[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2093-E2094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 OLDER AMERICANS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1995

                                 ______


                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, November 1, 1995

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Older 
Americans Act Amendments of 1995. I am very pleased to support the 
continuation of the Older Americans Act which has been so successful 
and means so much to our Nation's elderly population. This act 
continues to address the special needs of our Nation's chronologically 
gifted, as I like to say. The Older Americans Act encourages and 
assists State and area agencies on aging to concentrate resources on 
comprehensive and coordinated systems to serve older individuals. Over 
the years it has evolved into a nationwide network that provides a wide 
array of service programs that include promotion of independent living, 
senior nutrition programs, in-home and community based care, programs 
for elder abuse, and the sole Federal jobs creation program benefiting 
low-income older workers.
  The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families held four 
hearings this past summer to examine the Older Americans Act. While 
support remains strong for this legislation, the subcommittee heard 
consistent testimony on the need for increased State and local 
flexibility and on the practical need for consolidation and 
streamlining. As a result, the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1995 
focus on increased flexibility that will improve the aging networks' 
ability to improve service to our elderly population now, and well into 
the 21st century.
  This legislation will provide maximum authority to States and 
localities to design and operate services and programs for seniors. It 
will drive more money directly to the States and local communities by 
decreasing bureaucracy and administrative costs. The Older Americans 
Act Amendments of 1995 will consolidate and simplify aging services 
programs by combining multiple programs and funding streams under the 
act. It encourages the establishment of a system that is more 
streamlined, that is designed to empower consumers through encouraged 
competition and easy access to services.
  With Congress committed to balancing our country's Federal budget, 
Federal spending programs across the board have been subject to 
evaluation and review. While current budget constraints and actual 
appropriations prevent us from increasing funding for OAA programs; 
streamlining this act and reducing the Federal bureaucracy will allow 
Congress to retain these vital services while bringing our country's 
fiscal responsibility into order. This bill authorizes amounts for 
fiscal year 1997 that are consistent with the House appropriations for 
fiscal year 1996. Should those numbers increase in a House and Senate 
appropriations conference, those increases will be reflected 

[[Page E 2094]]
in the final legislation. The Older Americans Act Amendments of 1995 
assures that the maximum amount of funds available will go directly to 
our elderly with the greatest needs. Resource limitations make it all 
the more important for us to remain vigilant in ensuring that we reach 
those elderly persons with the greatest economic need and greatest 
social need.
  Our intent in this bill is to encourage maximum flexibility so that 
State and local agencies can improve service delivery systems that are 
currently in place. In nutrition services, we eliminate the restrictive 
nature of the current nutrition programs that have separate funding 
for congregate, in-home delivered meals and USDA commodities by 
consolidating the nutrition funding streams into one flexible account 
for nutrition services. After years of requests by service providers, 
this legislation, for the first time, allows States to implement a 
cost-sharing program for in-home type services and nutrition programs 
in order to expand programs to seniors. Cost sharing would be based on 
self-declaration of income. The legislation also continues to encourage 
voluntary contributions and allows States to develop a voucher system 
for services, such as nutrition or supportive services that are not 
available through traditional providers.

  In addition, the Senior Community Service Employment Program will be 
administered directly by the States and competed among local public and 
private non-profit organizations and area agencies on aging within the 
States. This new administration of the program will allow for more 
resources to go directly to low-income seniors for part-time employment 
and allow States to better meet the needs of their older individuals. 
In making changes to the Senior Community Service Employment Program we 
have allowed for a transition period to mitigate disruptions to 
individuals currently enrolled in the program.
  States and localities have been given more flexibility to determine 
appropriate services and address local needs. In addition, States have 
more discretion in the development of their intrastate funding formula. 
Title VII Elder Rights Protection has been consolidated into Title III 
Supportive Services which can provide for a wide array of services from 
transportation, in-home type services to elder abuse activities. The 
requirement for the Statewide Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is 
maintained. The ability to transfer up to 50 percent of funding between 
Nutrition and Supportive Services is also included in the legislation.
  In an effort to consolidate senior related programs into the act, we 
have moved three senior volunteer programs, the Retired Senior 
Volunteer Program, the Foster Grandparent Program and the Senior 
Companion Program from the Corporation for National Service. We feel 
that this move will provide a secure home for these important programs 
well into the future.
  There have been concerns in the past about the wide array of ever 
increasing mandates that appeared in the act with each new 
reauthorization. The Administration on Aging was overwhelmed with 
increasing demands while resources were shrinking. In this legislation 
we try to relieve the AOA of some of those demands so that it can focus 
on its' most critical and primary mission. For the first time, the 
Administration on Aging will be responsible for administering all 
programs under this act. With the elimination of the former Title IV 
Training Research and Discretionary Programs, the Assistant Secretary 
has been given broad authority to carry out these types of programs. 
Requirements for special offices within the administration were 
eliminated while maintaining the need for individuals with expertise in 
these areas. While nothing in the act precludes the AOA from continuing 
these offices, it provides the administration with additional 
flexibility.
  The Older Americans Act has always been viewed as a most worthwhile 
piece of legislation. I firmly believe that the 1995 Amendments will 
provide the flexibility to address the changing needs of our older 
individuals and continue to honor our commitment to them now, and well 
into the future. I urge my colleagues to support the Older Americans 
Act Amendments of 1995.

                          ____________________