[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 92 (Monday, July 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8057-S8058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Smith 
        of Oregon, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Breaux, 
        Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Sarbanes, Mrs. Boxer, 
        Mrs. Murray, Mr. Ford, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
        Reid, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Levin, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. 
        Wellstone, Mr. Dorgan, and Mr. Reed):
  S. 2295. A bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to extend 
the authorizations of appropriations for that Act, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


              older americans act reauthorization of 1998

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I introduce the Older 
Americans Act Reauthorization Bill of 1998. I have 22 co-sponsors: 
Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator James Inhofe, Senator Gordon Smith, 
Senator Lauch Faircloth, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Rick Santorum, 
Senator John Breaux, Senator Richard Durbin, Senator Max Cleland, 
Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Paul Sarbanes, Senator Barbara Boxer, 
Senator Patty Murray, Senator Wendell Ford, Senator Ron Wyden, Senator 
Pat Roberts, Senator Daniel Akaka, Senator Harry Reid, Senator Richard 
Bryan, Senator Carl Levin, Senator Bob Graham, and Senator Charles 
Grassley.
  The OAA expired in 1995, and we are entering the fourth year without 
an OAA reauthorization. The bill would reauthorize the OAA thru the 
year 2001 using the language of the 1992 Act. This time frame would 
give needed stability to OAA programs while allowing a full evaluation 
of the OAA to ensure it is relevant to our current and future seniors.
  Reauthorization of the OAA is absolutely essential. It is the major 
vehicle for the delivery of such programs as: meals on wheels; 
congregate meals; home care (personal care, homemaker, and chore 
service); adult day care; senior centers; transportation; a job program 
with skills training for low income seniors; a long term care 
ombudsman; research and demonstration projects; and abuse prevention 
and elder rights.
  In addition, this is the cornerstone of programs for elderly Native 
Americans because it is the only federal program that allows tribes to 
directly plan for the needs of their elderly based on their own culture 
and traditions.
  The OAA is a coordinated system of care that can work alone or hand 
in hand with Medicare and Medicaid services for those seniors in 
greatest social and economic need. It also encourages public/private 
partnerships; promotes seniors volunteering to help one another; and 
spells out a planning and oversight mechanism that includes the seniors 
themselves.
  We all recognize and appreciate the hard work of the Sub-Committee on 
Aging to get an updated, reauthorized bill to us during this Congress, 
and I will continue to work in support of their effort. However, with 
our condensed legislative calendar, the likelihood of completing the 
full committee

[[Page S8058]]

process is diminished. This legislation would provide a short term 
reauthorization in order to allow The Committee to continue its work to 
rewrite the 1992 law.
  This bill is endorsed by 32 of the major national aging organizations 
and associations, a list is attached.
  Mr. President, our nation's seniors and their families are very 
concerned that these vital services will stop. It is time to reassure 
them.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a list of groups 
supporting the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                    Older Americans Act Endorsements

       National Association of State Long Term Care Ombudsman 
     Programs.
       National Silver Haired Congress.
       National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services 
     Programs.
       National Committee to Preserve Social Security and 
     Medicare.
       Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
       National Indian Council on Aging, Inc.
       Texas National Silver Haired Congress.
       National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.
       National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.
       Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, 
     Inc.
       National Council on the Aging.
       National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.
       Arizona Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
       Pima Council on Aging.
       American Bar Association.
       The Center for Social Gerontology.
       American Bar Association Governmental Affairs Office.
       American Association of Retired Persons.
       The National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. (NCBA).
       Association Nacional pro Personas Mayores.
       Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE).
       American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
       National Association of Legal Services Developers 23.
       Alzheimer's Association.
       Adult Care Services, Inc.
       The Gerontological Society of America.
       United Neighborhood Houses of New York.
       Green Thumb, Inc.
       National Council of Senior Citizens.
       National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
       National Asian Pacific Center on Aging.
       National Association of Social Workers.

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