think the municipalities are just not going to be able to pick up the difference, so I think it's important that we make sure Congress allocates enough money so we really not only take care of the present number but also be able to make that program available to many more seniors who are out there and because of the cuts we really are not able to expand. In fact, we are diminishing, when the numbers of the elderly are on the increase and I think the fastest growing of our population are the frail elderly and I really do have great concern unless we keep these programs going is we are going to build-up a population of nursing home patients because they are not going to be getting the kinds of services that have been provided up to now, so I encourage that there be much more funding put into the Older Americans Act so there is a continuity to the programs as well as an expansion that will allow for the increasing number of people that are reaching that glorious age of 65. Mrs. Lowey. Thank you very much. Ms. Lee, do have any additional comments or are you really going to give us the secret as to why you look so wonderfully young? Ms. LEE. We have been cut also at Commerce. The exercise man, he used to come every week, now he's only there every other week, so, we also have been cut, but whether you have money or not, you're never turned down a meal, we always-we have a donation to give if you have it and if you have not, you will also get a meal. Mrs. Lowey. Thank you very, very much, and I want to thank the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Education and Labor Committee for coming to Westchester County to listen to the testimony, which I feel has been very invaluable. We're very fortunate that we do have you, who are so committed and have been working so hard to make life better for our seniors, and I want to assure you that the Chair and I will continue to fight in partnership with the rest of our committee-fight for these programs that are really vital in our community so that no senior will be turned away. I would like to invite the members in the audience who are part of my Senior Advisory Committee to please join us in the meeting directly adjacent to this room, and if anybody else who is in the audience would like to join us, we're going to have additional discussion concerning the Older Americans Act. So, please join us and I thank you very, very much for being here. This meeting is adjourned. [Whereupon, at 12:45 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.] JOINT HEARING ON THE NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS ACT AND THE IMPACT OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT ON OLDER INDIANS AND HISPANICS SATURDAY, MAY 4, 1991 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN Toppenish, WA. The subcommittees met, pursuant to notice, at 1 p.m., at Yakima National Cultural Center, Winter Lodge, Toppenish, Washington, Hon. Matthew G. Martinez and Senator Brock Adams presiding. Members present. Representatives Martinez, Hayes, and Senator Adams. Chairman MARTINEZ. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the full Committee of Education and Labor I would like to call this meeting to order. And I would like to start out by saying that we are here today in the Yakima Native Cultural Center. We are here to receive testimony on Native American issues under the Native Americans Program Act and Title VI of the Older Americans Act, as well as Hispanic issues under the Older Americans Act. We are the House Subcommittee, as I said earlier, on Human Resources. I would like to introduce at this time my colleague from that committee, the gentleman from Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Hayes. Mr. HAYES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to commend you for holding this hearing today. It is timely and addresses key concerns regarding the impact of the Older Americans Act on elderly Americans, Indians and Hispanics. And we are concerned about the impact of the Native American Programs Act on them. You have been holding such hearings in this Congress. These acts, as you know, are the major vehicles for the organization and delivery of supportive nutrition and other social services to older persons and Native Americans. While funding continues to decrease for these vital services I am concerned about the delivery of services provided by the Older Americans Act and the Native American Programs Act. I realize that some of the nutritional, housing, health maintenance and transportation problems confronted by Hispanic and Native Indians parallel those of African-Americans, many of which I represent in the Congress. I have heard of accounts where com (75) munication and personal sensitivity hamper Hispanic and Native Americans from receiving the full benefits of the act. It has been stated, "that justice requires us to remember that when any citizen denies his fellow saying his color is not mine, or his beliefs are strange and different," in that moment he betrays America, though his forebears created this Nation. Some critical issues are being raised in this Congress regarding the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, particularly cost-sharing programs that are being supported by some States which are addressed once again. Congress has made it clear that the programs supported by Older Americans Act are to focus on older persons with low incomes and racial and ethnic characteristics which may increase the need for services. I am concerned that if such cost-sharing policies go unchecked those elderly citizens in dire need will be asked to pay for a portion of the services that they receive. An additional concern of mine is jobs for the elderly. Since the dismantling of the CETA program in the early 1980's this Nation has not been able to adequately employ the elderly. It seems that the elderly are competing for funds provided through the Job Training and Partnership Act. We must take a close look at that problem. I look forward to hearing from the distinguished list of panelists. And I would like to commend Senator Adams when he arrives for his hard work and dedication on this issue and for arranging this hearing. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman MARTINEZ. Thank you, Mr. Hayes. As Mr. Hayes has just mentioned, we will be joined by Senator Brock Adams. Today we are conducting a joint hearing with the Senate Subcommittee on Aging and will be joined, as Mr. Hayes has said, by the Honorable Senator Brock Adams who is Chairman of that committee. Today, as we are approaching this reauthorization cycle it is crucial that we in Washington come to the grass roots to hear from you what the critical issues are concerning these Federal programs. The changes which have occurred in America since the inception of both the Native American Programs Act and Title VI of the Older Americans Act requires that we as the Federal Government come and hold these hearings in order that we might learn better how to adjust program services to be more in line with the reality of all Americans and how they are covered. In the first segment we will look at this act as it relates to Native Americans. As we have visited with tribes across the country, in North Dakota, Montana and Arizona, we have become painfully aware that conditions for most tribes are deplorable. The conditions for the most indigenous people of our country are in sad shape and they continue to grow worse. While we might find that individuals in tribes have successfully attained some independence, most are still faced with economic devastation. Along with economic devastation there are high unemployment rates and drug and alcohol abuse, situations that would be intolerable in urban centers, which are less tolerable anywhere else. Many years ago Native Americans could look to the land for subsistence. But today the Indian Nations look to the Federal Govern ment for assistance to achieve real and meaningful self-sufficiency. It is ironic that third world nations are given more economic assistance than Indian Nations within our own borders. It is therefore with both a sense of loss and a sense of hope that we come here today on the preserved grounds of a sacred people and place to look at the future. The Federal programs that we review today are small by measure to programs and monetary commitments that this Nation has made elsewhere, but is nevertheless a lifeline to the survival and economic self-dignity of the Indian Nations. We will examine the Native American Programs Act passed in 1974 which was to provide grants to foster Indian economic and social development. And we will look at Title VI of the Older Americans Act passed in 1965 to deliver social and nutritional services to the Indian elderly. We are meeting today as a broader community to fashion a Federal program to meet the needs of the Indian people. I am encouraged that the Native American Programs Act has done so much in the past with so little to really spur the self-sufficiency for the Indian community. But we need to do much more. We have worked closely with the native son, Commissioner Tim Wapato, to increase the Native American Programs Act services and grants to the community. We still need to do much more. However, the Older Americans Act Title VI services have been less than adequate. And this has been a neglected program that has not delivered its full mission. In this reauthorization we seek to turn this around and give the program sufficient resources and impetus to fully serve the Native American. Today we will also examine Hispanic access to services under the Older Americans Act. I understand that there is a large Hispanic community_here in Toppenish. I was surprised that in the county there are 47 percent Hispanic. It makes me think of home. The minorities of our Nation must be served to the original intent of the act. And you will see clarification in the bill that we will bring to the Floor later this year. I am pleased to be here in this venerable State of Washington and to join with the Senate subcommittee, which also has responsibility for reauthorizing the Older Americans Act this year. I look forward to working with Senator Brock Adams, who will be joining us in a little while, to deliver a fair and improved Older Americans Act so we may better serve all of the elderly people of our Nation. The first part of the hearing that we have today is a part of the jurisdiction which the Senate subcommittee does not actually have jurisdiction over, although Senator Adams has always been a champion of the Indian program. At this time I would like to call the first panel. Our first panel consists of Mr. Ernie Clark. Mr. Clark, would you come forward here and take a seat somewhere in the center. We also have with us today Virgil James. And is Ms. Georgia George here, please? How about-you are Mr. Jude Stensgar? No? Mr. JAMES. Virgil James. Chairman MARTINEZ. Sir, can we get your name for the record? |