[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3207-S3211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SARBANES:
  S. 705. A bill to establish the Interagency Council on Meeting the 
Housing and Service Needs of Seniors, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
establish an Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and Service 
Needs of Seniors, which will help the Federal Government work with its 
partners to meet the growing housing and related needs of senior 
citizens around the country. The Interagency Council will work to 
better coordinate Federal programs so that seniors and their families 
can access the programs and the services necessary to allow them to age 
in place or find suitable housing alternatives.
  It is important that we take note of the needs of this rapidly 
growing senior population. In 2000, the population over 65 years of age 
was 34.7 million. This number is expected to grow to over 50 million by 
2020. By the year 2030, nearly one-fifth of the United States 
population will be above 65 years of age.
  In recognition of the importance of this issue, in 1999 Congress 
established the Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility 
Needs for Seniors--``Seniors Commission''--to assess the Federal role 
in senior housing, health and supportive services. The Seniors

[[Page S3208]]

Commission made a number of significant findings. For example, the 
commission found that seniors require a wide array of housing options 
with access to services, including meal preparation, transportation, 
health care, and assistance with daily activities. According to the 
Seniors Commission, over 18 percent of senior citizens--over 5.8 
million seniors--who do not reside in nursing facilities have 
difficulty performing their daily activities without assistance. Over a 
million of these seniors are severely impaired, requiring assistance 
with many of their basic tasks. Many other seniors, those that can 
perform their daily functions, still require access to health care, 
transportation and other services. Without enhanced housing 
opportunities, such as service-enriched housing or assisted living 
facilities, these seniors find it increasingly difficult to remain 
outside of nursing homes or other institutional settings. In fact, the 
Seniors Commission found that ``many seniors across the income spectrum 
are at risk of institutionalization or neglect due to declining health 
and the loss or absence of support and timely interventions.'' For many 
seniors, in-home care, service-enriched housing, retrofitted homes and 
apartments, and assisted living-type facilities are sorely needed so 
that seniors can access necessary services where they live.
  While there are numerous Federal programs that assist seniors and 
their families in meeting these needs, they are fragmented across many 
government agencies, with little or no coordination. In fact, the 
Seniors Commission found that ``the most striking characteristic of 
seniors' housing and health care in this country is the disconnection 
of one field from another.'' For example, housing assistance is 
available from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 
Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
while health care and supportive services are most likely accessed 
through various branches of the Department of Health and Human 
Services, such as the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and 
the Administration on Aging, as well as through the Department of 
Transportation and the Department of Labor.
  The Seniors Commission concluded that ``the time has come for 
coordination among Federal and State agencies and administrators.'' The 
legislation I am introducing today, the ``Meeting the Housing and 
Service Needs of Seniors Act of 2005,'' answers the commission's call 
to action by implementing the recommendation for better federal 
coordination.
  Through a high-level interagency council the Federal Government will 
take a simple, but critical, step in addressing this fragmentation. 
This Council will have a variety of functions. The council will review 
all Federal programs designed to assist seniors, identify gaps in 
services, make recommendations about how to reduce duplication, 
identify best practices for relevant programs and services, and most 
importantly, work to improve the availability of housing and services 
for seniors. The council will also monitor, evaluate, and recommend 
improvements in existing programs and services that assist seniors in 
meeting their housing and service needs at the Federal, State, and 
local level, and will work to more effectively coordinate programs at 
the federal level, as well as at the state level, where many of the 
decisions regarding health and service needs are made. In addition, the 
council will be responsible for collecting and disseminating 
information, through a variety of means, about seniors and the programs 
and services relating to their needs. Through collaboration with the 
Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Statistics and the Census Bureau, 
the council will consolidate data on these needs and identify and 
address unmet data needs.
  With improved collaboration and coordination among the Federal 
agencies and our State partners, we can ensure that seniors are better 
able to access housing and services. To ensure its effectiveness, the 
council will be comprised of top-level officials who oversee the 
programs which assist seniors in this country, including the 
Secretaries of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; the 
Department of Health and Human Services; the Department of Labor; the 
Department of Transportation; and the Department of Veterans Affairs; 
as well as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration; the 
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and 
the Administrator of the Administration for the Aging.
  This is a step we must take. It is essential that we make it easier 
for seniors and their families to access housing and supportive 
services together, so that when faced with difficult decisions, they do 
not have to navigate a confusing maze of programs and services, and 
work through multiple bureaucracies. We must also make it simpler for 
developers and providers to link housing and services so that greater 
supportive housing opportunities are available to the senior 
population. Through the Interagency Council, it is my hope that we will 
move toward a model of providing housing and services to seniors around 
the country.
  If we are to successfully address these growing needs, it is clear 
that much work must be done. The establishment of an Interagency 
Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors is a 
critical first step in this endeavor. I urge my colleagues to support 
this important legislation, and I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill together with letters of support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 705

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

     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) 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) 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) 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) The term ``Council'' means the Interagency Council on 
     Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors.
       (5) 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

[[Page S3209]]

     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 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 or a 
     designee of the Secretary.
       (2) The Secretary of Health and Human Services or a 
     designee of the Secretary.
       (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) State and local representatives knowledgeable about 
     the needs of seniors as chosen by the Council members 
     described in paragraphs (1) through (11).
       (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.
       (e) Vice Chair.--Each year, 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--
       (A) to reduce duplication among programs and services by 
     Federal agencies that assist seniors in meeting their housing 
     and service needs;
       (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;
       (C) to 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) to 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;
       (E) to collect and disseminate information about seniors 
     and the programs and services available to them to ensure 
     that seniors can access comprehensive information;
       (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;
       (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
       (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.
       (b) Reports.--
       (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--
       (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;
       (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 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--
       (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 members 
     of 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.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose of 
     gifts or donations of services or property.

     SEC. 7. COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       (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.
       (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) In general.--The Council shall, without regard to civil 
     service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an 
     Executive Director and such other additional personnel

[[Page S3210]]

     as may be necessary to enable the Council to perform its 
     duties.
       (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.
       (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.
       (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 and 
     supportive services 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.

                                    Elderly Housing Coalition,

                                     Washington, DC, April 5, 2005
     Re support for Interagency Council on Housing and Service 
         Needs of Seniors.

     Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
     Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, 
         U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Sarbanes: The Elderly Housing Coalition (EHC) 
     is comprised of organizations that represent providers of 
     affordable housing and supportive service for the elderly. We 
     are writing in enthusiastic support of your legislation that 
     would establish the Interagency Council on Housing and 
     Service Needs of Seniors. This Council is desperately needed 
     and will help federal, state and local governments better 
     serve the housing and service needs of our elderly 
     population.
       According to the Congressional Commission on Affordable 
     Housing and Health Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st 
     Century, we must integrate our current fragmented system of 
     programs that seniors rely on to find the housing and 
     services they need. As the number of seniors grows 
     exponentially and will, in fact, have doubled by 2030, we 
     must find a way to use our resources more effectively.
       Your bill will be a great first step to bringing the key 
     governmental agencies together to identify how they can best 
     work to maximize program efficiency and streamline access. 
     Again, we are pleased to offer our support for this 
     legislation establishing an interagency council and thank you 
     for your leadership on this issue.
       If there is anything that the Elderly Housing Coalition can 
     do to help or if you have any questions about the EHC please 
     contact Nancy Libson or Alayna Waldrum at (202) 783-2242.
           Sincerely,
       Alliance for Retired Americans.
       American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
       American Association of Service Coordinators.
       Association of Jewish Aging Services of North America.
       B'nai B'rith International.
       Catholic Charities USA.
       Catholic Health Association of the United States.
       Council of Large Public Housing Authorities.
       Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation.
       Kinship Caregiver Resources/Intergenerational Village 
     Project.
       Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
       National Association of Housing, Cooperatives.
       National Association of Housing and Redevelopment 
     Officials.
       National Housing Conference.
       National Low Income Housing Coalition.
       National PACE Association.
       Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future.
       Volunteers of America.
                                  ____

         American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging,
                                    Washington, DC, April 5, 2005.
     Re Interagency Council on Housing and Service Needs of 
         Seniors Legislation.

     Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
     Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, 
         U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of AAHSA, I am writing to 
     thank you for introducing legislation to establish an 
     Interagency Council on Housing and Service Needs of Seniors. 
     AAHSA members serve two million people every day through 
     mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to 
     providing the services people need, when they need them, in 
     the place they call home. Our members offer the continuum of 
     aging services: assisted living residences, continuing care 
     retirement communities, nursing homes, senior housing 
     facilities, and outreach services. AAHSA's mission is to 
     create the future of aging services through quality the 
     public can trust.
       Half of our members own or operate federally subsidized 
     senior apartment buildings and work collaboratively with home 
     and community based service providers that operate programs 
     governed by a maze of departmental regulations. This unique 
     perspective gives us and our members a bird's eye view of how 
     important it is for the various federal agencies to work 
     together to ensure the best care in the most responsive and 
     efficient manner possible.
       In 2002 the Commission on Affordable Housing and Health 
     Facility Needs for Seniors in the 21st Century reported to 
     Congress that a top priority for the federal government 
     should be integrating the existing fragmented system of 
     programs that seniors rely on to piece together the housing 
     and services they need. Time is precious--the United States 
     is facing exponential growth in our senior population, which 
     will double by 2030. AAHSA members have created a number of 
     successful models for combining services and senior housing. 
     Unfortunately these are limited and difficult to replicate 
     because of the programmatic barriers. Now is the time to get 
     the policymakers to the table to address the barriers and 
     opportunities that exist in our federal programs and how to 
     make them work.
       We know that this can be done. AAHSA strongly supports your 
     bill, which will help the Executive branch and Federal 
     agencies better coordinate the successful aging programs, as 
     an important first step. Thank you for your leadership. If 
     there is anything that AAHSA or my staff can do to support 
     you, please do not hesitate to let me know. I can be reached 
     at (202) 783-2242.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Larry Minnix,
     President and CEO.
                                  ____

                                           American Association of


                                         Service Coordinators,

                                      Columbus, OH, April 5, 2005.
     Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of the 1,600 members of 
     the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC), I 
     want to express our support for your proposed legislation to 
     establish an Interagency Council on Housing and Service Needs 
     of Seniors. AASC believes that this bill is urgently needed 
     to assist service coordinators and others seeking to bring 
     together the various federal and other programs needed by 
     older persons and other special populations.
       In my testimony, before the Commission on Affordable 
     Housing and Health Facility describing the present fragmented 
     system, I stated that ``even for long-time professionals, the 
     current `crazy-quilt' tapestry of services and shelter 
     options makes it difficult to fully grasp their complexities, 
     let alone try to access them. The results are confusion among 
     consumers, duplication of service delivery, government 
     agencies not knowing who supplies what service or that some 
     services even exist, reduction in qualified service workers, 
     regulations that impede dedicated service providers from 
     providing the service they were hired and want to perform.''
       One of AASC recommendations to the Commission was the 
     establishment of a cabinet-level department that would 
     encompass in one entity housing, health care and other 
     federal support programs serving the elderly to better focus 
     federal policy and regulatory efforts, in conjunction with 
     states and communities. AASC believes that your bill is an 
     important step to establish a permanent national platform to 
     address many of the cross-cutting needs and issues 
     confronting increasing numbers of frail and vulnerable older 
     persons.
       As you may know, AASC is a national, nonprofit organization 
     representing professional service coordinators who serve low-
     income older persons and other special populations living in 
     federally assisted and public housing facilities nationwide, 
     their caregivers, and others in their local community. Our 
     dedicated membership consists of service coordinators, case 
     managers and social workers, housing managers and 
     administrators, housing management companies, public housing 
     authorities, state housing finance agencies, state and local 
     area agencies on aging and a broad range of national and 
     state organizations and professionals involved in affordable, 
     service-enhanced housing. Background information on AASC is 
     available on our website: www.servicercoordinators.org.
 We are grateful for your leadership on the vital issue. 
     Please let me know how AASC

[[Page S3211]]

     can assist you to expedite enactment of this important 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Janice Monks,
     President.
                                  ____

                                     Elderly Housing Development &


                                       Operations Corporation,

                               Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 5, 2005.
     Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Sarbanes: I am pleased that Elderly Housing 
     Development and Operations Corporation (EHDOC) representing 
     over 40 senior housing facilities in 14 states, is joining 
     with other non-profit organizations involved with federally 
     assisted senior housing to strongly support your bill to 
     establish an Interagency Council on Housing and Service Needs 
     of Seniors. We believe that the establishment of this 
     Interagency Council will provide a cost-effective and 
     efficient means to promote coordination between the various 
     federal agencies involved with senior housing and services, 
     particularly HUD and HHS.
       EHDOC is well aware of the need to improve collaboration 
     between the various federal agencies based on our efforts to 
     assist low-income, frail elderly in Council House in 
     Suitland, MD. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to link 
     the various services needed to enable many frail elderly to 
     remain in their homes as they age due to the existing 
     fragmentation of federal housing, services and health care 
     policies and programs.
       The difficulty experienced by EHDOC with linking housing 
     and services is repeated by many nonprofit sponsors of 
     federally assisted senior housing throughout the country. As 
     you know, I was I honored to serve as your appointee to the 
     recent Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Care 
     Facilities Needs of Older Persons. We repeatedly heard 
     testimony from public and private agencies involved with 
     senior housing, supportive services and health care, older 
     persons and others, of their difficulties in bringing 
     together these services to meet the needs of older persons.
       As stated in the Senior Commissions' final report, ``the 
     very heart of this Commission's work is the recognition that 
     the housing and service needs of seniors traditionally have 
     been addressed in different `worlds' that often fail to 
     recognize or communicate with each other.'' Findings of the 
     Commission concluded ``while policymakers have struggled to 
     be responsive to the needs of seniors, the very structure of 
     Congressional committees and Federal agencies often makes it 
     difficult to address complex needs in a comprehensive and 
     coordinated fashion. For example: medical needs of seniors 
     are addressed by Medicare and Medicaid; social service needs 
     are addressed by Medicaid, the OAA, and other block grant 
     programs; housing programs are administered by HUD and the 
     Department of Agriculture's RHS; and transportation programs 
     are administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation 
     (DOT).''
       We commend you for your leadership in addressing this 
     critical need to effectively bring together the various 
     federal agencies and others involved with affordable housing 
     and service needs of older persons through the establishment 
     of an Interagency Council on Senior Housing. Please let me if 
     you have any questions or how EHDOC can assist you with the 
     enactment of this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Steve Protulis,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                        National PACE Association,
                                                    April 5, 2005.
     Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of the National PACE 
     Association (NPA), I want to express our support for your 
     bill to establish an Interagency Council on Housing and 
     Service Needs of Seniors. NPA believes that this legislation 
     is essential to provide effective linkages between housing, 
     health care and services, and that the proposed Interagency 
     Council will facilitate an effective national forum to 
     promote coordination among key federal agencies involved with 
     these programs, particularly HUD, HHS, CMS, and DOT.
       As you may know, NPA represents non-profit organizations in 
     21 states, including Hopkins ElderPlus in Baltimore that are 
     providers of PACE--a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the 
     Elderly. PACE programs coordinate and provide all needed 
     preventive, primary, acute and long term care services so 
     that older persons can continue living in the community. PACE 
     serves individuals who are aged 55 or older, certified by 
     their state to need nursing home care, are able to live 
     safely in the community, and live in a state designated PACE 
     service area. PACE provides a ``one stop shop'' for health 
     and long-term care, and our members clearly understand 
     through their extensive experience with the holistic needs of 
     frail elderly, the interrelationship between housing, 
     services, health and long-term care.
       While housing is not a direct PACE benefit, our members 
     have long recognized the importance of housing as a vital 
     aspect of promoting wellness and quality of life for older 
     persons. In fact, nearly all PACE programs nationwide serve 
     enrollees who reside in public and federally assisted 
     multifamily senior housing, and nearly one third of our 
     members co-locate their PACE health care centers with senior 
     housing or assisted living. Unfortunately, it is often 
     difficult to link housing, services and health care due to 
     conflicting funding streams, licensing, eligibility, and 
     other factors.
       Additional background information on PACE, NPA, and our 
     members are available at our website: www.npaonline.org. Our 
     members strongly support your bill and the prompt 
     establishment of an Interagency Council on Senior Housing and 
     Services. We are grateful for your leadership with this 
     effort. Please let me know if you have any questions or how 
     NPA can assist you with this effort to benefit low-income, 
     frail elderly. I can be reached at 703-535-1567 or 
     shawnbanpaonline.org.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Shawn Bloom,
                                                President and CEO.
                                 ______