SR0974LRB101 19726 LAW 69225 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides essential
3services that help older adults live independently, such as
4meal programs, home assistance, support for family caregivers,
5transportation, protection from abuse, and other services;
6state programs funded by the OAA must target services to the
7older Americans with the greatest economic and social needs;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, The bipartisan OAA has been reauthorized numerous
10times since it was first enacted in 1965; most recently, the
11OAA was reauthorized for a three-year period through the Older
12Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016, but it expired on
13September 30, 2019; reauthorization has been passed by the U.S.
14House of Representatives through the Dignity in Aging Act of
152019 and is being considered by the U.S. Senate; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Growth in the population of older adults
17significantly outpaces OAA appropriations, and funding has not
18kept pace with inflation; the population of older adults
19increased by 23.5 percent from 2010 to 2017, and meanwhile,
20appropriations for OAA decreased by 16 percent or about $400
21million in the last 18 years when adjusted for inflation;
22funding in 2010 was $42.95 per senior in today's dollars but
23has dropped to $27.25 per senior; and
 

 

 

SR0974- 2 -LRB101 19726 LAW 69225 r

1    WHEREAS, There is significant unmet need among older adults
2for the services supported through the OAA; according to a 2015
3report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 24
4percent of low-income older adults were food insecure, and 83
5percent of them did not receive home-delivered or congregate
6meal services; nutrition programs make up about 40 percent of
7OAA funding; additionally, the report found that 2 out of 3
8adults who have difficulty completing daily activities have
9limited or no access to home-based care, which can be provided
10through the OAA; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President
13and Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Older
14Americans Act and restore funding to Fiscal Year 2010 levels
15adjusted for inflation; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to
17the President of the United States, the President of the United
18States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of
19Representatives, and the members of the Illinois congressional
20delegation.