[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 41 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Pages 2012-2013]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to House Speaker Newt Gingrich Urging Reauthorization of the 
Older Americans Act

October 8, 1998

Dear Mr. Speaker:

    I am writing to urge you to pass legislation to reauthorize the 
Older Americans Act (OAA) before the Congress adjourns this year. 
Failure to do so will call into question our nation's commitment to the 
Act and the vital services it provides to millions of older Americans.
    Legislation to reauthorize the OAA has gained an impressive degree 
of bipartisan support. In fact, the legislation introduced by 
Representative LoBiondo and Representative DeFazio has been cosponsored 
by more than 170 House Members.
    The OAA is receiving broad support because it has played such an 
important role in responding to the diverse needs of our nation's 
seniors. It provides more than 100 million meals to nearly one million 
vulnerable seniors each year through its meals-on-wheels program; it 
finances and supports an ombudsman program that helps resolve tens of 
thousands of problems, including abuse and neglect, affecting nursing 
home residents and other vulnerable populations; it provides job 
training for seniors who need or want to work; and, in many communities, 
it provides the type of adult day care that gives families a much needed 
respite from caregiving responsibilities.
    These programs are essential to ensuring that our nation's seniors 
can maintain their

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independence. Sometimes a few basic services or programs, such as adult 
day care or adequate nutrition, are all that is necessary to allow 
seniors with limited resources to continue living in their homes and 
communities. Without the OAA, too many older Americans would have no 
choice but to turn to long-term care facilities to get the help they 
need. This harms those who would like to remain in their communities, 
significantly draining our nation's limited resources.
    No political party gains--and all Americans lose--when we fail to 
work together to pass a bipartisan reauthorization of the OAA. I am 
committed to working with you to reauthorize this critically important 
legislation.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this letter.