[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1285-E1286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SENIOR INDEPENDENCE ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2006

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
bill which reauthorizes the Older Americans Act. This act was developed 
with the goals of improving the lives of older people in areas of 
income, housing, health, employment, retirement, and community service. 
At the outset, I have to commend and thank Chairman McKeon, Ranking 
Member Miller, Subcommittee Chairman Tiberi, and Subcommittee Ranking 
Member Hinojosa for this incredible bipartisan bill. This has been one 
of the most bipartisan efforts in which I have engaged during my tenure 
in Congress. Also, I extend my sincerest appreciation to the majority 
and minority staff members for working diligently to address my 
concerns. Also, I would like to thank the delegates of the White House 
Conference I on Aging for their input on and promotion of this 
reauthorization. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have a Seniors and Eldercare Taskforce composed of a 
wonderful group of experts who advise me on key issues regarding 
seniors in my district--the great city of Chicago. I want to recognize 
and thank the cochairs of this taskforce--Karen Graham and Phyllis 
Mitzen--and the members of this taskforce for their leadership and 
attention to the needs of seniors in Chicago.'' This act advances many 
areas of concern to my district. Foremost, it expands access of younger 
grandparents to the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and it 
encourages states to adopt Kinship Navigator programs for relative 
caregivers. In the United States, 2.4 million grandparents are 
responsible for raising grandchildren in their homes. My congressional 
district has over 10,000 grandparent-headed households; it has the 
second highest percentage of children living in grandparent-headed 
households in the nation. This bill aids these caregivers with services 
that help in their care giving responsibilities. Further, the

[[Page E1286]]

bill promotes community based services via self-directed models of 
care. It specifically directs the Assistant Secretary on Aging to help 
individuals avoid depleting their assets in order to qualify for 
Medicaid. This bill would reduce instances of abuse and neglect and 
improve data collection on the subject by broadening the definition of 
abuse to include self neglect and better coordinating the efforts of 
state and local agencies, building on the ideas promoted by my 
colleague from Illinois, Mr. Emmanuel. I also am very happy that the 
bill emphasizes the importance of mental health in many ways, drawing 
on the spirit of the Positive Aging Act sponsored by Mr. Kennedy.
  Mr. Speaker, The 38th Vice President of the United States, Hubert 
Humphrey, once said, ``The moral test of government is how it treats 
those who are in the dawn of life . . . the children [and] those who 
are in the twilight of life . . . the elderly.'' The Senior 
Independence Act of 2006 ensures that our Government continues to 
recognize the needs of the elder within our country and continues to 
fulfill these needs.

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