[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Pages 27171-27178]
[From the U.S. 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 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.

[[Page 27172]]

       [(7) The Secretary of the Treasury or a designee of the 
     Secretary.
       [(8) The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration 
     or a designee of the Commissioner.
       [(9) The Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
     Medicaid Services or a designee of the Administrator.
       [(10) The Administrator of the Administration on Aging or a 
     designee of the Administrator.
       [(11) The head (or designee) of any other Federal agency as 
     the Council considers appropriate.
       [(12) State and local representatives knowledgeable about 
     the needs of seniors as chosen by the Council members 
     described in paragraphs (1) through (11).
       [(d) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Council shall 
     alternate between the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on 
     an annual basis.
       [(e) Vice Chair.--Each year, the Council shall elect a Vice 
     Chair from among its members.
       [(f) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of its 
     Chairperson or a majority of its members at any time, and no 
     less often than quarterly. The Council shall hold meetings 
     with stakeholders and other interested parties at least twice 
     a year, so that the opinions of such parties can be taken 
     into account and so that outside groups can learn of the 
     Council's activities and plans.

     [SEC. 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL.

       [(a) Relevant Activities.--In carrying out its objectives, 
     the Council shall--
       [(1) review all Federal programs and services that assist 
     seniors in finding, affording, and rehabilitating housing, 
     including those that assist seniors in accessing health care, 
     transportation, supportive services, and assistance with 
     daily activities, where or close to where seniors live;
       [(2) monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements in 
     existing programs and services administered, funded, or 
     financed by Federal, State, and local agencies to assist 
     seniors in meeting their housing and service needs and make 
     any recommendations about how agencies can better work to 
     house and serve seniors; and
       [(3) recommend ways--
       [(A) to reduce duplication among programs and services by 
     Federal agencies that assist seniors in meeting their housing 
     and service needs;
       [(B) to ensure collaboration among and within agencies in 
     the provision and availability of programs and services so 
     that seniors are able to easily access needed programs and 
     services;
       [(C) to work with States to better provide housing and 
     services to seniors by--
       [(i) holding individual meetings with State 
     representatives;
       [(ii) providing ongoing technical assistance to States in 
     better meeting the needs of seniors; and
       [(iii) working with States to designate State liaisons to 
     the Council;
       [(D) to identify best practices for programs and services 
     that assist seniors in meeting their housing and service 
     needs, including model--
       [(i) programs linking housing and services;
       [(ii) financing products offered by government, quasi-
     government, and private sector entities;
       [(iii) land use, zoning, and regulatory practices; and
       [(iv) innovations in technology applications that give 
     seniors access to information on available services;
       [(E) to collect and disseminate information about seniors 
     and the programs and services available to them to ensure 
     that seniors can access comprehensive information;
       [(F) to hold biannual meetings with stakeholders and other 
     interested parties (or to hold open Council meetings) to 
     receive input and ideas about how to best meet the housing 
     and service needs of seniors;
       [(G) to maintain an updated website of policies, meetings, 
     best practices, programs, services, and any other helpful 
     information to keep people informed of the Council's 
     activities; and
       [(H) to work with the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging 
     Statistics, the Census Bureau, and member agencies to collect 
     and maintain data relating to the housing and service needs 
     of seniors so that all data can be accessed in one place and 
     to identify and address unmet data needs.
       [(b) Reports.--
       [(1) By members.--Each year, the head of each agency that 
     is a member of the Council shall prepare and transmit to the 
     Council a report that describes--
       [(A) each program and service administered by the agency 
     that serves seniors and the number of seniors served by each 
     program or service, the resources available in each, as well 
     as a breakdown of where each program and service can be 
     accessed;
       [(B) the barriers and impediments, including statutory or 
     regulatory, to the access and use of such programs and 
     services by seniors;
       [(C) the efforts made by each agency to increase 
     opportunities for seniors to find and afford housing that 
     meet their needs, including how the agency is working with 
     other agencies to better coordinate programs and services; 
     and
       [(D) any new data collected by each agency relating to the 
     housing and service needs of seniors.
       [(2) By the council.--Each year, the Council shall prepare 
     and transmit to the President, the Senate Committee on 
     Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Senate Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the House Financial 
     Services Committee, and the House Committee on Education and 
     the Workforce a report that--
       [(A) summarizes the reports required in paragraph (1);
       [(B) utilizes recent data to assess the nature of the 
     problems faced by seniors in meeting their unique housing and 
     service needs;
       [(C) provides a comprehensive and detailed description of 
     the programs and services of the Federal Government in 
     meeting the needs and problems described in subparagraph (B);
       [(D) describes the activities and accomplishments of the 
     Council in working with Federal, State, and local 
     governments, and private organizations in coordinating 
     programs and services to meet the needs described in 
     subparagraph (B) and the resources available to meet those 
     needs;
       [(E) assesses the level of Federal assistance required to 
     meet the needs described in subparagraph (B); and
       [(F) makes recommendations for appropriate legislative and 
     administrative actions to meet the needs described in 
     subparagraph (B) and for coordinating programs and services 
     designed to meet those needs.

     [SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COUNCIL.

       [(a) Hearings.--The Council may hold such hearings, sit and 
     act at such times and places, take such testimony, and 
     receive such evidence as the Council considers advisable to 
     carry out the purposes of this Act.
       [(b) Information From Agencies.--Agencies which are members 
     of the Council shall provide all requested information and 
     data to the Council as requested.
       [(c) Postal Services.--The Council may use the United 
     States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
     as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
       [(d) Gifts.--The Council may accept, use, and dispose of 
     gifts or donations of services or property.

     [SEC. 7. COUNCIL PERSONNEL MATTERS.

       [(a) Compensation of Members.--All members of the Council 
     who are officers or employees of the United States shall 
     serve without compensation in addition to that received for 
     their services as officers or employees of the United States.
       [(b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Council shall be 
     allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
     under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
     Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services for the Council.
       [(c) Staff.--
       [(1) In general.--The Council shall, without regard to 
     civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an 
     Executive Director and such other additional personnel 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.]

[[Page 27173]]



     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, 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

[[Page 27174]]

     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 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.

[[Page 27175]]

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, Elderly Housing Development and Operations 
           Corporation.
         Kinship Caregiver Resources/Intergen-
           erational 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.''

[[Page 27176]]

       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 
     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

[[Page 27177]]

     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:
       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.

[[Page 27178]]

       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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