Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D., Bernie Sanders, Susan Collins, Bob Casey, Mike Braun, Tim Kaine, Markwayne Mullin, and Ed Markey have reached out to stakeholders for feedback on the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act (OAA). The senators are specifically interested in gathering information on the impact of pandemic-era flexibilities and policies enacted in 2020 on older adults across the country.
The senators emphasized the importance of the OAA, which provides a wide range of services and programs for older adults, individuals with disabilities, family caregivers, and nursing home residents. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the significance of OAA programs for older Americans, prompting Congress to grant flexibilities to organizations to assist in adapting their operations during the crisis.
In a statement, the senators highlighted the need for feedback on how these pandemic-era flexibilities and 2020 reauthorization policies have worked in meeting the needs of older adults. They expressed their commitment to reauthorizing the OAA and working with stakeholders to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs.
Stakeholders are encouraged to provide written responses to inquiries regarding the challenges faced by the older adult population, priorities for OAA reauthorization, changing demographics and needs of older adults, and potential improvements to OAA services and programs. Additionally, stakeholders are asked to share their perspectives on the impact of temporary changes made to OAA programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as flexibility for nutrition services funding and adjustments to meal delivery services.
The senators are keen on understanding how these changes have affected older adults and program operations, and how Congress should consider these adjustments beyond public health emergencies. They also seek input on other changes made during the pandemic that should be examined for reauthorization, as well as ways to enhance caregiver assessments and combat social isolation among older Americans.
Furthermore, stakeholders are encouraged to provide insights on regulations finalized by the Administration on Community Living related to OAA and suggest any necessary changes in response to the new rule.
Interested parties have until March 21, 2024, to submit their responses to OAA@help.senate.gov, with an emphasis on providing data and primary source information to support their feedback.
The senators are determined to collaborate with stakeholders as they work towards reauthorizing the OAA and improving services for older Americans.
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