Federal Legislation/Regulation
Breaking News!
(Saturday, September 30, 2006)
Senate passes Older Americans Act reauthorization - In the early hours of this morning, the Senate passed the Older Americans Act reauthorization bill (HR 6197) under unanimous consent. Since the House passed the bill on Thursday afternoon, it will become law (P.L. 106-501) as soon as the President signs it. For more information, visit http://www.n4a.org/. Courtesy of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
Older Americans Act Reauthorization:
(From n4a) Still working quietly behind closed doors, staffers on the key House and Senate authorizing committees are reported to be making gradual progress on pre-conferencing an Older Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization bill. Title V (SCSEP) and Title III’s funding formula are rumored to be among the more challenging issues yet to be resolved. n4a has responded to several requests from Capitol Hill staff during the past three weeks to provide background or explain our position on a particular policy issue. In addition, n4a and NASUA sent a joint letter to the Hill expressing preference for the House’s approach to Choices for Independence vs. the Senate’s language.
The House is in recess and will not return to Washington until September 4. The Senate plans on recessing from August 7 through September 4. If the negotiated OAA reauthorization bill is to pass this year, then a deal must be struck during this recess period, so that prompt legislative action can be taken when lawmakers return. The bipartisan momentum for passing OAA reauthorization this year may only last through September as both chambers plan on recessing early in October to campaign for the November elections. Although Congress is expected to hold lame duck sessions in late November and into December, if reauthorization is not completed before the elections, the odds of passage are dramatically reduced.
Medicare Part D Enrollment Funding for AAAs:
(From n4a) Unfortunately, the Senate Labor-HHS appropriations bill did not include any language setting aside funds for Medicare Part D outreach and education by the AAAs/Title VI programs under the CMS program management account, as 30 Senators had requested. The Senate Committee report recommends that not less than $30 million be made available for the SHIPs, which is essentially status quo from last year’s bill.