[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 132 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CORRECT THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT TO REFLECT HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF SENIORS

  (Mr. MILLER of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my concerns 
about the Older American Act that was supposed to be on the floor today 
and apparently will be delayed. This is reauthorization of some very, 
very important programs in this country, and as a Congressman who 
represents the largest number of seniors in a congressional district in 
the southwest part of Florida, it is of great concern for me because of 
programs like Meals on Wheels and other senior programs that need to be 
authorized, and they are essential programs.
  The bill that was being proposed had some really good innovations and 
ideas, a care-giver program so that we need to expand upon and create a 
specialized program for it. However, the real problem in that bill was 
the funding formula. Florida, having the largest number of seniors, 
should get its proportionate share of money, but it is biased because 
it is Florida; and that was just plain wrong to say Florida gets less 
percentage-wise than other States. We have more seniors. The seniors 
keep moving to Florida, and they have got a program in the bill that 
says its 1987 census numbers are what we are living with.
  Mr. Speaker, people keep moving to Florida, and we have got to keep 
allowing the money to follow the seniors, and that was the only real 
problem with that bill. Otherwise it is a very good bill, and I hope it 
is brought back to the floor with the correction.

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