[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H3236-H3237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       OLDER AMERICANS REAUTHORIZATION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT

  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 1002) to amend the Older Americans 
Act of 1965 to reinstate certain provisions relating to the nutrition 
services incentive program, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                S. 1002

       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 ``Older Americans 
     Reauthorization Technical Corrections Act''.

     SEC. 2. NUTRITION SERVICES INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

       Section 311 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 
     3030a), as amended by section 309 of the Older Americans Act 
     Amendments of 2006, is further amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (b)(3);
       (2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
       ``(d)(1) Each State agency and each title VI grantee shall 
     be entitled to use all or any part of amounts allotted under 
     subsection (b) to obtain, subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), 
     from the Secretary of Agriculture commodities available 
     through any food program of the Department of Agriculture at 
     the rates at which such commodities are valued for purposes 
     of such program.
       ``(2) The Secretary of Agriculture shall determine and 
     report to the Secretary, by such date as the Secretary may 
     require, the amount (if any) of its allotment under 
     subsection (b) which each State agency and title VI grantee 
     has elected to receive in the form of commodities. Such 
     amount shall include an amount bearing the same ratio to the 
     costs to the Secretary of Agriculture of providing such 
     commodities under this subsection as the value of commodities 
     received by such State agency or title VI grantee under this 
     subsection bears to the total value of commodities so 
     received.
       ``(3) From the allotment under subsection (b) for each 
     State agency and title VI grantee, the Secretary shall 
     transfer funds to the Secretary of Agriculture for the costs 
     of commodities received by such State agency or grantee, and 
     expenses related to the procurement of the commodities on 
     behalf of such State agency or grantee, under this 
     subsection, and shall then pay the balance (if any) to such 
     State agency or grantee. The amount of funds transferred for 
     the expenses related to the procurement of the commodities 
     shall be mutually agreed on by the Secretary and the 
     Secretary of Agriculture. The transfer of funds for the costs 
     of the commodities and the related expenses shall occur in a 
     timely manner after the Secretary of Agriculture submits the 
     corresponding report described in paragraph (2), and shall be 
     subject to the availability of appropriations. Amounts 
     received by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to this 
     section to make commodity purchases for a fiscal year for a 
     State agency or title VI grantee shall remain available, only 
     for the next fiscal year, to make commodity purchases for 
     that State agency or grantee pursuant to this section.
       ``(4) Each State agency and title VI grantee shall promptly 
     and equitably disburse amounts received under this subsection 
     to recipients of grants and contracts. Such disbursements 
     shall only be used by such recipients of grants or contracts 
     to purchase domestically produced foods for their nutrition 
     projects.
       ``(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
     require any State agency or title VI grantee to elect to 
     receive cash payments under this subsection.''; and
       (3) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:
       ``(f) In each fiscal year, the Secretary and the Secretary 
     of Agriculture shall jointly disseminate to State agencies, 
     title VI grantees, area agencies on aging, and providers of 
     nutrition services assisted under

[[Page H3237]]

     this title, information concerning the foods available to 
     such State agencies, title VI grantees, area agencies on 
     aging, and providers under subsection (c).''.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       (a) In General.--The amendments made by section 2 shall 
     take effect beginning with fiscal year 2008.
       (b) Application Process.--Effective on the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     take such actions as will enable State agencies and title VI 
     grantees described in section 311 of the Older Americans Act 
     of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030a) to apply during fiscal year 2007 
     for allotments under such section for fiscal year 2008.

  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes technical corrections to 
the Older Americans Reauthorization Act of 2006. The bill would restore 
language regarding the administration of the Nutrition Services 
Incentive Program that existed prior to the Older Americans Act 
Reauthorization of 2006.
  Prior to the reauthorization, this nutrition program provided cash or 
USDA commodities to states to supplement meals for the elderly. Six 
states chose to receive USDA commodities through the program--
Massachusetts, Kansas, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Delaware. 
However, while attempting to relieve administrative burdens for USDA 
during the last reauthorization, Congress inadvertently denied states 
the ability to directly purchase essential USDA commodities.
  This was not the intent of Congress. The states that receive USDA 
commodities run tremendous programs that help provide nutritious meals 
to seniors. Many states reported that they were able to double the 
value of their appropriated funds by purchasing USDA commodities and 
Massachusetts reported that because of this program they were able to 
avoid waiting lists for meals for 17 years.
  I've heard from my fellow Iowans on the importance of this program as 
well. Iowa has participated in this program and recognizes its 
benefits. We never received much money for commodities--only about 
$155,000--but the money goes a long way. Our Area Agencies on Aging 
often have a hard time meeting their budgets, but USDA commodities 
allowed them to serve more meals at a higher quality. Iowa fully 
intends to take advantage of USDA commodities again once we pass this 
bill.
  This bill hasn't strayed from Congress' original intent either. The 
bill reduces the administrative burden on USDA, and streamlines the 
transfer of funds between the Department of Health and Human Services, 
to which funds are appropriated, and the Department of Agriculture, 
which purchases commodities for the states.
  We must pass this bill today so that states wishing to take some or 
all of their NSIP allotment in commodities may place their order with 
the Department of Agriculture for FY 2008 by April 7th.
  It's time to fix the mistakes that were made and allow these state to 
continue to serve seniors the most effective way possible.
  The Senate bill was read a third time and passed, and a motion to 
reconsider was laid on the table.

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