens were 
suffering from serious nutrition deficiencies, and that the lack of 
good nutrition was contributing to their poor health.
  Today, under the act, we are providing over 240 million meals a year 
to over 3 million senior citizens. Approximately half of these meals 
are provided in congregate social settings and the other half are 
delivered daily through the Meals on Wheels program to seniors in their 
homes. This program has broad-based community support. The many 
volunteers who deliver meals to the home-bound have greatly expanded 
the reach of the act. Unfortunately, we have not had sufficient 
resources to fully meet the need. Passage of this legislation will mean 
a substantial increase in the level of funding for these vital 
nutrition programs.
  The Senior Community Service Employment Program, authorized by title 
V of the act, is the nation's only employment and training program 
aimed exclusively at low-income older persons--and it will have an 
increasingly important role as the Baby Boom generation ages. The 
nation will have 1.4 million more low-income persons over the age of 55 
in the year 2005 than there were in 1995, and many of them will want to 
continue working.
  Title V serves over 90,000 low-income elderly persons every year. 
Eighty percent of these participants are age 60 or over, and 16 percent 
are above 75 years of age. The jobs obtained through this program 
provide these men and women with needed economic support. But it does 
much more than that. It keeps them active and involved in their 
communities, not isolated at home. It provides opportunities to make 
important contributions to their communities and to learn new skills--
and it enhances their sense of dignity and self-esteem. In this 
legislation, we have significantly strengthened the Community Service 
Employment Program and provided for its much-needed expansion.
  As part of this legislation, we have also created a National Family 
Caregiver Support Program to help families who care for ill or disabled 
parents or elderly relatives at home. We know how difficult it can 
become for a family when an elderly person needs a high degree of 
continuous care. We know the importance of keeping a frail senior at 
home in a loving environment whenever it is medically possible. This 
new program will provide essential support services to help these 
seniors remain with their loved ones. These families deserve our 
assistance, and this new program will ensure that they receive it.
  Family caregivers will be able to obtain a broad range of support 
services, including respite care, in-home assistance, training in 
caregiver skills, and family counseling, all of which will make a major 
difference for these vulnerable seniors and their families. The federal 
government will fund 75 percent of the cost of these services, and the 
states will fund the remainder. We have authorized $125 million for the 
first year of this new effort, and we anticipate the program will grow 
in succeeding years.
  This reauthorization of the Older Americans Act is the product of a 
two-year bipartisan effort. Senators Jeffords, DeWine, Milulski, and I 
share a common commitment to preserving and strengthening these 
programs, which have done so much to improve the lives of millions of 
senior citizens. We also shared a common determination to break through 
the barriers which prevented reauthorization in the last two 
Congresses. I commend my three colleagues for their leadership in

[[Page 24736]]

fashioning this legislation. Because of the bipartisan spirit in which 
they approached this task, they made the difficult possible.
  I also commend the important role of the Clinton administration. The 
Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services have been extremely 
helpful throughout the reauthorization effort. President Clinton 
deserves particular credit for proposing creation of the National 
Family Caregiver Support Program.
  The legislation before us is supported by the National Governors' 
Assn. and by nearly fifty organizations, which represent senior 
citizens, including: The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations; 
American Association of Retired Persons; National Committee to Preserve 
Social Security and Medicare; National Association of Area Agencies on 
Aging; National Association of State Units on Aging; Meals on Wheels 
Association of America; Generations United; Green Thumb; National 
Council of Senior Citizens; National Urban League; National Council on 
Aging; National Caucus and Center on Black Aged; National Association 
for Hispanic Elderly; National Asian Pacific Center on Aging; National 
Indian Council on Aging; Alzheimer's Association; American Society on 
Aging; Gerontological Society of America; Association of Jewish Aging 
Services; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; Older Women's 
League; National Association of State Long Term Care Ombudsman 
Programs; and National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services 
Programs.
  I ask unanimous consent that letters of support from a number of 
these organizations may be placed in the Record. Their strong support 
demonstrates that this bill will truly benefit the older Americans it 
is designed to serve, and I urge the Senate to approve it.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                               National Governors Association,

                                 Washington, DC, October 17, 2000.
     Hon. Trent Lott,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Thomas A. Daschle,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Majority Leader Lott and Minority Leader Daschle: As 
     the end of the 106th Congress approaches, the nation's 
     Governors urge you to help the states provide critical 
     support and services for the nation's seniors by 
     reauthorizing the Older Americans Act (OAA).
       This law has established the primary framework in the 
     states for the delivery of vital support and nutritional 
     services to seniors. Reauthorization of this important 
     program will demonstrate a federal commitment to these 
     critical issues, and will be crucial for ensuring that 
     seniors continue to receive key OAA services.
       The authorization for the OAA expired in 1995, and the law 
     has not been reauthorized in the past five years. This lack 
     of legal authority puts OAA programs and funding at risk. 
     After considerable negotiation and compromise, we now 
     understand that the current proposal enjoys broad bipartisan 
     support. We therefore ask that you move quickly to ensure the 
     reauthorization of the Older Americans Act this year.
           Sincerely,
     Governor Jim Hodges,
       Chair, Human Resources Committee, State of South Carolina.
     Governor Bob Taft,
       Vice-Chair, Human Resources Committee, State of Ohio.
                                  ____

                                       Leadership Council of Aging


                                                Organizations,

                                    Washington, DC, July 18, 2000.
     Hon. James M. Jeffords,
     Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
         Pensions, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: The undersigned members of the 
     Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), applaud the 
     leadership of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions for developing a bipartisan bill to 
     reauthorize the Older Americans Act which will modernize and 
     strengthen the programs and services provided to millions of 
     older Americans. We are especially appreciative of the open 
     and productive process used by Committee staff to obtain 
     input from all interested parties on the future of the Act.
       We believe the Committee has crafted a compromise bill, 
     which moves the Act in a number of critical new program 
     directions, while maintaining the integrity of all of the 
     current Titles. We are especially pleased that the bill 
     authorizes a new Family Caregiver Support Program that will 
     provide essential services to thousands of people caring for 
     older individuals in the home.
       We urge you to support this bill when the full Committee 
     considers it this week.
           Sincerely,
         AARP; AFL-CIO Department of Public Policy; Alliance for 
           Aging Research; Alzheimer's Association; American 
           Association for International Aging; American 
           Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; 
           American Society of Consultant Pharmacists; American 
           Society on Aging; Association for Gerontology and Human 
           development in Historically Black Colleges and 
           Universities; Association of Jewish Aging Services; 
           B'nai B'rith International; Gerontological Society of 
           America; Green Thumb; Meals on Wheels Association of 
           America; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; 
           National Association of Area Agencies on Aging; 
           National Association of Foster Grandparent Program 
           Directors; National Association of Nutrition and Aging 
           Services Programs; National Association of Retired and 
           Senior Volunteer Program Directors; National 
           Association of Senior Companion Project Directors; 
           National Association of State Long Term Care Ombudsman 
           Programs; National Association of State Units on Aging; 
           National Caucus and Center on Black Aged; National 
           Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; 
           National Council on the Aging; National Hispanic 
           Council on Aging; National Osteoporosis Foundation; 
           National Senior Service Corps Directors Association; 
           OWL; United Jewish Communities.
                                  ____

                                                    July 14, 2000.
     Hon. Jim Jeffords,
     Chairman, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
         Committee, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     Ranking Member, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
         Committee, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Chairman Jeffords and Senator Kennedy: The undersigned 
     Title V private sector grantees thank you, Senator DeWine and 
     Senator Mikulski for your leadership in constructing an Older 
     Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization bill that all interested 
     parties can support. We believe you have succeeded in that 
     endeavor. While some elements of the July 12 draft bill can 
     be improved, we believe that, on balance, the overall package 
     will put the OAA on solid footing for the next five years.
       We are pleased that the Committee has incorporated many 
     improvements recommended by our organizations. With respect 
     to Title V, we particularly appreciate provisions that:
       hold States and private sector grantees harmless at the FY 
     2000 level of activity;
       ensure that a unit cost adjustment due to an increase in 
     the minimum wage or cost of living increases will have first 
     priority in new Title V appropriations;
       establish clear administrative cost definitions;
       set strong but reasonable placement standards and provide 
     for the establishment of performance standards reflecting the 
     multiple goals of the program; and,
       establish procedures to ensure greater accountability and 
     that introduce constructive competition into the program.
       The allocation of the first $35 million available after 
     unit cost and minimum wage increases remains troubling. We 
     hope, however, that the new performance and accountability 
     measures in the legislation will produce better results.
       Regarding Title III, we commend the Committee for 
     addressing a number of issues of concern to most of our 
     organizations and others in the aging network. Among 
     improvements are measures that buttress legal assistance 
     services, restore consumer grievance procedures and 
     strengthen public hearing provisions. It is our understanding 
     that the targeting language in the law has not been changed 
     in the draft bill. On the other hand, while we welcome 
     enhanced consumer protections related to financial 
     contributions, we remain concerned about the impact on 
     vulnerable individuals of expanded cost sharing by the 
     States. We urge you to narrow the scope of this activity as 
     the legislation moves forward.
       All in all, we believe the Committee has met the 
     considerable challenge of updating the Older Americans Act 
     and strengthening the infrastructure needed to serve a 
     rapidly expanding aging population. We look forward to 
     working with you to see this legislation enacted before the 
     end of the 106th Congress.
           Sincerely,

                                Horace B. Deets, on behalf of:

     AARP, Green Thumb, National Asian Pacific Center on Aging--
     NAPCA, National Association for Hispanic Elderly--ANPPM, 
     National Caucus and Center on

[[Page 24737]]

     Black Aged--NCCBA, National Council of Senior Citizens--NCSC, 
     National Indian Council on Aging--NICOA, National Urban 
     League--NUL.
                                  ____

                                    National Committee to Preserve


                                 Social Security and Medicare,

                                    Washington, DC, July 14, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     Ranking Minority Member, Committee on Health, Education, 
         Labor and Pensions, Russell Senate Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: On behalf of the members and 
     supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social 
     Security and Medicare, I would like to thank you for your 
     strong efforts to reauthorize the Older Americans Act this 
     Congress. We have reviewed the draft legislation for next 
     week's scheduled mark-up and I am delighted to say that we 
     support its favorable consideration.
       This legislation would protect and preserve the many key 
     components of the Older Americans Act, which include the 
     meals programs, in-home service, Title IV research, and jobs 
     programs. It also preserves the vital provisions of Title VII 
     Vulnerable Elder Rights programs, including Legal Services, 
     Elder Abuse Prevention, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. We 
     are also pleased that your bill would add important new 
     provisions to the Older Americans Act for pension counseling 
     and family caregiver support.
       I know this bill is the product of considerable bi-partisan 
     negotiation and effort, and we appreciate your strong 
     leadership in this process. It would be a tremendous 35th 
     birthday present to the Older Americans Act if it were signed 
     into law this year.
       This reauthorization effort and any changes it brings will 
     set the stage for aging policy as we enter the new 
     millennium--an era in which meeting the needs of our more 
     isolated seniors within their communities must dominate an 
     increasing share of our national attention. We look forward 
     to the enactment of Older Americans Act legislation before 
     the close of the 106th Congress.
           Sincerely,
                                                Martha A. McSteen,
     President.
                                  ____

                                      National Association of Area


                                            Agencies on Aging,

                                    Washington, DC, July 17, 2000.
     Hon. Edward Kennedy,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
         Pensions, U.S. Senate Dirksen Senate Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: The National Association of Area 
     Agencies of Aging (N4A) commends you and your staff for your 
     leadership on the Older Americans Act Reauthorization. We are 
     extremely pleased that a compromise measure has been 
     developed that resolves a majority of the issues that delayed 
     reauthorization in the past. We are hopeful that the 
     consensus growing around this compromise measure will provide 
     the impetus necessary to see this law reauthorized during the 
     106th Congress.
       For over thirty years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) 
     programs and services have improved the quality of life for 
     millions of older adults and their families. Services 
     provided through the OAA include a wide range of home and 
     community based services, such as information and assistance 
     to older adults and their caregivers, home delivered meals, 
     transportation, home care, respite care, adults day care, 
     elder rights and legal assistance, employment assistance and 
     direct funding for tribal elders. The time is long overdue 
     for Congress to reconfirm the federal commitment to the 
     nation's older citizens by reauthorizing the legislation that 
     facilitates the ability of these individuals to remain in the 
     settings where they want and deserve to be, in their homes 
     and communities.
       The bill contains many provisions that have long been 
     priorities of N4A. Our membership particularly appreciate the 
     bill's inclusion of a $125 million authorization for a Family 
     Caregiver Support Program which builds upon existing 
     infrastructures at the local level.
       The 655 Area Agencies on Aging and 230 Title VI Native 
     American Indian grantees that N4A represents are anxious to 
     see the Older Americans Act reauthorized this year. We 
     support movement of the Chairman's mark out of committee and 
     to the floor for consideration by the full Senate. We stand 
     ready to assist you in your efforts to make 2000 the year 
     that we realize the long-overdue Older Americans Act 
     Reauthorization.
           Sincerely,
     Janice Jackson,
       Executive Director.
     Barry Donenfeld,
       President.
                                  ____

                                              National Association


                                      of State Units on Aging,

                                    Washington, DC, July 18, 2000.
     Hon. Edward Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: The National Association of State 
     Units on Aging (NASUA) urges you to support the Senate 
     Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee's leadership 
     bill to modernize and reauthorize the Older Americans Act 
     (OAA). As you know, the bill will be considered by the 
     Committee on July 19.
       Since its enactment in 1965, the OAA has provided the 
     elderly with home and community-based services so they may 
     remain in their homes and live with independence and dignity. 
     Such services include home-delivered and congregate meals, 
     in-home care, respite care, adult day care, and case 
     management. OAA programs and services complement other state 
     and federal programs, such as the Social Services Block 
     Grant, the Medicaid waiver program, and state-funded home and 
     community-based service programs.
       The leadership bill will reauthorize the Older Americans 
     Act for 5 years. It maintains the focus and integrity of all 
     the current titles in the Act, including those programs that 
     authorize the long-term care ombudsman program and state 
     legal assistance development.
       Most importantly, the bill authorizes a new national family 
     caregiver support program to provide supportive services to 
     family and friends who care for older people in the home. The 
     bill will also revitalize the Title V employment program. In 
     addition, it will give states the option to institute cost 
     sharing for certain services in order to expand services 
     available to those now on waiting lists.
       The leadership bill is the product of many months of hard 
     work on the part of committee staff, members, and aging 
     organizations that serve older people. It is a compromise we 
     believe will advance the interests of older people in the new 
     millennium.
       If you have any questions, please call Kathy Konka at 202/
     898-2578.
           Sincerely,
                                             Daniel A. Quirk, PhD,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                       Meals on Wheels Association


                                                   of America,

                                                    July 14, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 
         Pensions, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: As President of the Meals On Wheels 
     Association of America (MOWAA), the oldest and largest 
     national organization representing those providing meals to 
     seniors, I am writing to request your support of ``The Older 
     Americans Act Amendments of 2000'' (the DeWine/Jeffords 
     substitute to S. 1536), proposed legislation to reauthorize 
     the Older Americans Act. Reauthorization of the Older 
     Americans Act during this Congress is a priority for MOWAA, 
     and we are delighted that you and your colleagues have an 
     opportunity to approve a bill that addresses the concerns 
     expressed to you by MOWAA, other service providers and groups 
     serving Older Americans, and the elderly themselves.
       When I presented testimony to the Subcommittee last year, I 
     stated that MOWAA was committed to reauthorization, because 
     we believe that the Act is a lifeline for many of this 
     country's seniors. It is the foundation on which a large and 
     vital national, yet distinctly local, system of home and 
     community-based services has been built. In other words, it 
     has worked well. But as we move into this new millennium, and 
     the needs and profiles of those who rely on the Act's 
     services continue to change, parts of the Act need to be 
     modified and fine-tuned to meet the new challenges. MOWAA's 
     testimony outlined some of the changes that this Association 
     believed would be important for the future health and growth 
     of senior meal programs and the elderly whom they serve. We 
     are delighted that our recommendations were carefully 
     examined, and that changes consistent with our suggestions 
     have been included in the draft bill.
       Specifically, we are pleased that the DeWine/Jeffords 
     substitute to S. 1526 includes a section relating to 
     ``Voluntary Contributions.'' The proposed language makes 
     clear that meal programs can accept and solicit voluntary 
     contributions. Under the proposed legislation, as we 
     understand it, area agencies on aging will consult with meal 
     providers and others to determine the best method for 
     soliciting and collecting contributions. Contributions would 
     be used for the provision of services. While encouraging 
     client financial participation in a noncoercive way, and by 
     ensuring that no client can be denied a service, the current 
     draft proposal also affords strong protection for clients who 
     are unable or unwilling to pay. MOWAA strongly supports all 
     of these provisions.
       This Association has also been on record as supporting 
     giving increased flexibility to States and localities to move 
     nutrition services monies where they are most needed. The 
     legislation accomplishes this by increasing to fifty percent 
     the amount of funds that can be transferred between 
     congregate and home-delivered meals. Additionally, we have 
     also advocated for simplification of the so-called ``USDA per 
     meal reimbursement,'' and the bill achieves that goal by 
     essentially eliminating a reimbursement ``rate'' and basing 
     allocations on the actual number of meals

[[Page 24738]]

     served in the previous fiscal year. We support both these 
     provisions.
       Again, the Meals On Wheels Association of America supports 
     the draft legislation, a reauthorization bill that we believe 
     is forward-looking at the same time that it preserves the 
     fundamental principles on which the Act was created. 
     Committee approval would be a strong and important step 
     forward in the legislative process, and we sincerely hope 
     that you will vote to report a bipartisan bill to the full 
     Senate on July 19. Additionally, we hope all your colleagues 
     in the Senate, and those in the House as well, will recognize 
     the significance of what the Committee has done and commit 
     themselves to continuing to work on a bipartisan basis to 
     enact an Older Americans Act reauthorization in the 106th 
     Congress. Our Nation's seniors deserve no less.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Richard Lipner,
     President.
                                  ____



                                           Generations United,

                                    Washington, DC, July 18, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: Generations United (GU) supports the 
     draft version of the Older Americans Act that will be marked-
     up on July 19, 2000. Generations United believes that it is 
     important that the Older Americans Act be re-authorized this 
     year. We applaud the efforts of Senators Jeffords, Kennedy, 
     DeWine, and Mikulski to reach a compromise.
       This version includes the National Family Caregiver Support 
     Program, which Generations United has long supported. The 
     Program provides valuable assistance to caregivers, including 
     older adult caregivers and grandparents who are raising 
     grandchildren. The number of grandparents raising their 
     grandchildren has steadily increased in recent years. These 
     caregivers face an emotional and financial toll that is often 
     unforeseen. We believe that they merit support under the 
     Older Americans Act.
       Generations United is the national membership organization 
     focused solely on promoting intergenerational strategies, 
     programs, and public policies. GU represents more than 185 
     national, state, and local organizations and individuals 
     representing more than 70 million Americans and is the only 
     national organization advocating for the mutual well-being of 
     children, youth, and the elderly. Since 1986, Generations 
     United has served as a resource for educating policymakers 
     and the public about the economic, social, and personal 
     imperatives of intergenerational cooperation. GU acts as a 
     catalyst for stimulating collaboration between aging, 
     children, and youth organizations providing a forum to 
     explore areas of common ground while celebrating the richness 
     of each generation.
       We urge you to support the draft Older Americans Act that 
     is being presented on Wednesday.
           Sincerely,
     Generations United.
                                  ____

                                           The Secretary of Health


                                           and Human Services,

                                    Washington, DC, July 18, 2000.
     Hon. Edward M. Kennedy,
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, U.S. 
         Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Kennedy: I wanted to take this opportunity to 
     commend you for your outstanding leadership that you and 
     Senators Jeffords, DeWine and Mikulski have provided in 
     seeking to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA). The 
     Administration strongly supports the OAA bipartisan 
     compromise developed by you and your staff, and urges quick 
     and unanimous Committee approval of this vital legislation.
       We are extremely grateful that your compromise includes the 
     National Family Caregiver Support Program. This is a key 
     Administration priority that will help hundreds of thousands 
     of family members who are struggling to care for their older 
     loved ones who are ill or who have disabilities. The National 
     Family Caregiver Support Program has gained the strong 
     support of older persons and their family members all across 
     the country.
       We are also especially pleased that your bipartisan 
     compromise includes many other provisions that will 
     strengthen and improve OAA services provided to America's 
     older persons. We support provisions to protect the targeting 
     of service to low-income minority elders, acknowledge 
     culturally appropriate services for Native Americans, 
     maintain the priority for legal services, and allow cost-
     sharing where appropriate. The bipartisan compromise will 
     also usher the OAA into the 21st century by providing new 
     flexibility throughout the Act, and authorizing a White House 
     Conference on Aging in 2005.
       The reauthorization of the Older Americans Act is 
     critically important for millions of older Americans and 
     their families. We are most appreciative of your commitment 
     to the OAA and look forward to working with you to secure 
     final enactment of this legislation in the weeks ahead.
       The Office of Management and Budget advises that there is 
     no objection to the transmittal of this letter from the 
     standpoint of the Administration's program.
       An identical letter is being sent to Senator Jeffords.
           Sincerely,
     Donna E. Shalala.
                                  ____

                                         U.S. Department of Labor,


                                           Secretary of Labor,

                                    Washington, DC, July 18, 2000.
     Hon. James M. Jeffords,
     Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
         Pensions, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Jeffords: I wanted to take this opportunity 
     to commend the efforts of the Committee in working to address 
     and strengthen vital legislation that enhances services to 
     millions of older Americans. The Department of Labor 
     appreciates the leadership of the Committee in developing 
     this legislation and supports Committee approval of S. 1536, 
     the ``Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000.''
       Among a number of other things, this legislation would 
     reauthorize and amend the Senior Community Service Employment 
     Program (SCSEP) that is authorized under Title V of the Older 
     Americans Act and administered by the Department of Labor. 
     SCSEP provides part-time community service employment to low-
     income individuals age 55 and older. This important program 
     provides much needed employment and income to participants, 
     enhances the provision of community services, and promotes 
     economic self-sufficiency by facilitating the reentry of 
     participants into the labor force and helping them to obtain 
     unsubsidized employment.
       The amendments to SCSEP contained in this bill incorporate 
     the key features of the Administration's proposal for 
     reauthorization of the program that were included in S. 1203, 
     sponsored by Senator Mikulski. While retaining the unique and 
     complementary structure of the program under which national 
     nonprofit agencies and organizations as well as States 
     receive grants to operate projects, the bill also contains a 
     number of enhancements to SCSEP.
       These enhancements include the establishment of a 
     performance accountability system that would hold each 
     grantee accountable for attaining quality levels of 
     performance with respect to core performance measures. These 
     performance measures include the placement and retention of 
     participants in unsubsidized employment, customer 
     satisfaction of employers and participants, the number of 
     persons served, and the community services provided. The 
     performance measures would be designed to promote the 
     continuous improvement of SCSEP. Failure to attain 
     appropriate levels of performance by a grantee would lead to 
     significant consequences, including the potential loss of 
     part or all of the grant. The Department believes these 
     provisions would strengthen accountability and performance 
     under the program and make a good program even better.
       The amendments would also strengthen the linkages of SCSEP 
     with the broader workforce investment system established 
     under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). SCSEP is a 
     required partner in the One-Stop delivery system under WIA, 
     and these amendments enhance the connections between SCSEP 
     and WIA through provisions that would allow older individuals 
     easier access to appropriate services under both programs and 
     avoid duplication of services.
       In addition, the amendments would improve States' ability 
     to coordinate services to participants by enhancing the 
     planning process relating to SCSEP programs. The bill 
     provides for broad participation of stakeholders in the 
     development of a plan in each State to ensure the equitable 
     distribution of projects within the State. Other enhancements 
     include the incorporation of fiscal accountability provisions 
     similar to those contained in WIA, including definitions of 
     administrative and programmatic costs and the application of 
     uniform cost principles and administrative requirements.
       The Department of Labor believes it is essential that the 
     older Americans Act be reauthorized and enhanced. This 
     legislation advances those objectives while authorizing 
     important improvements to the program. We urge the Committee 
     to approve this legislation and look forward to continuing to 
     work with you to ensure enactment of this important 
     reauthorization.
       The Office of Management and Budget advises that there is 
     no objection to the transmittal of this letter from the 
     standpoint of the Administration's program.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Alexis M. Herman.

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, today I rise with great enthusiasm to 
support passage of the bipartisan Older Americans Act and its 
amendments for the year 2000.
  This bill enjoys very strong bipartisan support in this institution 
and in the House and, I believe, among the American people. Yesterday 
the House passed this legislation overwhelmingly, 405-2. The Senate 
companion bill that we are bringing to the attention of our colleagues 
today already has 72 cosponsors. There is strong bipartisan, bicameral 
agreement to reauthorize the

[[Page 24739]]

Older Americans Act. It is built on the strong foundation of S. 1536 
and the bipartisan compromises reached by the HELP Committee in that 
bill.
  This legislation also has the strong support of the executive branch. 
President Bill Clinton's team from HHS was enormously helpful in 
enabling us to shape not only the reauthorization of the bill as we 
knew it but help create a framework for the future. The gifted 
Administrator on Aging, Jeanette Takamura, was tremendously helpful.
  This bill is long overdue in its reauthorization. The reauthorization 
expired in 1995. It became bogged down for almost 5 years in prickly 
politics, most of which had nothing to do with how we could make sure 
we were effectively serving the senior population.
  This year, as we moved into the 106th Congress, Senator Mike DeWine 
of Ohio and I pledged that we would do everything we could to come up 
with an excellent framework to meet the needs of the seniors, to not 
only reauthorize and rubberstamp but to look at it, to be both fiscally 
prudent but also to be effective with taxpayers' money. He worked very 
hard in doing that and worked very hard with my staff. I thank him and 
his staff for their collegial, cordial work on this legislation.
  Of course, Senator Jeffords has been tremendously helpful. He enabled 
us to hold our hearings, to move the process forward. I personally 
thank him. Of course, my champ, the ranking member, Senator Kennedy, 
with his very able staff, enabled us to work with the constituency 
groups, and so on.
  So we did all the right process things. Now it is time to move the 
process to closure. We have had debate. We have had hearings. We have 
had consultations. We have consensus. Now it is time we have 
reauthorization. I hope today we can move expeditiously, entertain any 
amendments that Members would like to offer, and dispose of them in a 
timely way. The seniors are looking for it.
  When I visit the senior centers in my own community, they say: How 
are you doing on the Older Americans Act? I say: We are doing fine, but 
the Older Americans Act is being stalled in a variety of procedural 
matters.
  Let's remove the procedural barriers. Let's also deal with the 
amendments.
  What I like about this legislation is that it keeps our promises to 
older Americans to retain and strengthen the current Older Americans 
Act programs, but it also provides new innovations and accountability 
to improve it. It will ensure that the Older Americans Act continues to 
meet the day-to-day needs of our country's older Americans and yet the 
long-range needs of an ever increasing aging population.
  One of the highlights of this bill is the creation of a program 
called the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This recognizes 
the tremendous aging population, many who are left at home, many of 
whom rely on the primary caregiver as the American family. The American 
family is stepping forward to take care of older parents and at the 
same time being able to raise their own children.
  This places tremendous stress on the family in terms of time, energy, 
and even finances, but, as always, the American family is up to it. The 
American family is ready to step forward. Often the caregiving is 
primarily done by women, some who have taken temp jobs, some who have 
taken flextime jobs, some who are juggling so many others, often to the 
tune of at least 20 or 40 hours a week either in their own home or 
going to the home of a parent.
  The American family is up to it, but we have to be up to supporting 
the American family. Government should never be a substitute for the 
family, but the family should be able to rely on the Government for 
certain support services to enable them to be the best at caregiving 
and not wear out.
  The National Family Caregiver Support Program will provide very 
important support services. It will also provide information assistance 
to millions of Americans who are searching for what are the best 
resources to help their older parent. Also, it provides for them 
training, counseling, and even some respite care. Even the best family 
can't keep at it 24-7, 52 weeks of the year.
  It will also help grandparents who care for grandchildren, and, as I 
said, this program has strong bipartisan support.
  Later I will go into the need for caregiving, why it is so important, 
why we need to support the families.
  At the same time, though, while we look for innovation, we also 
maintain the core programs of the Older Americans Act. I remember when 
this legislation was passed in 1972, I was so excited about it, working 
in Baltimore's neighborhoods, that we were actually going to have 
programs that would come right to the community and right at the 
neighborhood level.
  We knew the seniors needed support services. We knew they were facing 
loneliness. We knew they were facing poor nutrition. We knew they were 
often the subject of scams and fraud and a variety of kinds of abuse. 
As a result of what was done in 1972, we stayed the course. But now, 
what are the best practices, the highest use of new technologies, and 
so on, to accomplish this goal?
  The program called Meals on Wheels changed the face of America.
  Fifty volunteers, often working with nonprofits, were able to get 
meals into a home in order to keep people independent and at the same 
time keep a unique partnership between the Federal Government and 
nonprofits, helping people remain independent. There were people who 
were lonely--often widows or men who lost wives who were kind of 
walking around, hanging out at diners or cafes in certain areas. They 
needed companionship and maybe a hot meal, and they also needed a sense 
of purpose where they themselves would volunteer. We use the term 
congregate meals. What an insipid term because what we really wanted 
them to do is congregate with other people, to have fun and good meals 
and even learn some new skills which we are going to bring in with 
crossing the digital divide. Those nutritional programs kept people 
alive. My own dear mother, when she came home from an acute care 
facility, temporarily used that as we pitched in with the rest of the 
family.
  We also maintain a separate and distinct title IV program for 
research and demonstration because we think we have to try new ideas 
before we create them and institutionalize them into the legislation. 
Innovation has always been a unique characteristic. We also talk about 
a White House conference in 2005. We maintain another poor program--
support for transportation services. It is absolutely crucial in our 
own community and into rural areas. This language also requires older 
American services to be directed to those who need them the most. 
However, we acknowledged the unmet need that can exist in rural areas, 
so we included provisions to improve the delivery of services to older 
individuals in rural areas.
  I congratulate Senator DeWine, who really ensured a sensitivity to 
that. I represent rural counties myself. At the same time, we recognize 
the need to strengthen certain programs and increase accountability. 
The bill gives greater flexibility to transfer of funds between those 
congregate and home-delivered meals to the areas of greatest need. It 
also includes performance measures for States and private sector 
grantees in the Senior Community Service Employment Program. If these 
standards are not met and performance is not improved, other entities 
will get the opportunity to competitively bid for a portion or all of 
the original entity's grant--whatever the word ``entity'' means. While 
I believe that overall the current grantees are performing very well, 
these provisions will ensure that seniors get the high-quality services 
they deserve. We ensure accountability for not only the taxpayers' 
funds but the services being delivered.
  So this bill strikes a good balance between recognizing the need for 
additional resources to support OAA programs and protecting the most 
vulnerable citizens and their access to services. It also authorizes 
the seniors to make voluntary contributions for all OAA services. It 
also allows States to require cost sharing for a limited number of 
services, such as transportation, respite care, and personal care. A 
long

[[Page 24740]]

list of services is exempt from cost sharing, such as Meals on Wheels, 
information and assistance, and that very important ombudsman program. 
It also provides guidance to States and protections to help ensure that 
seniors are not discouraged from seeking services because of cost 
sharing.
  I note the strong need for increased funding for the Older Americans 
Act programs. Very few OAA programs have seen increased funding in 
recent years. Yet there is a growing need for services. I support full 
funding for OAA and also for the new National Family Caregiver Support 
Program. Also, the core programs need increases in funding.
  So I think this is good legislation. I think it is good 
authorization. I think it will provide immeasurable guidance to the 
appropriators for the next 3 years. This morning I say we have good 
legislation. We can be so proud of the bipartisan, bicameral support. 
This is what America wants us to do, really--focus on the day-to-day 
needs of our constituents, look ahead to an aging population, and come 
up with a fiscally prudent, service-effective framework, and get the 
job done. All too often in this institution, when all is said and done, 
more gets said than done. Today, let's stay late and get the job done.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont is recognized.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I renew Senator DeWine's earlier request 
with respect to the Older Americans Act and amend the request to 
include that at the conclusion or yielding back of the debate time, the 
bill be set aside with the votes to occur on the amendments and the 
bill at 5 p.m. today. I further ask consent that the time consumed thus 
far be deducted from the time agreement accordingly.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I wonder if 
the Senator from Vermont knows and can give us assurance that that will 
be the first vote of the day.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I cannot give such assurance.
  Mr. REID. We won't object, however. It is quite apparent that we are 
interested in that being the first vote.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I understand. I have no authority to do that.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Will the Senator yield for a question?
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Yes.
  Mr. REID. The general debate time is gone. The majority and minority 
used more than their allotted time. We have 4 hours under the control 
of the Senator from New Hampshire, and we would make it easier for 
staff and the parties here debating if we would explicitly determine 
that the time you are going to use will come off Senator Gregg's time. 
Otherwise, we don't have any time to be debating. Would the Senator 
from New Hampshire allow the Senator from Vermont to use part of his 
time?
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________

How many older adults benefit from the federal government's OAA Nutrition Program?

How many older adults benefit from the federal government's food assistance programs?

What percentage of people over 70 years of age is estimated to have dementia quizlet?

Is a program that provides educational opportunities and travel experiences for older adults?