Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, recently joined nine of her colleagues to reintroduce the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act. This legislation renews funding for the OAA and strengthens services for American seniors.
According to New York’s junior senator, the OAA has provided vital nutrition, social, and health services to millions of seniors since its passage in 1965. Last reauthorized in 2020, OAA expired in the 118th Congress. The previous OAA reauthorization passed the Senate unanimously last year.
The Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act would reauthorize OAA programs through fiscal year 2030 and make improvements to promote innovation and flexibility, strengthen program integrity, and better support family caregivers and direct care workers. The bill also takes steps to better serve Tribal seniors and those with disabilities in their communities.
“The OAA has been a lifeline for American seniors since its passage over half a century ago,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This landmark legislation helps our nation’s seniors thrive by supporting programs that provide nutrition assistance, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation services, caregiver support, disease prevention services, long-term care, and more. One in six older Americans are served by programs funded by the OAA. We owe it to seniors to strengthen and continue funding these programs so they have the support they need to age with dignity and respect. As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, I am firmly committed to getting this bill passed with bipartisan support.”
Senator Gillibrand was joined on this legislation by Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee; Bernie Sanders (I-VT), ranking member of the HELP Committee; Rick Scott (R-FL), chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging; Lisa Murkowski (R-AK); Tim Kaine (D-VA); Ben Ray Luján (D-NM); Ed Markey (D-MA); Markwayne Mullin (R-OK); and Susan Collins (R-ME).
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