Older Americans Act: 2016 Reauthorization (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
May 2, 2016 |
| Report Number |
R44485 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Kirsten J. Colello, Specialist in Health and Aging Policy |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
First enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) was created in response to concern by
policymakers about a lack of community social services for older individuals. Since then, the
OAA has been reauthorized and amended numerous times. The last OAA reauthorization
occurred in 2006, when the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (P.L. 109-365) was
enacted, which extended the act’s authorizations of appropriations through FY2011
(authorizations of appropriations for most OAA programs expired on September 30, 2011). OAA-
authorized activities have continued to receive funding for FY2012 through FY2016.
Today the OAA supports a wide range of social services and programs for individuals aged 60
years or older. These services and programs include supportive services, congregate nutrition
services (i.e., meals served at group sites such as senior centers, community centers, schools,
churches, or senior housing complexes), home-delivered nutrition services, family caregiver
support, community service employment, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, and
services to prevent the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older persons. Except for Title V,
Community Service Employment for Older Americans (CSEOA), all programs are administered
by the Administration on Aging (AOA) in the Administration for Community Living (ACL)
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Title V is administered by the
Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Employment and Training Administration.
In the 114th Congress, both the House and the Senate have considered bipartisan legislation to
reauthorize the OAA. On July 16, 2015, the Senate passed S. 192, the Older Americans Act
Reauthorization Act of 2015. The House took up S. 192 and passed the bill with an amendment
on March 21, 2016. The Senate passed S. 192, as amended by the House on April 7, 2016. On
April 19, 2016, President Barack Obama signed P.L. 114-144, the Older Americans Act
Reauthorization Act of 2016. Key reauthorization issues for policymakers and stakeholders
included changes to the Title III statutory funding formula for certain programs, statutory
language for discretionary authorizations of appropriations, and constraints on discretionary
appropriations in the current budgetary climate that have curbed interest in amending the act to
establish new programs or activities.
This report provides information on the status of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the OAA
and key issues, followed by a brief summary of that act’s historical development. Next, it
provides a section-by-section summary of P.L. 114-144, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization
Act of 2016.
