[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13253-S13260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MEETING THE HOUSING AND SERVICE NEEDS OF SENIORS ACT OF 2005
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, for the leader I have a unanimous
consent request that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration
of Calendar No. 285, S. 705.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 705) to establish the Interagency Council on
Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors, and for
other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs, with an amendment, as follows:
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic.]
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
[[Page S13254]]
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 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.
[[Page S13255]]
[(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 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.]
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) Housing.--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) Service.--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) Program.--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) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the Interagency
Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors.
(5) Senior.--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 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 information related to 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.
(2) The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(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)(A) 3 additional members, as appointed by the President
to serve terms not to exceed 4 years, of whom--
(i) one shall be a Governor of a State;
(ii) one shall be a Mayor of a political subdivision of a
State;
(iii) one shall be a county, town, township, parish,
village, hamlet, or other general purpose local official of a
political subdivision of a State.
(B) Of the members appointed by the President under
subparagraph (A)--
(i) no more than 2 members may be affiliated with the same
political party; and
(ii) none shall be considered a Federal employee.
(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
every 2 years.
(e) Vice Chair.--Every 2 years, 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,
[[Page S13256]]
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 to--
(A) reduce duplication among programs and services by
Federal agencies that assist seniors in meeting their housing
and service needs;
(B) 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) 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) 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 or that
help in providing services to seniors;
(E) collect and disseminate information about seniors and
the programs and services available to them to ensure that
seniors can access comprehensive information;
(F) 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) 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) 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 who 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 a substantial number of 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 Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the
Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, the Financial
Services Committee of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives, 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
represented on 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.--
(1) In general.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose
of gifts or donations of services or property.
(2) Regulations required.--The Council shall adopt internal
regulations governing the receipt of gifts or donations of
services or property similar to those described in part 2601
of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 7. COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS.
(a) Compensation of Members.--
(1) Non-federal employees.--A member of the Council who is
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall
serve without compensation.
(2) Federal employees.--A member of the Council who is an
officer or employee of the United States shall serve without
compensation in addition to the compensation received for
services of the member as an officer or employee of the
Federal Government.
(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) 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.
(2) 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 (including
office space), supportive services, and technical supports 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.
Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to
support passage of S. 705, legislation to establish an Interagency
Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors. This
legislation 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.
The challenges that confront us are growing more urgent as our
population ages. Data from the 2000 census show that the population
over 65 years of age was 34.7 million. This number is expected to grow
to over 50 million by 2020. It is projected that by 2030 nearly 20
percent of our population will be over 65. That is, almost one American
in every five will be elderly.
As our senior population continues to increase, so will the demand
for affordable housing and service options. This is a matter of concern
not only for those who will need the services but for families--
children along with spouses. It concerns communities all around the
country, as productive and responsible citizens grow older and need
help. It is a matter of deep concern for us all, because it will affect
the well-being of our entire society.
In order for seniors to age in place, or find alternative housing
arrangements, services must be linked with housing. Seniors must be
able to access needed health supports, transportation, meal and chore
services, and assistance with daily tasks in or close to their homes.
Without needed supports, seniors and their families face difficult and
even daunting decisions.
The Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Facility Needs for
Seniors--``Seniors Commission''--established by Congress in 1999 found
that too often, seniors face premature institutionalization because
housing and services are not linked. According to the Commission's
report, ``the very
[[Page S13257]]
heart'' of its 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.''
The Commission concluded that: ``the most striking characteristic of
seniors'' housing and health care in this country is the disconnection
of one field from another.''
If left unattended, the problem of lack of coordination will
increasingly undermine all of our efforts to assure that Americans, as
they age, have access to the services they need. The Interagency
Council on the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors will increase
coordination and will serve as a permanent national platform to address
the needs and issues of our aging population.
The Interagency Council will help to improve collaboration and
coordination among the Federal agencies and our State and local
partners, to ensure that seniors are better able to access housing and
services. This Council will work to find new ways to link housing
programs and needed supportive services to increase their efficiency,
to make them more accessible, and to strengthen their capacity.
The decisions that our seniors and their families must make are
difficult enough. They should not be made more painful and burdensome
by having to negotiate a confusing maze of programs and services and a
multiplicity of administrative procedures. I am hopeful that the
Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors
will be able to focus attention on this problem, while working towards
solutions.
This bill has wide support from a diverse array of groups, ranging
from senior advocates to faith-based organizations and direct service
providers. The diversity of groups that have worked together in support
of this legislation is indicative of the great need for such
coordination. If we are to successfully address the growing needs of
seniors, 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 vote in favor of this important legislation. I ask unanimous consent
that the legislation as reported from Committee be printed immediately
following this statement. I also ask unanimous consent that the
attached letters of support, section-by-section analysis of the bill,
and relevant fact sheet be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. SARBANES. Finally, I want to thank Chairman Shelby for his
leadership and assistance in moving this legislation. I also want to
acknowledge the excellent work of the staff on this bill, especially
that of Jennifer Fogel-Bublick, as well as Sarah Garrett, Mark
Calabria, and Tewana Wilkerson. In addition, we could not have done
this without the active support of Kathy Casey, Chairman Shelby's Staff
Director.
Exhibit 1
AARP,
Washington, DC, April 15, 2005.
Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
Dirksen Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of AARP, thank you for
introducing S. 705, the ``Meeting the Housing and Service
Needs of Seniors Act of 2005,'' a bill to establish an
Interagency Council to improve coordination in service
delivery. As proposed, the Interagency Council would not only
coordinate, but 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, the Council would
collect and disseminate information about seniors along with
these programs and services.
Better coordination of housing programs is needed for a
variety of reasons. In many instances, multiple program
requirements and paperwork may become duplicative and
burdensome. Resident means testing and qualifications may
also be slightly different across programs. And, different
methods of establishing rent levels and defining market areas
for comparison are used by different programs. Lastly,
different housing sponsors and agencies may have different
waiting lists that can overlap for a population at need.
The need for greater coordination is particularly apparent
when trying to put together the housing, health, and social
services programs at all levels of government that are
critical to successfully serving persons with disabilities of
all ages. Research has shown that federal housing programs
have very efficiently, if inadvertently, targeted those who
are at high risk of needing supportive services to remain
independent. Analysis by AARP's Public Policy Institute of
data from the 2002 American Communities Survey found that,
compared to older homeowners, older renters in subsidized
housing were:
Much older--half of the older renters in subsidized housing
were 75 or older compared to just over a third of older
homeowners;
Twice as likely to experience physical and cognitive
limitations that threaten their ability to live
independently;
More than three times as likely to live alone and have weak
informal supports from family; and
Roughly three times as likely to be at high risk of needing
Medicaid assistance due to low incomes and high levels of
disability.
Better coordination of housing, health, and social services
programs would serve a variety of purposes. Housing managers
need reliable partners from health and social services
agencies to serve the large and growing number of frail older
people in their buildings. Social services agencies could
benefit from the greater efficiencies of serving
concentrations of older people with supportive services
needs. But the most compelling case for better coordination
comes from the lives of the older people who need
assistance--the older woman who is desperately clinging to
independence in her apartment; the older man who is told he
must move to a nursing home to get needed services; or the
older resident in a nursing home who might have been able to
leave if suitable housing and services were available.
AARP actively participated in the Seniors Housing
Commission whose 2002 report called attention to many of
these issues. We have supported efforts to expand the mission
of housing programs and to provide the needed tools for
serving older persons with disabilities through building
features that accommodate service needs, staffing that
includes trained service coordinators, and retrofitting
dollars to convert buildings to assisted living. AARP is co-
chairing a process, along with the National Cooperative Bank
Development Corporation, Fannie Mae, and the National Council
of State Housing Finance Agencies, to develop recommendations
on how housing finance programs could be better structured to
promote affordable assisted living. While these efforts have
been important, they do not yet approach the scale of what is
needed to serve the frail older people who need help. Only a
concerted effort by all agencies at all levels of government
can adequately address these needs.
We urge Congress and the Administration to work together to
expedite the passage of this legislation and subsequent
establishment of the Interagency Council. AARP again thanks
you for your attention to the needs of American seniors, and
stands ready to assist you to enact this important
legislation. If you have any further questions, feel free to
contact me, or have your staff contact Tim Gearan of our
Federal Affairs staff.
Sincerely,
David Certner,
Director, Federal Affairs.
____
Elderly Housing Coalition,
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, Dirksen Senate Office Building, 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.
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,
[[Page S13258]]
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
Service Coordinators,
Columbus, OH, April 5, 2005.
Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
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 make 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 can assist you to expedite
enactment of this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Janice Monks,
President.
____
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, Dirksen Senate Office Building, 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.
Sincerely,
Larry Minnix,
President and CEO.
____
United Jewish Communities,
Washington, DC, May 12, 2005.
Hon. Paul Sarbanes,
U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Sarbanes: On behalf of United Jewish
Communities, I am pleased to offer our support for your
efforts to establish an Interagency Council on Housing and
Service Needs for Seniors through your introduction of S.
705, the Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors Act
of 2005. As proposed, the executive level Interagency Council
will provide crucial coordination of housing, health and
social services for seniors. The Interagency Council will
also make possible greater cooperation between the federal
agencies involved with these programs, including HUD, HHS,
DOT and AOA.
As you may know, UJC represents and serves 155 Jewish
Federations and 400 independent Jewish communities across
North America--one of the world's largest and most effective
networks of social service providers and programs, meeting
the needs of all people, Jews and non-Jews, wherever they
live. More importantly, the American Jewish population is
aging faster than the general population. More than a million
Jews are over 65; more than 318,000 live alone. Federation-
supported programs, transportation assistance, home-delivered
meals and a myriad of other services help ensure that our
seniors are cared for with dignity and loving-kindness. It is
critical that we maximize program efficiency and streamline
access.
United Jewish Communities strongly supports your bill,
which will better help key governmental agencies coordinate
aging programs. We urge Congress and the Administration to
work together to pass this legislation. Thank you for your
leadership on this initiative. If there is anything that UJC
can do to be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to
let us know.
Sincerely,
Stephan O. Kline,
Director, Government Affairs.
____
The Enterprise Foundation,
Columbia, MD, May 20, 2005.
Hon. Paul S. Sarbanes,
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and
Urban Affairs, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington,
DC.
Dear Senator Sarbanes: The Enterprise Foundation strongly
supports your bill to establish an Interagency Council on
Housing and Service Needs of Seniors (S. 705). Developing
effective and efficient coordination among the various
federal agencies that are involved in providing housing,
health care and supportive services to seniors is critical to
meeting the needs of elderly low-income Americans and their
families.
The Enterprise Foundation and our subsidiary organization,
the Enterprise Social Investment Corporation, certainly
recognize that providing decent, affordable housing for low-
income seniors requires effective linkages between housing
and services to enable seniors to remain in their homes and
communities. To date, ESIC has completed 212 elderly housing
projects, representing an invetment of more than $729
million. Of the 68,727 affordable housing units ESIC has
produced, 20,005 include support services for elderly and
disabled residents as well as families.
In recognition of the need for collaboration, The
Foundation, ESIC and the Corporation for Supportive Housing
have recently embarked on a new Supportive Housing Investment
Partnership that is the nation's largest, most ambitious
initiative focused on leveraging private capital investments
to significantly increase the production of supportive
housing across the country. This partnership will enable
nonprofit developers to build more than 3,000 new supportive
housing units over the next two years. This partnership is
designed to expand the impact of all of the partners, to be
flexible in adapting to local needs and environments, and
also to support the established relationships and the
significant efforts to date of each partner.
Similar collaboration at the federal level among and within
agencies providing programs and services for seniors would
maximize the impact of . . . seniors receive the assistance
they need.
The Enterprise Foundation commends you for your leadership
on this and other housing issues and urges Congress to
expedite the passage of this critical legislation. Please
[[Page S13259]]
call upon us if we can provide additional information or
assistance.,
Sincerely,
F. Barton Harvey III,
Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer.
____
Elderly Housing Development
& Operations Corporation,
Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 15, 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 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 Trsportation
(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.
____
S. 705--Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
This section establishes the title of the bill, the
``Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors Act of
2005''
Section 2. Congressional findings
This section states Congressional Findings, including:
(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) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
Section 3. Definitions
This section provides definitions of the following terms:
``housing,'' ``service,'' ``program,'' ``Council,'' and
``senior.''
Section 4. Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and
Service Needs of Seniors
This section establishes a high level executive branch
Interagency Council on Meeting the Housing and Service Needs
of Seniors.
This section also lays out the objectives of the Council,
including promoting coordination and collaboration among the
federal agencies and departments which serve seniors;
identifying housing and service needs of seniors;
facilitating the aging in place of seniors; and making
recommendations about needed changes to maximize the impact
of existing programs, reduce duplication and increase access
to programs and services.
This section details the Council membership--the
Secretaries of HUD and HHS, as well as the Secretaries or
designees of the Department of Agriculture, Labor,
Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and the Treasury. Also
serving on the Council will be the following (or their
designees): the Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services and the Administrator of the
Administration on Aging. The Council will also have three
additional members- a Governor, a Mayor and a local official,
as appointed by the President. This section establishes that
the Secretaries of HUD and HHS will chair the Council in
rotating 2-year terms. Under this section, the Council is
required to meet quarterly, and must hold at least 2 meetings
a year with stakeholders and interested parties. This
requirement can be met by opening at least two of the
quarterly meetings to the public.
Section 5. Functions of the council
This section lists the activities that the Council will
undertake in meeting its objectives. In meeting its
objectives, the Council will: review all federal programs and
services that assist seniors; monitor, evaluate and recommend
improvements in existing programs, and how programs can be
better coordinated; recommend ways to reduce duplication and
ensure greater collaboration; work to facilitate the aging in
place of seniors; work with states to ensure programs and
services are coordinated at state and local levels; identify
best practices for meeting the needs of seniors; ensure
seniors have access to information about programs and
services, including the establishment of a website; and
maintain updated data sources on seniors and their needs.
This section also requires that each agency or department
that is a member of the Council provide a report to the
Council that describes: each program in the agency or
department that serves a substantial number of seniors; any
barriers to the access and use of such programs; the efforts
made by the agency in increasing service enriched housing
opportunities for seniors; and any new data relating to
housing and service needs of seniors.
Based on the information provided by each member agency,
the Council is required to prepare and transmit a report to
Congress and the President that summarizes the agency
information; assesses the needs of seniors; provides a
comprehensive description of the programs and services that
exist for seniors; describes how the agencies and Council are
working with state and local governments and private
organizations to better coordinate senior programs; and makes
recommendations for legislative and administrative changes
needed to better meet the needs of seniors.
Section 6. Powers of the council
This section details how the Council will work, including
granting the Council the power to hold hearings and take
testimony as needed. In addition, this section provides that
member agencies must provide the Council with all requested
information. This section also requires the Council to adopt
internal ethics guidelines.
Section 7. Council personnel matters
This section clarifies that Council members shall not be
compensated for their service on the Council. Under this
section, the Council must appoint an Executive Director at
its initial meeting, and the Executive Director, with the
approval of the Council may hire staff.
This section also requires the Secretaries of the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services to provide all
necessary administrative support including office space and
computer/internet access.
Section 8. Authorization of appropriations
This section authorizes $1.5 million per year for 5 years
for the Council.
Summary of Legislation to establish an Interagency Council on Meeting
the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors
This legislation will create an executive level Interagency
Council to better coordinate housing programs and related
services so that senior citizens can age in place and access
needed services. Unfortunately, the current programs and
services that assist the elderly in meeting their needs are
spread across numerous federal agencies, making it difficult
for seniors to understand and access needed services.
The senior population (persons 65 or older) in this country
is rapidly growing, and is expected to increase from 34.7
million in 2000 to nearly 40 million by 2010, and then will
dramatically increase 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. As the senior population increases,
so does the need for additional safe, decent, affordable, and
suitable housing that meets their unique needs.
The Council will undertake a number of activities to help
coordinate housing programs and services for seniors:
[[Page S13260]]
Conduct a thorough review of all federal programs and
services designed to assist seniors with their housing needs
Facilitate the ``aging in place'' of seniors
Make recommendations about how to reduce duplication among
programs and how to more effectively coordinate programs and
services
Collect and disseminate data and information on seniors and
their needs
Maintain an updated website with information on how seniors
can access housing and services that fit their needs
Work with States to coordinate programs and services at the
State and local level
Implement the recommendation of the 1999 Congressionally
established Seniors Commission that the federal government
streamline and consolidate its programs and services for
seniors
This Interagency Council will be comprised of the
Secretaries (or designees) of the agencies which operate
programs for seniors: HUD, HHS, DOT, Agriculture, Treasury,
Labor, 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 on Aging.
The legislation authorizes $1.5 million per year for 5
years to pay for staff and other expenses. .
The legislation is supported by many organizations involved
in housing and services for seniors, including: AARP
(American Association of Retired Persons), NAHRO (the
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials),
AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the
Aging), the Elderly Housing Coalition, and the National Low
Income Housing Coalition.
Aging Needs in the United States
Our Nation's Senior Population is Rapidly Growing, and
Americans are Living Longer Than Ever Before.
The senior population (age 65 and older) is expected to
double by 2030, from 36 million to 70 million, one-fifth of
the Nation's population.
By 2050 there will be over 86 million seniors, an increase
of 147% since 2000.
The average American life expectancy is anticipated to
increase from 76 to 81 by 2060.
By 2020 the number of seniors over age 85 is expected to
double to 7 million and then double again to 14 million by
2040.
Seniors Want to Age in Place.
82% of Americans age 45 and older say that even if they
need help caring for themselves, they prefer receiving
services that allow them to stay in their current home.
89% of those 55 and older desire to age in place, up from
84% in 1992.
To Facilitate Aging in Place, Services Must Be Connected to
Housing.
While many seniors want to remain at home, over 18% of
seniors (over 5.8 million) who do not reside in nursing
facilities have difficulty performing their daily activities
without assistance, and over one 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.
In fact, nearly 20% of seniors have significant long-term
care needs.
It is predicted that both shrinking family size and
increasing workforce participation by women could make
informal care less available (women currently provide the
majority of such care), leading to a greater reliance on care
from other sources.
In 2005, $129 billion will be spent on paid care for
seniors; roughly $15,000 per senior.
To pay for long-term care, many seniors rely on government
funding--Medicaid (39%) and Medicare (20%), while 36% of
seniors pay out-of-pocket expenses.
Today, approximately one-third of all Medicaid spending
pays for long-term care, making Medicaid our Nation's largest
source of payment for such services and supports.
Medicaid spent a total of $83.8 billion for long-term care
services in 2003.
Of those over age 85, roughly 55% are impaired and require
long-term care.
A Florida study showed that more than 34% of seniors in
government-assisted housing have no family to turn to if sick
or disabled.
Many Seniors Are Not in a Financial Position to Pay for the
Housing and/or Services They Need.
There are nearly six times as many seniors in need of
affordable housing as are currently served in rent-assisted
housing.
81% of seniors are homeowners, but: 44% of those have
incomes of less than 50% of Area Median Income; 40% have no
savings; 26% have less than $25,000 saved.
35% of senior renters are severely rent burdened and pay
more than 50% of their income for rent.
The median income of older persons in 2002 was $19,436 for
males and $11,406 for females.
In home support services are expensive and can cost from
$140-$200 per day, or up to $73,000 per year.
Roughly one-third of seniors who enter a nursing home are
eligible for Medicaid upon admission; another third deplete
their assets paying for care and then turn to Medicaid to pay
for the portion of care that exceeds their income.
Nuring Homes: Without services, seniors find it difficult
to remain outside of nursing homes or other institutional
settings.
One third of seniors leave their homes to go to nursing
homes.
Nursing home costs average $60,000 per year; these costs
are expected to rise at least 5% annually.
Almost 20% of seniors over age 85 live in nursing homes,
compared with less than 2% of seniors age 65-84.
65% of nursing home admissions are directly from hospitals,
giving families little time to explore other options.
The Congressionally established Seniors Commission found in
their 2002 report that the unsynchronized federal housing and
health policies often lead to premature institutionalization.
Assisted Living Facilities: Many seniors could be well
served in assisted living facilities, an immediate step
between aging in place and nursing homes.
Assisted living is the fastest growing type of senior
housing in the United States, accounting for roughly 75% of
all new senior housing produced in recent years.
The typical assisted living resident is a widowed White
woman, age 85.
Roughly 50% of assisted living residents have Alzheimer's
disease or other cognitive impairment.
In 2002, over 36,000 assisted living facilities served
approximately 910,000 residents.
Assisted living costs between $2,100 and $2,900 a month,
and is primarily private pay. Few people have private
insurance coverage, and public subsidies are limited.
In 2002, 41 states provided at least some Medicaid coverage
for assisted living (serving about 102,000 elderly Medicaid
beneficiaries), but this covered personal care services, not
room and board.
Programs and Services for Seniors are Fragmented:
Regardless of where seniors live, it is clear that housing
and services must be linked.
The 1999 Congressionally established 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.''
The Seniors Commission also found that ``the time has come
for coordination among Federal and State agencies and
administrators.''
What these facts illustrate is that there is tremendous
stress on seniors and on their families to find, maintain and
afford housing; to acquire and pay for personal care
assistance or long term care; and to access other needed
services that can keep them independent and enable them to
stay connected to their communities and age in place.
Senator Sarbanes has introduced an Interagency Council on
Meeting the Housing and Service Needs of Seniors, to better
coordinate housing programs and related services so that
seniors can age in place and access needed services.
Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported
amendment be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time and
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any
statements be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The bill (S. 705), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
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