APPENDIX

OLDER AMERICANS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1987

[Public Law 100-175, November 29, 1987 (101 Stat. 926)]

TITLE II-WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING

SEC. 201. WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE AUTHORIZED. (a) FINDINGS.-The Congress finds that

(1) the number of individuals 55 years of age or older was approximately 52,923,000 in 1990, and will, by the year 2040, be approximately 103,646,000,

(2) more than 1 of every 8 persons 55 years of age or older will be hospitalized during the next year,

(3) the out-of-pocket costs to older individuals for health care increased from 12.3 percent in 1977 to 18.2 percent in 1988,

(4) there is a great need to ensure access and the quality of affordable health care to all older individuals,

(5) the need for a comprehensive and responsive long-term care delivery system is great,

(6) the availability and cost of suitable housing, together with suitable services needed for independent or semi-independent living, still cause concern to older individuals,

(7) the ability to lead an independent or semi-independent life is contingent, in many cases, upon the availability of a comprehensive and effective social service system for older individuals,

(8) the availability and access to opportunities for continued productivity and employment is of great importance to middle-aged and older individuals who want or need to work,

(9) the fulfillment, dignity, and satisfaction of retirees still depend on the continuing development of a consistent national retirement policy,

(10) there is a continuing need to maintain and preserve the national policy with respect to increasing, coordinating, and expediting biomedical and other appropriate research directed at determining the causes and effects of the aging proc

ess,

(11) false stereotypes about aging and the process of aging continue to be prevalent throughout the United States and policies should be nurtured to overcome such stereotypes, and

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(12) the talents and experience of older individuals represent a valuable community resource which should be developed and more widely shared within the local community. (b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the Congress that—

(1) the Federal Government should work jointly with the States and their citizens to develop recommendations and plans for action to meet the challenges and needs of older individuals, consistent with the objectives of this section, and

(2) in developing programs for the aging pursuant to this section emphasis should be directed toward individual, private, and public initiatives and resources intended to enhance the economic security and self-sufficiency of elder Americans.

(42 U.S.C. 3001 note)

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.

(a) AUTHORITY TO CALL CONFERENCE.-Not later than December 31, 1994 the President shall convene the White House Conference on Aging in order to develop recommendations for additional research and action in the field of aging which will further the policy set forth in subsection (b).

(b) PLANNING AND DIRECTION.-The Conference shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the Secretary in cooperation with the Commissioner on Aging and the Director of the National Institute on Aging, and the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as are appropriate. Such assistance may include the assignment of personnel.

(c) PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE.-The purpose of the Conference shall be

(1) to increase the public awareness of the interdependence of generations and the essential contributions of older individuals to society for the well-being of all generations;

(2) to identify the problems facing older individuals and the commonalities of the problems with problems of younger generations;

(3) to examine the well-being of older individuals, including the impact the wellness of older individuals has on our aging society;

(4) to develop such specific and comprehensive recommendations for executive and legislative action as may be appropriate for maintaining and improving the well-being of the aging;

(5) to develop recommendations for the coordination of Federal policy with State and local needs and the implementation of such recommendations; and

(6) to review the status and multigenerational value of recommendations adopted at previous White House Conferences on Aging.

(d) CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND DELEGATES.

(1) PARTICIPANTS.-In order to carry out the purposes of this section, the Conference shall bring together—

(A) representatives of Federal, State, and local governments,

(B) professional and lay people who are working in the field of aging, and

(C) representatives of the general public, particularly older individuals.

(2) SELECTION OF DELEGATES.-The delegates shall be selected without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity and shall, to the best of the appointing authority's ability, be representative of the spectrum of thought in the field of aging. Delegates shall include individuals who are professionals, individuals who are nonprofessionals, minority individuals, and individuals from low-income families.

(42 U.S.C. 3001 note)

SEC. 203. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION.

(a) ADMINISTRATION.-In administering this section, the Secretary shall

(1) provide written notice to all members of the Policy Committee of each meeting, hearing, or working session of the Policy Committee not later than 48 hours before the occurrence of such meeting, hearing, or working session,

(2) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate in the carrying out of this section,

(3) furnish all reasonable assistance, including financial assistance, to State agencies on the aging and to area agencies on the aging, and to other appropriate organizations (including organizations representing older Indians), to enable them to organize and conduct conferences in conjunction with the Conference,

(4) make available for public comment a proposed agenda, prepared by the Policy Committee, for the Conference which will reflect to the greatest extent possible the major issues facing older individuals consistent with the provisions of subsection (a),

(5) prepare and make available background materials for the use of delegates to the Conference which the Secretary deems necessary, and

(6) engage such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section without regard to provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

(b) DUTIES.-The Secretary shall, in carrying out the Secretary's responsibilities and functions under this section, and as part of the White House Conference on Aging, ensure that(1) the conferences under subsection (a)(2) shall—

(A) include a conference on older Indians to identify conditions that adversely affect older Indians, to propose solutions to ameliorate such conditions, and to provide for the exchange of information relating to the delivery of services to older Indians, and

(B) be so conducted as to assure broad participation of older individuals,

(2) the agenda prepared under subsection (a) (4) for the Conference is published in the Federal Register not later than

30 days after such agenda is approved by the Policy Committee, and the Secretary may republish such agenda together with the recommendations of the Secretary regarding such agenda,

(3) the personnel engaged under subsection (a)(5) shall be fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous partisan activities,

(4) the recommendations of the Conference are not inappropriately influenced by any appointing authority or by any special interest, but will instead be the result of the independent judgment of the Conference, and

(5) current and adequate statistical data, including decennial census data, and other information on the well-being of older individuals in the United States are readily available, in advance of the Conference, to the delegates of the Conference, together with such information as may be necessary to evaluate Federal programs and policies relating to aging. In carrying out this subparagraph, the Secretary is authorized to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, public agencies and nonprofit private organizations.

(c) GIFTS.-The Secretary may accept, on behalf of the United States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including voluntary and uncompensated services), which shall be available to carry out this title. Gifts of cash shall be available in addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this title.

RECORDS.-The

(d) regarding―

Secretary shall maintain records

(1) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts accepted under subsection (c); and

(2) the identity of each person receiving assistance to carry out this title, and the amount of such assistance received by each such person.

(42 U.S.C. 3001 note)

SEC. 204. POLICY COMMITTEE; RELATED COMMITTEES.

(a) POLICY COMMITTEE.

(1) ESTABLISHMENT.-There is established a Policy Committee comprised of 25 members to be selected, not later than 90 days after the enactment of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1992, as follows:

(A) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES.-Thirteen members shall be selected by the President and shall include

(i) 3 members who are officers or employees of the United States; and

(ii) 10 members with experience in the field of aging, who may include representatives of public aging agencies, institution-based organizations, and minority aging organizations.

(B) HOUSE APPOINTEES.-Four members shall be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and shall include members of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Represent

atives, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Aging of the House of Representatives. Not more than 3 members selected under this subparagraph may be associated or affiliated with the same political party.

(C) SENATE APPOINTEES.-Four members shall be selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the Minority Leader of the Senate, and shall include members of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate. Not more than 3 members selected under this subparagraph may be associated or affiliated with the same political party.

(D) JOINT APPOINTEES.-Four members shall be selected jointly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the minority leaders of the House and Senate, and shall include representatives with experience in the field of aging, who may include representatives described in subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii). Not more than 2 members selected under this subparagraph may be associated or affiliated with the same political party.

(2) DUTIES OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE.-The Policy Committee shall initially meet at the call of the Secretary, but not later than 30 days after the last member is selected under subsection (a). Subsequent meetings of the Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the chairperson of the Policy Committee. Through meetings, hearings, and working sessions, the Policy Committee shall

(A) make recommendations to the Secretary to facilitate the timely convening of the Conference;

(B) formulate and approve a proposed agenda for the Conference not later than 60 days after the first meeting of the Policy Committee;

(C) make recommendations for participants and delegates of the Conference;

(D) establish the number of delegates to be selected under section 202(d)(2); and

(E) formulate and approve the initial report of the Conference in accordance with section 205.

(3) QUORUM; COMMITTEE VOTING; CHAIRPERSON.

(A) QUORUM.-Thirteen members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the Policy Committee, except that 17 members shall constitute a quorum for purposes of approving the agenda required by paragraph (2)(B) and the report required by paragraph (2)(E).

(B) VOTING.-The Policy Committee shall act by the vote of the majority of the members present.

(C) CHAIRPERSON.-The President shall select a chairperson from among the members of the Policy Committee. The chairperson may vote only to break a tie vote of the other members of the Policy Committee.