Federal Aging Programs Reap a Funding Boost in Senate Committee

bgov.com

July 31, 2024 1:11 pm

Programs to aid health care for older Americans and provide them meals would be in line for an almost 5% increase through fiscal 2029 under legislation a Senate committee approved Wednesday.

The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted 20-1 to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, a 59-year-old law that offers grants to state and local organizations that offer training and social programs for older Americans as well as nutrition services and federal aging programs.

HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) originally called for doubling funding for the programs, highlighting the problem of food insecurity among seniors.

“When we talk about the unmet needs of our nation’s seniors this is what we’re talking about,” he said.

To get agreement on the package Sanders settled for allowing a 4.62% increase each year, starting at $2.7 billion in the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. The money would still need to be part of the next bill to fund the government.

Susan Collins (Maine), the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, is a co-sponsor of the bill. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted for it in committee Wednesday.

Just Sen. Rand Paul(R-Ky.) voted against the bill.