A BILL TO STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE THE OLDER
AMERICANS ACT OF 1965, AND

FOR OTHER PURPOSES

FEBRUARY 14, 1973.-Ordered to be printed

Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of February 9, 1973

83-010

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1973

(45)

FEBRUARY 14, 1973.-Ordered to be printed

Filed, under authority of the order of the Senate of February 9, 1973

Mr. EAGLETON, from the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, submitted the following

REPORT

together with

SUPPLEMENTAL VIEWS

[To accompany S. 50]

The Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, to which was referred the bill (S. 50) to strengthen and improve the Older Americans Act of 1965, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

SUMMARY

This legislation extends and expands the Older Americans Act of 1965 to enlarge the scope of the services provided therein; it improves the organizational structure at the federal, state and local level of the agencies having responsibility for the delivery of such services; and it creates new programs to meet the demonstrated needs of older Americans. More specifically, S. 50 contains the following provisions:

(1) The Federal Council on the Aging is created, composed of fifteen members serving on a part-time basis and appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members are to be appointed so as to be representative of older Americans, national organizations with an interest in aging, business, labor and the general public. At least five of the members are to be older persons. The Council is to

act as advocate for the aging throughout the Federal government with respect to policies and programs relating to their particular needs and problems;

evaluate existing programs intended to benefit the aging; make recommendations to the President, Congress, and to the heads of Federal departments and agencies regarding policies and programs affecting the aging; and

by means of hearings, studies, publications, etc. inform the public about the problems and needs of the aging and activities of the Federal government designed to meet these problems and needs.

(2) The Administration on Aging is reorganized within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by removing it from its present location in the Social and Rehabilitation Service-which is oriented primarily toward income maintenance programs and placing it in the Office of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and assigning primary responsibility for carrying out the Act to the Commissioner on Aging. In addition to his other duties, the, Commissioner is directed to establish and operate a National Information and Resource Clearinghouse for the Aging to collect, maintain and disseminate information relating to the needs and interests of older persons and to render technical assistance to similar clearinghouse operations operated by state and local governments for the purpose of providing information and referral services related to the needs and interests of the aging in their respective jurisdictions.

(3) The existing program of formula grants to the states is substantially expanded and reorganized to provide that funds shall be granted the states to provide a range of social services to the aging in accordance with approved state plans. The legislation provides further that the delivery of such services shall be accomplished primarily by area planning and service agencies to be designated by the state agencies and operated in accordance with area plans approved by the state agencies. State agencies are required to designate those area agencies of highest priority, in order to concentrate limited resources, and in such priority areas 90% Federal funding is provided while 75% Federal funding is authorized for projects in non-priority areas. Area agencies are intended, primarily, to coordinate and fund existing service providers rather than to establish themselves as new providers of services to the aging.

(4) In addition to formula grants to states, nds are authorized for direct grants by the Commissioner on Aging to model projects which will expand or improve social sevices for the aging. In making such grants, the Commissioner is directed to give priority consideration to projects in the areas of housing, employment, transportation, continuing education, pre-retirement training and services to the physically and mentally handicapped elderly.

(5) The Commissioner is authorized to make grants and contracts to conduct research in the field of aging and for training personnel for programs for the aging, including the establishment of multidisciplinary centers of gerontology. A special program of grants and contracts is authorized for the conduct of demonstration programs for meeting the transportation needs of older Americans.

(6) Funds are authorized to make grants to pay up to 75% of the cost of acquiring or renovating facilities for use as multi-purpose senior centers. Also authorized is Federal mortgage insurance and interest subsidies to assist in such acquisition or renovation, and funds

are authorized for initial staffing grants for the operation of such cen

ters.

(7) The authorization for the Foster Grandparent and RSVP programs-previously conducted by the Administration on Aging and since transferred to the ACTION agency-is extended for an additional three years and a new program is established to permit the provision of services to individuals other than children.

(8) Title VII of the Older Americans Act, which provides nutrition services for the elderly, is amended to expand the range of surplus commodities available for the use in such programs, and to consolidate the state administration of Title VII and Title III programs.

(9) The Commissioner is authorized to make grants to the states for special library and education programs for the elderly.

(10) New programs are created in the Department of Labor to provide for the employment of individuals 55 and older in community service activities, and to provide special counseling and training programs for middle-aged and older workers.

BACKGROUND

The Older Americans Act was first enacted by the 89th Congress in 1965 and, thereafter, was revised in 1967 and 1969. Since its enactment, virtually all of the states and territories have created state offices of aging and, in addition, a total of 395 local agencies on aging have been funded under Title III to serve as the focal point in their communities in providing services to the aging.

From small beginnings in 1965, programs under the Older Americans Act have expanded substantially. The following table shows the appropriation history:

Total appropriations under the Older Americans Act-Fiscal years, 1966-73

The principal focus of activity under the Act has been through community programs conducted under Title III to provide services to older Americans. Last year more than one million older persons were served by over 1.500 projects funded under Title III.

Services for independent living were offered in over 300 community programs during 1972. These programs were designed to maintain independent living arrangements for the elderly and assisted in reaching a large portion of elderly shuts-ins. These in-home and out-ofhome services made it possible for the elderly to maintain a sense of dignity and independence in their own familiar community

environment.