[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ELDER ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks there have been 
several news reports about one of the most rapidly growing crimes in 
our communities. In fact, the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County 
Register have both reported a rise in physical and financial abuse 
against senior citizens.
  As our population continues to grow older, we must be prepared to 
face the reality of these horrible crimes. As leaders in our 
communities, we must be prepared to deal with this growing problem of 
elder abuse.

                              {time}  1315

  All too often seniors are taken advantage of in their own homes. Many 
perpetrators see senior citizens as easy targets who are both 
vulnerable and oftentimes unable to defend themselves. It is our 
responsibility to help protect our elders from these criminals and to 
ensure that they feel safe within their own homes. I have been working 
closely with the local agencies, law enforcement agencies and the FBI 
to develop legislation that will effectively protect senior citizens 
from abuse.
  H.R. 3181 does this. H.R. 3181, the Older and Disabled Americans 
Criminal Protection Act, authorizes shared housing agencies to run 
background checks on potential caretakers. Shared housing agencies give 
seniors the opportunity to remain within their own homes by matching 
them with a caretaker who cares for them in lieu of rent. 
Unfortunately, shared housing agencies do not have the proper tools to 
help ensure the safety of these senior citizens. H.R. 3181 gives shared 
housing agencies the proper mechanism to run State and FBI background 
checks on potential caretakers before placing them in the home of a 
senior citizen. The local police departments in my district along with 
the FBI have commended H.R. 3181 as a proactive effort to prevent 
crime. They recognize the growing problem of elder abuse and realize 
that my bill attacks these crimes by lessening the chance that they 
will ever occur. As people grow older, remaining in their homes should 
increase their level of comfort and security, not threaten it. I urge 
all of my colleagues to join me in this effort to protect our loved 
ones and to battle the growing problem of elder abuse. It is our 
responsibility to give our communities the proper tools to battle 
crime. Cosponsor H.R. 3181 and protect our senior citizens.

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