[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 705 Reported in Senate (RS)]







                                                       Calendar No. 285
109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 705

                          [Report No. 109-178]

To establish the Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and Service 
               Needs of Seniors, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 5, 2005

 Mr. Sarbanes (for himself, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Reed, Mr. Martinez, Mr. 
    Schumer, Mr. Carper, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Allard, and Mr. Johnson) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
            Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

                           November 15, 2005

               Reported by Mr. Shelby, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and Service 
               Needs of Seniors, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Meeting the Housing and 
Service Needs of Seniors Act of 2005''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Congress finds the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The senior population (persons 65 or older) in 
        this country is rapidly growing, and is expected to increase 
        from 34,700,000 in 2000 to nearly 40,000,000 by 2010, and then 
        will dramatically increase to over 50,000,000 by 
        2020.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) By 2020, the population of ``older'' seniors, 
        those over age 85, is expected to double to 7,000,000, and then 
        double again to 14,000,000 by 2040.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) As the senior population increases, so does 
        the need for additional safe, decent, affordable, and suitable 
        housing that meets their unique needs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Due to the health care, transportation, and 
        service needs of seniors, issues of providing suitable and 
        affordable housing opportunities differ significantly from the 
        housing needs of other families.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Seniors need access to a wide array of housing 
        options, such as affordable assisted living, in-home care, 
        supportive or service-enriched housing, and retrofitted homes 
        and apartments to allow seniors to age in place and to avoid 
        premature placement in institutional settings.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) While there are many programs in place to 
        assist seniors in finding and affording suitable housing and 
        accessing needed services, these programs are fragmented and 
        spread across many agencies, making it difficult for seniors to 
        access assistance or to receive comprehensive 
        information.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Better coordination among Federal agencies is 
        needed, as is better coordination at State and local levels, to 
        ensure that seniors can access government activities, programs, 
        services, and benefits in an effective and efficient 
        manner.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Up to date, accurate, and accessible 
        statistics on key characteristics of seniors, including 
        conditions, behaviors, and needs, are required to accurately 
        identify the housing and service needs of seniors.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS..</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The term ``housing'' means any form of 
        residence, including rental housing, homeownership, assisted 
        living, group home, supportive housing arrangement, nursing 
        facility, or any other physical location where a person can 
        live.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The term ``service'' includes transportation, 
        health care, nursing assistance, meal, personal care and chore 
        services, assistance with daily activities, mental health care, 
        physical therapy, case management, and any other services 
        needed by seniors to allow them to stay in their housing or 
        find alternative housing that meets their needs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) The term ``program'' includes any Federal or 
        State program providing income support, health benefits or 
        other benefits to seniors, housing assistance, mortgages, 
        mortgage or loan insurance or guarantees, housing counseling, 
        supportive services, assistance with daily activities, or other 
        assistance for seniors.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) The term ``Council'' means the Interagency 
        Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of 
        Seniors.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) The term ``senior'' means any individual 65 
        years of age or older.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON MEETING THE HOUSING AND SERVICE 
              NEEDS OF SENIORS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the executive 
branch an independent council to be known as the Interagency Council on 
Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Objectives.--The objectives of the Council are as 
follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) To promote coordination and collaboration 
        among the Federal departments and agencies involved with 
        housing, health care, and service needs of seniors in order to 
        better meet the needs of senior citizens.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) To identify the unique housing and service 
        needs faced by seniors around the country and to recommend ways 
        that the Federal Government, States, State and local 
        governments, and others can better meet those needs, including 
        how to ensure that seniors can find and afford housing that 
        allows them to access health care, transportation, nursing 
        assistance, and assistance with daily activities where they 
        live or in their communities.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) To facilitate the aging in place of seniors, 
        by identifying and making available the programs and services 
        necessary to enable seniors to remain in their homes as they 
        age.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) To improve coordination among the housing and 
        service related programs and services of Federal agencies for 
        seniors and to make recommendations about needed changes with 
        an emphasis on--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) maximizing the impact of existing 
                programs and services;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) reducing or eliminating areas of 
                overlap and duplication in the provision and 
                accessibility of such programs and services; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) making access to programs and services 
                easier for seniors around the country.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) To increase the efficiency and effectiveness 
        of existing housing and service related programs and services 
        which serve seniors.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) To establish an ongoing system of coordination 
        among and within such agencies or organizations so that the 
        housing and service needs of seniors are met in a more 
        efficient manner.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
        or a designee of the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The Secretary of Health and Human Services or 
        a designee of the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) The Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of 
        the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) The Secretary of Transportation or a designee 
        of the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) The Secretary of Labor or a designee of the 
        Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs or a 
        designee of the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) The Secretary of the Treasury or a designee of 
        the Secretary.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) The Commissioner of the Social Security 
        Administration or a designee of the Commissioner.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare 
        and Medicaid Services or a designee of the 
        Administrator.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) The Administrator of the Administration on 
        Aging or a designee of the Administrator.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) The head (or designee) of any other Federal 
        agency as the Council considers appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) State and local representatives knowledgeable 
        about the needs of seniors as chosen by the Council members 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (11).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Council shall 
alternate between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services on an annual 
basis.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Vice Chair.--Each year, the Council shall elect a Vice 
Chair from among its members.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its 
Chairperson or a majority of its members at any time, and no less often 
than quarterly. The Council shall hold meetings with stakeholders and 
other interested parties at least twice a year, so that the opinions of 
such parties can be taken into account and so that outside groups can 
learn of the Council's activities and plans.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL..</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Relevant Activities.--In carrying out its objectives, 
the Council shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) review all Federal programs and services that 
        assist seniors in finding, affording, and rehabilitating 
        housing, including those that assist seniors in accessing 
        health care, transportation, supportive services, and 
        assistance with daily activities, where or close to where 
        seniors live;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements 
        in existing programs and services administered, funded, or 
        financed by Federal, State, and local agencies to assist 
        seniors in meeting their housing and service needs and make any 
        recommendations about how agencies can better work to house and 
        serve seniors; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) recommend ways--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) to reduce duplication among programs 
                and services by Federal agencies that assist seniors in 
                meeting their housing and service needs;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) to ensure collaboration among and 
                within agencies in the provision and availability of 
                programs and services so that seniors are able to 
                easily access needed programs and services;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) to work with States to better provide 
                housing and services to seniors by--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) holding individual meetings 
                        with State representatives;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) providing ongoing technical 
                        assistance to States in better meeting the 
                        needs of seniors; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) working with States to 
                        designate State liaisons to the 
                        Council;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) to identify best practices for 
                programs and services that assist seniors in meeting 
                their housing and service needs, including model--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) programs linking housing and 
                        services;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) financing products offered by 
                        government, quasi-government, and private 
                        sector entities;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) land use, zoning, and 
                        regulatory practices; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) innovations in technology 
                        applications that give seniors access to 
                        information on available services;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) to collect and disseminate information 
                about seniors and the programs and services available 
                to them to ensure that seniors can access comprehensive 
                information;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) to hold biannual meetings with 
                stakeholders and other interested parties (or to hold 
                open Council meetings) to receive input and ideas about 
                how to best meet the housing and service needs of 
                seniors;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) to maintain an updated website of 
                policies, meetings, best practices, programs, services, 
                and any other helpful information to keep people 
                informed of the Council's activities; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) to work with the Federal Interagency 
                Forum on Aging Statistics, the Census Bureau, and 
                member agencies to collect and maintain data relating 
                to the housing and service needs of seniors so that all 
                data can be accessed in one place and to identify and 
                address unmet data needs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Reports.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) By members.--Each year, the head of each 
        agency that is a member of the Council shall prepare and 
        transmit to the Council a report that describes--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) each program and service administered 
                by the agency that serves seniors and the number of 
                seniors served by each program or service, the 
                resources available in each, as well as a breakdown of 
                where each program and service can be 
                accessed;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the barriers and impediments, 
                including statutory or regulatory, to the access and 
                use of such programs and services by seniors;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the efforts made by each agency to 
                increase opportunities for seniors to find and afford 
                housing that meet their needs, including how the agency 
                is working with other agencies to better coordinate 
                programs and services; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) any new data collected by each agency 
                relating to the housing and service needs of 
                seniors.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) By the council.--Each year, the Council shall 
        prepare and transmit to the President, the Senate Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Senate Committee on 
        Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the House Financial 
        Services Committee, and the House Committee on Education and 
        the Workforce a report that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) summarizes the reports required in 
                paragraph (1);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) utilizes recent data to assess the 
                nature of the problems faced by seniors in meeting 
                their unique housing and service needs;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) provides a comprehensive and detailed 
                description of the programs and services of the Federal 
                Government in meeting the needs and problems described 
                in subparagraph (B);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) describes the activities and 
                accomplishments of the Council in working with Federal, 
                State, and local governments, and private organizations 
                in coordinating programs and services to meet the needs 
                described in subparagraph (B) and the resources 
                available to meet those needs;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) assesses the level of Federal 
                assistance required to meet the needs described in 
                subparagraph (B); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) makes recommendations for appropriate 
                legislative and administrative actions to meet the 
                needs described in subparagraph (B) and for 
                coordinating programs and services designed to meet 
                those needs.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL..</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Hearings.--The Council may hold such hearings, sit and 
act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Council considers advisable to carry out the purposes 
of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Information From Agencies.--Agencies which are members 
of the Council shall provide all requested information and data to the 
Council as requested.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Postal Services.--The Council may use the United 
States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Gifts.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose of 
gifts or donations of services or property.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS..</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Compensation of Members.--All members of the Council 
who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
officers or employees of the United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Council shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at 
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes 
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the 
Council.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Staff.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Council shall, without regard 
        to civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an 
        Executive Director and such other additional personnel as may 
        be necessary to enable the Council to perform its 
        duties.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Executive director.--The Council shall appoint 
        an Executive Director at its initial meeting. The Executive 
        Director shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate 
        of pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Compensation.--With the approval of the 
        Council, the Executive Director may appoint and fix the 
        compensation of such additional personnel as necessary to carry 
        out the duties of the Council. The rate of compensation may be 
        set without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
        subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, 
        relating to classification of positions and General Schedule 
        pay rates, except that the rate of pay may not exceed the rate 
        payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
        5316 of such title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Temporary and Intermittent Services.--In carrying out 
its objectives, the Council may procure temporary and intermittent 
services of consultants and experts under section 3109(b) of title 5, 
United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the 
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the 
Council, any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Council 
without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or 
loss of civil service status or privilege.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Administrative Support.--The Secretary of Housing 
Urban Development and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide the Council with such administrative and supportive services as 
are necessary to ensure that the Council can carry out its 
functions.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS..</DELETED>

<DELETED>    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
Act, $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Meeting the Housing and Service 
Needs of Seniors Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The senior population (persons 65 or older) in this 
        country is rapidly growing, and is expected to increase from 
        34,700,000 in 2000 to nearly 40,000,000 by 2010, and then will 
        dramatically increase to over 50,000,000 by 2020.
            (2) By 2020, the population of ``older'' seniors, those 
        over age 85, is expected to double to 7,000,000, and then 
        double again to 14,000,000 by 2040.
            (3) As the senior population increases, so does the need 
        for additional safe, decent, affordable, and suitable housing 
        that meets their unique needs.
            (4) Due to the health care, transportation, and service 
        needs of seniors, issues of providing suitable and affordable 
        housing opportunities differ significantly from the housing 
        needs of other families.
            (5) Seniors need access to a wide array of housing options, 
        such as affordable assisted living, in-home care, supportive or 
        service-enriched housing, and retrofitted homes and apartments 
        to allow seniors to age in place and to avoid premature 
        placement in institutional settings.
            (6) While there are many programs in place to assist 
        seniors in finding and affording suitable housing and accessing 
        needed services, these programs are fragmented and spread 
        across many agencies, making it difficult for seniors to access 
        assistance or to receive comprehensive information.
            (7) Better coordination among Federal agencies is needed, 
        as is better coordination at State and local levels, to ensure 
        that seniors can access government activities, programs, 
        services, and benefits in an effective and efficient manner.
            (8) Up to date, accurate, and accessible statistics on key 
        characteristics of seniors, including conditions, behaviors, 
        and needs, are required to accurately identify the housing and 
        service needs of seniors.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Housing.--The term ``housing'' means any form of 
        residence, including rental housing, homeownership, assisted 
        living, group home, supportive housing arrangement, nursing 
        facility, or any other physical location where a person can 
        live.
            (2) Service.--The term ``service'' includes transportation, 
        health care, nursing assistance, meal, personal care and chore 
        services, assistance with daily activities, mental health care, 
        physical therapy, case management, and any other services 
        needed by seniors to allow them to stay in their housing or 
        find alternative housing that meets their needs.
            (3) Program.--The term ``program'' includes any Federal or 
        State program providing income support, health benefits or 
        other benefits to seniors, housing assistance, mortgages, 
        mortgage or loan insurance or guarantees, housing counseling, 
        supportive services, assistance with daily activities, or other 
        assistance for seniors.
            (4) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Interagency 
        Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors.
            (5) Senior.--The term ``senior'' means any individual 65 
        years of age or older.

SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON MEETING THE HOUSING AND SERVICE NEEDS OF 
              SENIORS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the executive branch an 
independent council to be known as the Interagency Council on Meeting 
the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors.
    (b) Objectives.--The objectives of the Council are as follows:
            (1) To promote coordination and collaboration among the 
        Federal departments and agencies involved with housing, health 
        care, and service needs of seniors in order to better meet the 
        needs of senior citizens.
            (2) To identify the unique housing and service needs faced 
        by seniors around the country and to recommend ways that the 
        Federal Government, States, State and local governments, and 
        others can better meet those needs, including how to ensure 
        that seniors can find and afford housing that allows them to 
        access health care, transportation, nursing assistance, and 
        assistance with daily activities where they live or in their 
        communities.
            (3) To facilitate the aging in place of seniors, by 
        identifying and making available information related to the 
        programs and services necessary to enable seniors to remain in 
        their homes as they age.
            (4) To improve coordination among the housing and service 
        related programs and services of Federal agencies for seniors 
        and to make recommendations about needed changes with an 
        emphasis on--
                    (A) maximizing the impact of existing programs and 
                services;
                    (B) reducing or eliminating areas of overlap and 
                duplication in the provision and accessibility of such 
                programs and services; and
                    (C) making access to programs and services easier 
                for seniors around the country.
            (5) To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of 
        existing housing and service related programs and services 
        which serve seniors.
            (6) To establish an ongoing system of coordination among 
        and within such agencies or organizations so that the housing 
        and service needs of seniors are met in a more efficient 
        manner.
    (c) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of the following:
            (1) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
            (2) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
            (3) The Secretary of Agriculture or a designee of the 
        Secretary.
            (4) The Secretary of Transportation or a designee of the 
        Secretary.
            (5) The Secretary of Labor or a designee of the Secretary.
            (6) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs or a designee of the 
        Secretary.
            (7) The Secretary of the Treasury or a designee of the 
        Secretary.
            (8) The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration 
        or a designee of the Commissioner.
            (9) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
        Medicaid Services or a designee of the Administrator.
            (10) The Administrator of the Administration on Aging or a 
        designee of the Administrator.
            (11) The head (or designee) of any other Federal agency as 
        the Council considers appropriate.
            (12)(A) 3 additional members, as appointed by the President 
        to serve terms not to exceed 4 years, of whom--
                    (i) one shall be a Governor of a State;
                    (ii) one shall be a Mayor of a political 
                subdivision of a State;
                    (iii) one shall be a county, town, township, 
                parish, village, hamlet, or other general purpose local 
                official of a political subdivision of a State.
            (B) Of the members appointed by the President under 
        subparagraph (A)--
                    (i) no more than 2 members may be affiliated with 
                the same political party; and
                    (ii) none shall be considered a Federal employee.
    (d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Council shall alternate 
between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services every 2 years.
    (e) Vice Chair.--Every 2 years, the Council shall elect a Vice 
Chair from among its members.
    (f) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its 
Chairperson or a majority of its members at any time, and no less often 
than quarterly. The Council shall hold meetings with stakeholders and 
other interested parties at least twice a year, so that the opinions of 
such parties can be taken into account and so that outside groups can 
learn of the Council's activities and plans.

SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL.

    (a) Relevant Activities.--In carrying out its objectives, the 
Council shall--
            (1) review all Federal programs and services that assist 
        seniors in finding, affording, and rehabilitating housing, 
        including those that assist seniors in accessing health care, 
        transportation, supportive services, and assistance with daily 
        activities, where or close to where seniors live;
            (2) monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements in 
        existing programs and services administered, funded, or 
        financed by Federal, State, and local agencies to assist 
        seniors in meeting their housing and service needs and make any 
        recommendations about how agencies can better work to house and 
        serve seniors; and
            (3) recommend ways to--
                    (A) reduce duplication among programs and services 
                by Federal agencies that assist seniors in meeting 
                their housing and service needs;
                    (B) ensure collaboration among and within agencies 
                in the provision and availability of programs and 
                services so that seniors are able to easily access 
                needed programs and services;
                    (C) work with States to better provide housing and 
                services to seniors by--
                            (i) holding individual meetings with State 
                        representatives;
                            (ii) providing ongoing technical assistance 
                        to States in better meeting the needs of 
                        seniors; and
                            (iii) working with States to designate 
                        State liaisons to the Council;
                    (D) identify best practices for programs and 
                services that assist seniors in meeting their housing 
                and service needs, including model--
                            (i) programs linking housing and services;
                            (ii) financing products offered by 
                        government, quasi-government, and private 
                        sector entities;
                            (iii) land use, zoning, and regulatory 
                        practices; and
                            (iv) innovations in technology applications 
                        that give seniors access to information on 
                        available services or that help in providing 
                        services to seniors;
                    (E) collect and disseminate information about 
                seniors and the programs and services available to them 
                to ensure that seniors can access comprehensive 
                information;
                    (F) hold biannual meetings with stakeholders and 
                other interested parties (or to hold open Council 
                meetings) to receive input and ideas about how to best 
                meet the housing and service needs of seniors;
                    (G) maintain an updated website of policies, 
                meetings, best practices, programs, services, and any 
                other helpful information to keep people informed of 
                the Council's activities; and
                    (H) work with the Federal Interagency Forum on 
                Aging Statistics, the Census Bureau, and member 
                agencies to collect and maintain data relating to the 
                housing and service needs of seniors so that all data 
                can be accessed in one place and to identify and 
                address unmet data needs.
    (b) Reports.--
            (1) By members.--Each year, the head of each agency who is 
        a member of the Council shall prepare and transmit to the 
        Council a report that describes--
                    (A) each program and service administered by the 
                agency that serves a substantial number of seniors and 
                the number of seniors served by each program or 
                service, the resources available in each, as well as a 
                breakdown of where each program and service can be 
                accessed;
                    (B) the barriers and impediments, including 
                statutory or regulatory, to the access and use of such 
                programs and services by seniors;
                    (C) the efforts made by each agency to increase 
                opportunities for seniors to find and afford housing 
                that meet their needs, including how the agency is 
                working with other agencies to better coordinate 
                programs and services; and
                    (D) any new data collected by each agency relating 
                to the housing and service needs of seniors.
            (2) By the council.--Each year, the Council shall prepare 
        and transmit to the President, the Committee on Banking, 
        Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on 
        Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the 
        Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Financial 
        Services Committee of the House of Representatives, the 
        Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of 
        Representatives, a report that--
                    (A) summarizes the reports required in paragraph 
                (1);
                    (B) utilizes recent data to assess the nature of 
                the problems faced by seniors in meeting their unique 
                housing and service needs;
                    (C) provides a comprehensive and detailed 
                description of the programs and services of the Federal 
                Government in meeting the needs and problems described 
                in subparagraph (B);
                    (D) describes the activities and accomplishments of 
                the Council in working with Federal, State, and local 
                governments, and private organizations in coordinating 
                programs and services to meet the needs described in 
                subparagraph (B) and the resources available to meet 
                those needs;
                    (E) assesses the level of Federal assistance 
                required to meet the needs described in subparagraph 
                (B); and
                    (F) makes recommendations for appropriate 
                legislative and administrative actions to meet the 
                needs described in subparagraph (B) and for 
                coordinating programs and services designed to meet 
                those needs.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.

    (a) Hearings.--The Council may hold such hearings, sit and act at 
such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence 
as the Council considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this 
Act.
    (b) Information From Agencies.--Agencies which are represented on 
the Council shall provide all requested information and data to the 
Council as requested.
    (c) Postal Services.--The Council may use the United States mails 
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments 
and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (d) Gifts.--
            (1) In general.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose 
        of gifts or donations of services or property.
            (2) Regulations required.--The Council shall adopt internal 
        regulations governing the receipt of gifts or donations of 
        services or property similar to those described in part 2601 of 
        title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 7. COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--
            (1) Non-federal employees.--A member of the Council who is 
        not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall 
        serve without compensation.
            (2) Federal employees.--A member of the Council who is an 
        officer or employee of the United States shall serve without 
        compensation in addition to the compensation received for 
        services of the member as an officer or employee of the Federal 
        Government.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Council shall be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
places of business in the performance of services for the Council.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) Executive director.--The Council shall appoint an 
        Executive Director at its initial meeting. The Executive 
        Director shall be compensated at a rate not to exceed the rate 
        of pay payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
        section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.
            (2) Compensation.--With the approval of the Council, the 
        Executive Director may appoint and fix the compensation of such 
        additional personnel as necessary to carry out the duties of 
        the Council. The rate of compensation may be set without regard 
        to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter II of chapter 53 
        of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of 
        positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate 
        of pay may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the 
        Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (d) Temporary and Intermittent Services.--In carrying out its 
objectives, the Council may procure temporary and intermittent services 
of consultants and experts under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily 
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of 
the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (e) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the Council, 
any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Council without 
reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of 
civil service status or privilege.
    (f) Administrative Support.--The Secretary of Housing Urban 
Development and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
provide the Council with such administrative (including office space), 
supportive services, and technical supports as are necessary to ensure 
that the Council can carry out its functions.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, 
$1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010.
                                                       Calendar No. 285

109th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 705

                          [Report No. 109-178]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To establish the Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and Service 
               Needs of Seniors, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 15, 2005

                       Reported with an amendment