File #: Res 0337-2006    Version: * Name: Reauthorize the Older Americans Act.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Aging
On agenda: 5/24/2006
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the federal government to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and increase the funding available pursuant to this Act for programs and services that improve the quality of life of senior citizens.
Sponsors: Gale A. Brewer, Simcha Felder, Lewis A. Fidler, Helen D. Foster, James F. Gennaro, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Annabel Palma, Larry B. Seabrook, Helen Sears, David I. Weprin, Thomas White, Jr.
Council Member Sponsors: 15

Res. No. 337

 

Resolution calling upon the federal government to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and increase the funding available pursuant to this Act for programs and services that improve the quality of life of senior citizens.

 

By Council Members Brewer, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Liu, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Seabrook, Sears, Weprin and White Jr.

 

Whereas, The Older Americans Act (OAA), enacted on July 14, 1965, created the federal Administration on Aging, as well as authorized grants to states for community planning and services programs, research, and demonstration and training projects in the field of aging; and

Whereas, Later amendments to the OAA added grants to Area Agencies for the Aging for local needs identification, planning and funding of services to the elderly; and

Whereas, The New York City Department for the Aging (DFTA) administers OAA programs in New York City, and is the largest Area Agency for the Aging in the nation; and

Whereas, According to DFTA, there are 1.3 million persons over the age of 60 in New York City, which represents 15.6 percent of the City’s population, and DFTA estimates that there will be 1.6 million seniors living in the City by 2015; and

Whereas, OAA is the main legislative vehicle for delivering social and nutritional services to older Americans, and the services funded by the Act include meals on wheels, counseling, elder abuse prevention programs and a long-term care ombudsman program to investigate the complaints of nursing home residents; and

Whereas, DFTA received approximately $29 million in FY ‘05 in funding from OAA to provide such services as home delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, and information and referral services to senior citizens in New York City; and

Whereas, The OAA has been reauthorized approximately every five years, and the last reauthorization expired in September 2005; and

 Whereas, The White House Conference on the Aging (WHCoA) meets once every decade to make recommendations to the President and Congress to help guide national aging policies for the next ten years and beyond; and

Whereas, The number one resolution of the 2005 WHCoA was to call upon the President and Congress to reauthorize the OAA within the first six months following the 2005 WHCoA; and

Whereas, Congress voted to extend the OAA until September 30, 2006, but a reauthorization will still be needed to enable the OAA to continue in effect beyond that date; and

Whereas, In addition to the lack of a reauthorization beyond September 30, 2006, the Alliance for Retired Americans points out that President Bush’s proposed budget for FY ‘07 contemplates a $76 million cut for the OAA if it is continued in effect; and

Whereas, OAA programs enhance the lives of older Americans, who are a growing and vital population in our society, and it is therefore essential that the OAA be reauthorized and that funding for OAA be increased, rather than decreased; now, therefore, it be

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the federal government to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and increase the funding available pursuant to this Act for programs and services that improve the quality of life of senior citizens.

 

SO

LS #536

5/1/06