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(10) Freedom, independence, and the free exercise of individual initiative in planning and managing their own lives."

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 102. For the purposes of this Act

(1) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare;

(2) The term "Commissioner" means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Commissioner of the Administration on Aging.

(3) The term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands."

7 In addition to the Declaration of Objectives of the Older Americans Act, embodied in sec. 101, the 1973 Amendments stated their objectives, as follows:

"FINDINGS AND PURPOSES

"SEC. 101. The Congress finds that millions of older citizens in this Nation are suffering unnecessary harm from the lack of adequate services. It is therefore the purpose of this Act, in support of the objectives of the Older Americans Act of 1965, to

(1) make available comprehensive programs which include a full range of health, education, and social services to our older citizens who need them,

(2) give full and special consideration to older citizens with special needs in planning such programs, and, pending the availability of such programs for all older citizens, give priority to the elderly with the greatest economic and social need,

(3) provide comprehensive programs which will assure the coordinated delivery of a full range of essential services to our older citizens, and, where applicable, also furnish meaningful employment opportunities for many individuals, including older persons, young persons, and volunteers from the community, and

(4) insure that the planning and operation of such programs will be undertaken as a partnership of older citizens, community agencies, and State and local governments, with appropriate assistance from the Federal Government."

"The 1967 Amendments, sec. 5(a)(1) inserted, “unless the context otherwise requires,".

9 The 1969 Amendments, sec. 10(a) added ", and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands”.

(4) The term "nonprofit" as applied to any agency, institution, or organization means an agency, institution, or organization which is, or is owned and operated by1o one or more corporations or associations no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

TITLE II-ADMINISTRATION ON AGING

ESTABLISHMENT OF ADMINISTRATION ON AGING"

SEC. 201. (a) There is established in the Office of the Secretary an Administration on Aging (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Administration") which shall be headed by a Commissioner on Aging (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Commissioner"). Except for title VI and as otherwise specifically provided by the Older Americans Comprehensive Services Amendments of 1973, the Administration shall be the principal agency for carrying out this Act. In the performance of his functions, the Commissioner shall be directly responsible to the Office of the Secretary. The Secretary shall not approve any delegation of the functions of the Commissioner to any other officer not directly responsible to the Commissioner.

(b) The Commissioner shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

10 The 1967 Amendments, sec. 5(a)(2) deleted "The term 'nonprofit institution or organization' means an institution or organization which is owned and operated by" and inserted "The term 'nonprofit' as applied to any agency, institution, or organization means an agency, institution, or organization which is, or is owned and operated by.".

11 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(a), completely revised sec. 201, by (a) requiring that the Administration on Aging be in the Office of the Secretary, (b) requiring that AoA, with exceptions, be the principal agency for carrying out this Act, (c) requiring that the Commissioner, in the performance of his functions, be directly responsible to the Office of the Secretary, and (d) prohibiting approval by the Secretary of any deration of the Commissioner's functions to "any other officer not directly responsible to the Commissioner", unless the Secretary took certain actions. However, the 1974 Amendments, sec. 2, changed this to an absolute prohibition against such delegation.

FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE

SEC. 202. (a) It shall be the duty and function of the Administration to

(1) serve as a clearinghouse for information related to problems of the aged and aging;

(2) assist the Secretary in all matters pertaining to problems of the aged and aging;

(3) administer the grants provided by this Act;

(4)12 develop plans, conduct and arrange for research in the field of aging, and assist in the establishment of and carry out programs designed to meet the needs of older persons for social services, including nutrition, hospitalization, preretirement training, continuing education, low-cost transportation and housing, and health services;

(5) provide technical assistance and consultation to States and political subdivisions thereof with respect to programs for the aged and aging;

(6) prepare, publish, and disseminate educational materials dealing with the welfare of older persons;

(7) gather statistics in the field of aging which other Federal agencies are not collecting;

(8) stimulate more effective use of existing resources and available services for the aged and aging; and

(9)13 develop basic policies and set priorities with respect to the development and operation of programs and activities conducted under authority of this Act;

(10) provide for the coordination of Federal programs and activities related to such purposes;

(11) coordinate, and assist in, the planning and development by public (including Federal, State, and local agencies) and nonprofit private organizations of programs for older persons, with a view to the establishment of a nationwide network of comprehensive, coordinated services and opportunities for such persons;

12 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(b)(1), revised paragraph (4). It previously read: "(4) develop plans, conduct and arrange for research and demonstration programs in the field of aging;".

13 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(b)(2), added paragraphs (9) through (16).

(12) convene conferences of such authorities and officials of public (including Federal, State, and local agencies) and nonprofit private organizations concerned with the development and operation of programs for older persons as the Commissioner deems necessary or proper for the development and implementation of policies related to the purposes of this Act;

(13) develop and operate programs providing services and opportunities as authorized by this Act which are not otherwise provided by existing programs for older persons;

(14) carry on a continuing evaluation of the programs and activities related to the purposes of this Act, with particular attention to the impact of medicare and medicaid, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967, and the programs of the National Housing Act relating to housing for the elderly and the setting of standards for the licensing of nursing homes, intermediate care homes, and other facilities providing care for older people;

(15) provide information and assistance to private nonprofit organizations for the establishment and operation by them of programs and activities related to the purposes of this Act; and

(16) develop, in coordination with other agencies, a national plan for meeting the needs for trained personnel in the field of aging, and for training persons for carrying out programs related to the purposes of this Act, and conduct and provide for the conducting of such training.

(b)14 In executing his duties and functions under this Act and carrying out the programs and activities provided for by this Act, the Commissioner, in consultation with the Director of Action, shall take all possible steps to encourage and permit voluntary groups active in social services, including youth organizations active at the high school or college levels, to participate and be involved individually or through representative groups in such programs or activities to the maximum. extent feasible, through the performance of advisory or consultative functions, and in other appropriate ways.

FEDERAL AGENCY COOPERATION 15

SEC. 203. Federal Agencies proposing to establish programs substantially related to the purposes of this Act shall consult with the Administration on Aging prior to the establishment of such services, and Federal

14 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(b)(3), added subsection (b). 15 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(c), added this as a new section of Title II.

agencies administering such programs shall cooperate with the Administration on Aging in carrying out such services.

THE NATIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CLEARING HOUSE

13

FOR THE AGING 15

SEC. 204. (a) The Commissioner is authorized and directed to establish and operate a National Information and Resource Clearing House for the Aging which shall

(1) collect, analyze, prepare, and disseminate information related to the needs and interests of older persons;

(2) obtain information concerning older persons from public and private agencies and other organizations serving the needs and interests of older persons and furnish, upon request, information to such agencies and organizations, including information developed by Federal, State, and local public agencies with respect to programs of such agencies designed to serve the needs and interests of older persons;

(3) encourage the establishment of State and local information centers and provide technical assistance to such centers, including sources established under section 304(c)(3) and section 305(a) (7), to assist older persons to have ready access to information; and

(4) carry out a special program for the collection and dissemination of information relevant to consumer interests of older persons in order that such older persons may more readily obtain information concerning goods and services needed by them.

(b) The Commissioner shall take whatever action is necessary to achieve coordination of activities carried out or assisted by all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government with respect to the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relevant to older persons. To the extent practicable, the Commissioner shall carry out his functions under this subsection through the National Information and Resource Clearing House for the Aging.

(c) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes of this section during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973, the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, and the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, such sums as may be necessary.

FEDERAL COUNCIL ON THE AGING 16

SEC. 205. (a) There is established a Federal Council on the Aging to

15 See footnote on previous page.

16 The 1973 Amendments, sec. 201(c) added this as a new section of

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