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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3688 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19990310 Primary Sponsor:Inabinett All Sponsors:Inabinett, Sharpe, Kennedy, Bales, Barfield, Battle, Breeland, J. Brown, T. Brown, Canty, Cobb-Hunter, Gourdine, Jennings, Kelley, Lloyd, Mack, M. McLeod, W. McLeod, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, Neilson, Phillips, Pinckney, Rutherford, Vaughn, Whatley, Whipper and Wilkes Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\nbd\11201jm99.doc Residing Body:House Current Committee:Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee 24 HIMR Subject:Older Americans Act, Congress to extend for three years and increase funding by eight percent; Aging History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19990310 Introduced, referred to Committee 24 HIMR Versions of This Bill
MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO EXTEND THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT (OAA) FOR NOT LESS THAN THREE YEARS AND TO INCREASE THE OAA'S FUNDING BY AT LEAST EIGHT PERCENT.
Whereas, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has provided essential and necessary nutrition, health, and social support services to senior citizens in their homes and communities across America since 1965; has mandated advocacy on behalf of the needs of frail and vulnerable elders; has provided resources in support of legal, ombudsman, and access services, as well as research in the field of aging; and, since 1973, has funded the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which provides employment and training opportunities for low-income older Americans; and
Whereas, the National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC) advocated for the establishment and expansion of services and programs under the Older Americans Act since its inception; the NCSC recognizes the crucial role the OAA continues to play in the lives of older citizens and the continuing present and future needs for OAA priorities; and
Whereas, there has been some political effort to block-grant large parts of the program, including the Senior Community Service Employment Program, despite the fact that this will adversely affect a large number of seniors; and
Whereas, funding levels have gone down forty percent in real terms despite an increase in need and an increase in the number of older persons; and
Whereas, the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act has been delayed due to political and structural issues since its expiration in September, 1995; and
Whereas, in 1998, bipartisan bills in the United States House of Representatives and in the United States Senate to extend the OAA had the support of seventy-six senators and almost two hundred representatives but were denied a vote by the Senate and House majority leadership; and
Whereas, the National Council of Senior Citizens has rejected any attempts to institute a means test or mandatory "cost-sharing" for services provided, or to eliminate "targeting", which has especially benefited low-income minority and other persons, or to eliminate advocacy programs such as legal services or the long-term care ombudsman program, or to block-grant the Senior Community Service Employment Program and other components of the law. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, urges Congress to extend the Older Americans Act (OAA) for not less than three years and to increase the OAA's funding by at least eight percent.
Be it further resolved that a copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representative, and each member of South Carolina's Congressional Delegation, all at Washington, D.C.
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