[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 20, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4431-S4432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, each May, our Nation pays tribute to the 
contribution older Americans have made to our great country as many 
communities all across our great Nation come together to celebrate 
Older Americans Month.
  Having grown up in eastern Arkansas in a small community, the 
daughter of a farmer, I was within walking distance of both my 
grandparents. I learned incredible lessons from them that I still carry 
with me today. I imagine there are many of my Senate colleagues who can 
stop and think about a wonderful memory of growing up with grandparents 
or maybe an older aunt or uncle who lived nearby, perhaps it was a 
favorite schoolteacher or a mentor in the community or in their 
neighborhood.
  The pride and dedication older Americans have had for our country was 
impressed upon me from a very early age, from all of those different 
figures in my life--my grandparents, obviously, but also from wonderful 
teachers, as well as neighbors, those who shared their stories with me, 
they shared their values with me, they helped me become the person I am 
today. Whether it was hearing about my grandfathers' service in World 
War I--both of them having served as infantrymen in World War I--or 
maybe it was the jar my grandmother left on the mantelpiece that stored 
the coins during the Great Depression or the story of my neighbor who, 
during World War II, flew over ``the hump'' and did tremendous feats in 
World War II, so many people who have affected my life. Again, I am 
sure that if any Senator takes the time, they will remember their lives 
have been affected as well by an individual just like that.
  Even though I didn't know it, I was a caregiver at an early age when 
it was one of my and my cousin's tasks to take dinner, nightly meals 
over to our grandparents' house. Later in my life, when my grandmother 
was ill and lived with us in our home and I shared a room with her, 
that time spent with my grandparents and with others, other elderly 
people in my community and in my neighborhood--they were priceless for 
both of us. Not only was I able to give something of my energy and my 
experiences in the current time, but it was wonderful also for her, my 
grandmother, who lived with us, because she was able to share her 
experiences and values with me, and I was able to learn so many of 
life's lessons from her and from the others in my community.
  Today's world is so much different. Even though we no longer live 
within walking distance of our parents or grandparents, my husband 
Steve and I make a very conscious effort to ensure that our children 
spend quality time with their grandparents. It seems appropriate, then, 
during Older Americans Month that I rise this morning to draw attention 
to a piece of legislation that I and my good friend and colleague from 
Utah, Senator Hatch, who has been on the Senate floor earlier this 
morning, have introduced that seeks to protect millions of older 
Americans. It is the Elder Justice Act.

  I also want to note that Chairman Kohl and ranking member Gordon 
Smith of the Senate Special Committee on Aging have been champions of 
this legislation as well, and I certainly appreciate all they do in 
bringing about both support as well as knowledge of this piece of 
legislation.
  I have been a cosponsor of the Elder Justice Act since it was 
originally introduced in 2002, and I helped pass a version of this bill 
out of the Senate Finance Committee in 2004, in 2005, and again in 
2006. Unfortunately, the Elder Justice Act has yet to become law 
despite the fact that our Nation continues to grow older and despite 
the fact that the tragedy of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation 
continues.
  It is hard for any of us to imagine that our elderly loved ones would 
be victim to those types of actions, the abuse or neglect or 
exploitation that exists in this country. We have held hearings on 
elder abuse for almost 25 years. Yet not one single Federal employee 
works full time on this issue. We are beginning to make progress. I 
encourage all my colleagues to join me, not only in this month when we 
celebrate the wonderful heritage of older Americans, but to ensure that 
we move a piece of legislation that will protect them.
  The House of Representatives recently held its first hearing on this 
issue in 17 years--thanks to the hard work of Congressman Rahm Emmanuel 
and Peter King--and the Elder Justice Act is currently going through 
the committee markup in that body. In addition to adding cosponsors, we 
are looking for opportunities to pass this legislation this year in the 
Senate.
  Abuse of our senior citizens can be physical, it can be sexual, it 
can be psychological, or it can be financial. The perpetrator may be a 
stranger, it may be an acquaintance, it may be a paid caregiver, it 
might be a corporation and, sadly, even a spouse or another family 
member. We have an obligation to the older Americans of this country 
not to sit around for another 25 years but to come up with the 
solutions that already exist for so many other Americans. Elder abuse 
happens everywhere and at all levels of income and in all geographic 
areas, whether you live in an urban area or out on a county road in 
rural America. No matter how rich you are, and no matter where you 
live, no one is immune. When we say no one is immune, it means none of 
our loved ones are immune from this horrific act.
  Congress must make our seniors a priority and pass the Elder Justice 
Act as soon as possible. This bill represents a consensus agreement 
developed by the Elder Justice Coalition, a national coalition of 547 
members, including 226 organizations and 321 individuals, dedicated to 
eliminating elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation in this great 
country of ours. This bill reminds us that Congress has already passed 
comprehensive bills to address child abuse and violence against women 
but has continued to ignore the fact that we have no Federal law 
enacted to date on elder abuse.
  We have made great strides. I know, as cochairman of the Senate 
Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children, we have made great strides in 
how we can better protect our children from exploitation and from all 
the different fears and dangers that are out there. Why would we not 
want to do this for the wonderful elderly people of this country who 
have given all of us so very much?
  Every older American has the right to enjoy his or her golden years 
free of abuse and neglect. As Americans age--and I know and many of us 
know from personal experience--they want to maintain their independence 
and their dignity and their pride. It is very difficult when they 
become exploited or abused or neglected. It is hard for them to reach 
out and ask for help and care, particularly of their children. It is 
not something easy for them to do. It is why we have the responsibility 
in the Senate to do something about elder abuse.
  The Elder Justice Act will enhance our knowledge about abuse of our 
seniors in all of its terrible forms. It will elevate elder abuse to 
the national stage. We cannot solve this problem if we do not 
understand it, we do not know how it occurs, and we do not begin to use 
the tools we have already to protect the seniors of this country. Too 
many of our seniors suffer needlessly. Each year anywhere between

[[Page S4432]]

500,000 and 5 million seniors in our country are abused. They are 
abused, neglected, or exploited, and, sadly, most of those abuses go 
unreported.
  This historical problem will only worsen as 77 million baby boomers 
begin to age. The Elder Justice Act confronts elder abuse in the same 
way we combat child abuse and violence against women--through law 
enforcement, public health programs, and social services at all levels 
of government. We are not talking about reinventing the wheel, we are 
talking about using what we have learned in the abuse of children and 
in the abuse of women and applying those tools to one of our greatest 
blessings, the elderly of this country.
  The bill also establishes research projects to assist in the 
development of future legislation. The Elder Justice Act will take 
steps to make older Americans safer in their own homes, in nursing home 
facilities, in neighborhoods all across this country. It enhances the 
detection of elder abuse, and it helps seniors recover from abuse after 
it happens. It increases collaboration between Federal agencies and 
between Federal, State, local, and private entities, law enforcement, 
long-term care facilities, consumer advocates, and families to prevent 
and treat elder abuse.
  I urge my colleagues, all of them, to remember those individuals in 
your life, certainly in your communities, and others who have given so 
much to this country, whether it was somebody years ago who helped to 
build this great Nation through education as a teacher, perhaps, an 
educator; maybe it was building our economy in this country by building 
a great company or a great effort there; perhaps it was a soldier from 
years past who defended the rights of this country and our freedoms 
today. Look back and consider the special people in your life, such as 
an elderly neighbor or a grandparent. I know there is not a day that 
goes by in my life that I don't think about those people who have so 
tremendously affected my life, who have taught me values, and who have 
shared stories with me, who have helped me become who I am. Each one of 
us needs to stop and think of those individuals.
  Maybe it was a teacher in the first grade. Maybe it was a coach. 
Maybe it was a music instructor. Maybe it was a Sunday school teacher. 
Maybe it was a police officer. I think of all those different people 
who have made a difference in my life, and I want to ensure that as a 
nation we respect their safety and their ability to live in this 
country with dignity and security.
  I hope all my colleagues will consider whomever those special people 
were in their lives, who helped support their dreams, provided wisdom, 
perhaps, and advice throughout their development--there are millions 
out there--and each one of us needs to take the time to remember them. 
It is time for Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to address 
elder abuse and protect those in their twilight of life.
  I urge my colleagues to take a look in this month of May, when we 
look in respect and admiration to the older Americans of this country, 
and provide the kind of law that we have provided for children and for 
women to protect them from abuse and exploitation.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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