SR0974 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0974 LRB101 19726 LAW 69225 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides essential services that help older adults live independently, such as meal programs, home assistance, support for family caregivers, transportation, protection from abuse, and other services; state programs funded by the OAA must target services to the older Americans with the greatest economic and social needs; and

WHEREAS, The bipartisan OAA has been reauthorized numerous times since it was first enacted in 1965; most recently, the OAA was reauthorized for a three-year period through the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2016, but it expired on September 30, 2019; reauthorization has been passed by the U.S. House of Representatives through the Dignity in Aging Act of 2019 and is being considered by the U.S. Senate; and

WHEREAS, Growth in the population of older adults significantly outpaces OAA appropriations, and funding has not kept pace with inflation; the population of older adults increased by 23.5 percent from 2010 to 2017, and meanwhile, appropriations for OAA decreased by 16 percent or about $400 million in the last 18 years when adjusted for inflation; funding in 2010 was $42.95 per senior in today's dollars but has dropped to $27.25 per senior; and

WHEREAS, There is significant unmet need among older adults for the services supported through the OAA; according to a 2015 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 24 percent of low-income older adults were food insecure, and 83 percent of them did not receive home-delivered or congregate meal services; nutrition programs make up about 40 percent of OAA funding; additionally, the report found that 2 out of 3 adults who have difficulty completing daily activities have limited or no access to home-based care, which can be provided through the OAA; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President and Congress of the United States to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and restore funding to Fiscal Year 2010 levels adjusted for inflation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Illinois congressional delegation.