Tag Archives for Leadership Council of Aging Organizations

Chair Casey leaves mark on national aging policy. Leadership changes in DC and RI 

Published in RINewsToday on December 16, 2024

Last week, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, held his last hearing, entitled “Empowering People with Disabilities to Live, Work, Learn, and Thrive, in SD 106.  This hearing was his swan song as Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee. 

The 3-term Democratic Senator, first elected in 2006, lost his reelection bid for a fourth term to Republican Dave McCormick, a West Point graduate, combat veteran and Bronze star recipient, and a national security expert, and former hedge fund manager.  A recount of votes confirmed that Casey lost by 16,000 votes (3,398,628 to 3,382,423) and he conceded the race on Nov. 21st.

With the dust settling after the Nov. 5th presidential election, Republicans will take control of the legislative agenda of the upper chamber, with a 53-47 majority, and control the house.

According to a Senate Aging Committee, during the upcoming 119th Congress Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), a former Ranking Member, is expected to replace Casey as chairman on Jan. 3rd, 2025. Former Ranking Member Mike Braun (R-Ind) will leave the Senate after becoming Governor-elect of Indiana. 

An advocate for America’s seniors

During the 118th, the Senate Aging Committee under the helm of Casey held 18 full hearings, five field hearings, and one joint full hearing.  His final hearing, lasting one hour and 46 minutes, highlighted his long record as a champion for people with disabilities, and laid out his vision for how Congress must continue to work to empower them. 

“From the beginning of my time in the Senate, I heard a constant refrain from disability advocates that their needs were not being met—they faced barriers to save for their future, they were being paid well below a living wage, and they could not afford or access the care they needed,” says Casey in his opening statement. “Those refrains, including from some of the people we heard from at today’s hearing, are what inspired me to make people with disabilities a focus of my Senate career and time as Aging Committee Chairman,” he said.

During his 18 years in the Senate, Casey has been one of the foremost champions in Washington for people with disabilities. He created the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) program, which has helped hundreds of thousands of families save for long-term care for their disabled loved ones with a tax-advantage savings account. The Associated Press hailed this legislation as “the most important new law for [those with disabilities] in 25 years.  He also made federal websites more accessible for people with disabilities, and propelled the fight for access to home care to the forefront of the national conversation. 

In addition, the Pennsylvania Senator led efforts to improve care in nursing homes by expanding and strengthening oversight over poor-performing facilities while ensuring that nursing homes and long-term care facilities have the resources they need to provide high-quality care to residents. His work has led the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to publicly release information about nursing facilities with a documented pattern of poor care, ensuring older adults and their families have the information they 

At the Dec. 12th hearing, Chairman Casey also released a series of issue briefs documenting his record chairing the Aging Committee on making government technology accessible, expanding access to home care, improving nursing homes, lowering prescription drug costs, and ensuring economic security for older adults:

“We have made a lot of progress, from creating the ABLE program to making government technology more accessible,” Casey continued. “But as we heard today, there is still a lot more to do—from expanding access to home care to finally phasing out the subminimum wage,” he added.

Kudos to Casey’s advocacy for America’s disabled Seniors

At the hearing, witnesses from Pennsylvania and national organizations testified about the impact of Casey’s work impacting the disability community in the Commonwealth and around the country.

I want to thank Senator Casey for your leadership. None of the successes I outlined would have been possible without your steadfast championship, advocacy and partnership. It is daunting to think about facing the challenges ahead, particularly the threats to Medicaid, without you at the helm, but we have been emboldened to reimagine what is possible because of your leadership,” says Witness Ai-Jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Executive Director of Caring Across Generations.

Witness Neil McDevitt, Mayor of North Wales, Pennsylvania, noted: “Senator Casey, you have been a steadfast ally of North Wales Borough, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and millions of disabled and Deaf Americans. We owe you a debt that can never be repaid.”

“Things are actually changing. We are not yet where we need to be when it comes to disability access and acceptance, but we are getting there. It brings me great joy when I hear of disabled people in my community getting good paying jobs and not being relegated to sheltered workshops for less than minimum wage,” adds Erin Willman, CEO of White Cane Coffee in Warren, Pennsylvania. 

Witness Lydia Brown, Director of Policy, National Disability Institute, told the attending Senators:“Ten years ago, Sen. Casey’s leadership in introducing and passing The ABLE Act changed the game. People whose disabilities began before age 26 can now access a savings vehicle that can conserve up to $100,000 total without their savings counting against them in determining eligibility for SSI and Medicaid. Money in an ABLE account can be used for a wide range of qualified disability expenses, including otherwise unaffordable assistive technology and health care, as well as educational and employment related costs. For many disabled people on Medicaid, an ABLE account is also their only available means to save for retirement.”

A fond farewell 

“Bob Casey served honorably as the chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.  He held a wide range of hearings intended to develop a record that could be used to help shape future legislation,” says Max Richtman, President & CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare who also is a  former staff director of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. Casey had held numerous hearings on issues facing older adults that helped build support for components of the Older Americans Act reauthorization – which just passed the Senate and may be included in the end-of-year package, noted Richtman. 

“Senator Casey also held hearings on disabled older adults, including one with former Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley to discuss what the Social Security Administration (SSA) is doing to make the application process easier,” added Richtman, noting that other hearings were held on scammers preying on the elderly – designed to help older adults and their families know what to look for — and protect against.  

“We can only hope that when Republicans assume control of the Senate in January, this committee will continue the serious work of looking after the interests of seniors, who have contributed so much to our society and yet are among our most vulnerable citizens,” says Richtman.

“Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) thanks Senator Bob Casey for his leadership and dedication to improving the lives of older Americans through his work on the Senate Aging Committee,” said Debra Whitman, LCAO Chair. “We look forward to collaborating with incoming Chairman Rick Scott to continue addressing the needs and enhancing the well-being of our nation’s growing aging population,” she says.

“As Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senator Bob Casey was a critical champion for seniors. He fought to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, stop elder abuse, and improve conditions in nursing homes. Casey will be greatly missed in the Senate by everyone who cares about senior issues. We urge the next chairman of this invaluable committee to continue his legacy.” Says Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works.

“It is wonderful to have a Senate Aging Committee and Senator Casey’s terrific advocacy but inexcusable for the House not to restore its counterpart, which Chairman Claude Pepper proved is indispensable,” said Robert Weiner, former Chief of Staff of the House Select Committee on Aging and later a senior White House spokesman.

Announcing job transitions and retirement – in Rhode Island

Two well-known aging advocates have announced their departures.

The Alliance for Better Long-Term Care announces the retirement of Kathleen “Kathy” Heren. She dedicated 26 years to serving Rhode Island’s seniors.  For the past 15 years, Heren has served as the Rhode Island State Long Term Care Ombudsman, tirelessly advocating for the rights and well-being of residents in long-term care facilities across the state. She is known for her “fierce dedication, wisdom, and compassion have made her an unwavering champion for those in need.”

After serving as Executive Director of LeadingAgeRI for over 16 years, James P. Nyberg is leaving the nonprofit to become Senior Advisor at the Boston-based Public Consulting Group.   He will provide his expertise to the company on home and community-based services.

During his tenure, he significantly advanced aging services by advocating for quality, affordable care and fostering partnerships with state and national stakeholders. His leadership has driven innovative initiatives addressing the needs of older Rhode Islanders while supporting workforce development and professional growth among member organizations.

Nyberg ably served as Chair of the state’s Advisory Commission on Aging for over six years.

Update: Legislation submitted to reestablish the House Permanent Select Committee on Aging

Published in RINewsToday on August 13, 2021

U.S. Representatives David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Doris Matsui (CA-06) reintroduced legislation to reestablish the House Permanent Select Committee on Aging to examine the challenges and issues facing the growing aging population in America.

This legislation has been endorsed by the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO). The original House Permanent Select Committee on Aging, which was active between 1974 and 1992, conducted investigations, hearings and issues reports to inform Congress on issues related to aging.  

“America’s seniors have spent a lifetime working hard and moving our country forward and they deserve the best in their retirement,” Rep. Cicilline said. “The pandemic has disproportionately impacted seniors and now with growing concerns about inflation, seniors on fixed incomes will bear the burden of the rising cost of prescription drugs, food, housing, and other essentials. There has never been a more urgent time for Congress to reauthorize the House Permanent Select Committee on Aging than right now. Congress must study and address the issues that affect seniors to make sure they can live the rest of their lives with dignity and security.”  

“Every day, 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old. This isn’t a statistic to keep dismissing; it’s a call for action that I have been ringing the alarm on for years,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky. “The pandemic magnified gaps in U.S. policy that routinely forget about Older Americans and the need to nurture a culture that respects them. From the lack of a universal long-term care policy to barriers to vaccine access earlier in the pandemic, these are issues that need to be examined so that Congress can put forward strong solutions to support our aging population and the communities they live in. I am committed to strengthening policies that support our seniors and proud to be a co-lead on this resolution to make it happen.”  

“Older Americans today face many difficulties—including achieving retirement security and affording the rising costs in health care and prescription drugs—which have only been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “They have worked hard their entire lives to contribute to our economy, care for our families and enrich our communities. By creating a Select Committee on Aging in the House, we can continue to strengthen and support policies that are important to seniors throughout the country. I am proud to co-lead the resolution to create this committee, and I look forward to continuing to fight for the priorities of Older Americans that gives them the fundamental rights that they deserve.”  

In 1974, the House Permanent Select Committee on Aging was established the purpose of “advising Congress and the American people on how to meet the challenge of growing old in America.” Although the committee did not have legislative authority, it played a critical role in raising awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease and elder abuse. The committee helped pass nursing home reforms, which helped reduce elder abuse at senior care facilities. Reestablishing the select committee would allow Congress to study and address longstanding issues including Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs, and long-term care as well as other issues that didn’t exist in the past, including online scams which target vulnerable and unsuspecting seniors.

On April 20th, Herb Weiss, a writer on aging issues for RINewsToday published a piece about the history of the Commission on Aging and the possibility that the move that happened this week would, in fact happen.

Older Americans Month: great time to bring back House Aging Committee

Published in RINewsToday on May 9, 2022

On April 29, President Joe Biden proclaimed the month of May, Older Americans Month for 2022 to honor the nation’s 54.1 million Americans aged 65 and over “who contribute their time and wisdom to make our communities stronger, more informed, and better connected.”

“Older adults have always been a vital source of strength and resilience in America,” stated Biden in the proclamation.  During the pandemic, many seniors came out of retirement to serve their communities in health care and education roles, filling job vacancies in critical shortage areas. Moving forward, we must ensure that older Americans have the appropriate resources to maintain their independence and stay connected to their communities,” he said.

The proclamation also noted that the nation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program — the first federal program to support the well-being of older Americans through meal deliveries, nutrition services, educational programs, and counseling. This year is also the 10th anniversary of the nation’s National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease and recommit to building upon this important work being done.

Biden recognizing this month in honor of seniors follows the footsteps of 11 presidents, beginning with President John F. Kennedy in 1963, when only 17 million Americans had reached their 65thbirthday. At that time,  about a third of America’s seniors lived in poverty and there were only a few federal programs to meet their needs. A meeting in April 1963 between Kennedy and the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as “Senior Citizens Month,” later renamed “Older Americans Month.”

Over the years, OAM is a time the nation acknowledges the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country. Communities across the nation pay tribute at ceremonies, events, and fairs, or in other ways to older persons in their communities.  

OAM – a great time to bring back the House Aging Committee

As the nation celebrates OAM, an eblast to over 90,000 seniors by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) urged these older voters to call their congressmen to request them to cosponsor Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline’s H. Res. 583, to reestablish the House Select Committee on Aging (HSCoA). “It couldn’t be a better time to highlight the urgent need to reinstate this investigative committee which would help restore Congressional focus on key policy issues [Social Security, Medicare, housing, prescription drugs, and long-term care] impacting the nation’s seniors says the Benefits Watch newsletter.   

“Today, with seniors representing a growing portion of the U.S. population and several federal programs that seniors rely on at an inflection point, there is an increasing need for a House committee that advocates for older Americans,” says NCPSM’s email, noting that’s why the Washington, DC-based advocacy group has signed onto the Leadership Council on Aging Organization’s (LCAO) letter calling on the House to pass H. Res. 583. 

“While there are other committees with jurisdiction over seniors’ programs, there is no single committee dedicated to keeping an eye on the big picture for seniors.  Fortunately, the Senate Special Committee on Aging has continued to operate in the absence of a House counterpart,” notes NCPSSM’s email, noting that “seniors would benefit from a reinstated and robust HSCoA, whose sole mission would be to look out for older American’s needs.

National Aging Groups, former Pepper staffer weighs in

“Older Americans month would be the perfect time to bring back the Aging Committee,” says Bob Weiner, former Chief of Staff under chairman Claude Pepper of the House Select Committee on Aging. “It’s sorely missing now. With Pepper’s legacy as the guide, pandemic deaths, nursing homes, home health care, Social Security, and Medicare would be improved by the sunlight of oversight. Seniors are now vulnerable and threatened by what could happen and having the Aging Committee back would reinstate the wall of protection that Pepper gave them,” he says. 

“The LCAO supports the establishment of HSCoA to provide an important forum for discussion, debate and exploration of issues impacting an aging society,” says Katie Smith Sloan, chair of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), a coalition of 69 Washington, DC-based aging organizations. “Addressing the needs of older adults and families, which are increasingly prevalent with our population shifts, now, as we celebrate Older Americans Month, is appropriate – and urgent,” says Sloan. LCAO sent a letter to members of Congress on March 4, 2022, urging them to cosponsor H. Res. 583. 

“Passing H Res 583 in May to coincide with it being Older Americans month would make eminent policy and political sense.  It is an investment in having a stronger and dedicated advocacy voice for older adults in the House which has been missing for almost 20 years,” says Robert B. Blancato, National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, who was the longest serving staff person on the original House Aging Committee, from 1977 to 1993.

“As our country’s older adult population continues to grow each day, so does the urgency with which we need to pursue effective solutions to myriad aging issues,” says Erika Kelly, Chief Membership and Advocacy Officer of Meals on Wheels America. “To see the House pass this resolution to reestablish the HSCoA during Older Americans Month would be a tremendous step forward,” she says.

“Older Americans Act programs, like Meals on Wheels, will undoubtedly face the lingering impact of the pandemic and other challenges for years to come. Having this HSCoA come [back] to life again, especially during this celebratory month, would provide critical leadership and attention when it’s needed most and make a difference in the lives of tens of millions of older adults,” says Kelly.

Finally, Cicilline, H. Res. 583’s sponsor and the NCPSSM tells us why it is important for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic leadership colleagues to support and bring H. Res. 583 to the House Rules Committee for a vote during Older Americans Month.

“With Older Americans Month upon us, this is an important moment to underscore how the pandemic has disproportionately impacted seniors. Now, with growing concerns about inflation, seniors on fixed incomes will bear the burden of the rising cost of prescription drugs, food, housing, and other essentials. A House Permanent Select Committee on Aging would help Congress focus on, study, and address the issues that affect seniors to make sure they can live the rest of their lives with dignity and security,” says Cicilline.

“When there was a HSCoA before it was abolished in 1995, the investigative House committee held hearings on aspects of the Older Americans Act leading up to the 1992 reauthorization of the law,” noted NCPSSM’s Dan Adcock, Director of Government Relations and Policy. “The findings of these hearings were helpful to the House Committee on Education and Labor which had legislative jurisdiction over the Older Americans Act.  The Subcommittee on Human Resources [now called the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee] under the full Education and Labor Committee held several of its own hearings on the OAA, too – including field hearings held across the country — leading to the enactment of the 1992 reauthorization., he said. 

According to Adcock, during that period of time, there was significant communication between the House Aging Committee staff and the Ed and Labor Committee and Human Resources Subcommittee staff.  But the legislative language was written and marked up by the latter. “A reestablished HSCoA could play a similar role in the future, but the panel’s ability to have an impact on legislation drafted by the authorizing committees would depend on the cooperation between the respective committee chairs and staff and the degree of relevancy of the hearings held by a reconstituted House Aging Committee,” he says. 

Over 400 senior groups support H. Res. 583

While LCAO is a pretty diverse group of national aging organizations – each with their own policy priorities, the coalition of 69 members, representing over 100 million over 50, and 50 million over 65 came together to endorse and affirm their support of Cicilline’s resolution.  

Ms. Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works and Chair of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition, strongly supports the passage of H. Res. 583 and that her coalition of 350 national and state organizations representing 50 million Americans endorses Rep. Cicilline’s resolution.  

As we celebrate OAM, it is key to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) to join Cicilline along with Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), cochairs of the Task Force on Aging and Family and 43 cosponsors of H. Res 583, giving the green light to the House Rules committee to vote, and if approved send it quickly to the floor.

H. Res. 583 does not require Senate consideration and only requires a House Rules and floor vote for passage.  Passing the reestablishment of an investigative committee in the House would send a powerful message to older Americans that Congress following in Pepper’s footsteps will again get serious in addressing aging issues. 

As mentioned in previous commentaries, bringing back the HSCoA is a winning federal policy to positive impact America’s seniors and this group.  It’s the  right thing to do especially at a time when seniors have been a disproportionately impacted by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.    

Over 450 national and state aging organizations representing conservatively over 150 million seniors, support the enactment of H. Res. 583. That’s a great reason for the lower chamber to strongly support.

To see the LCAO’s letter sent to Congress on March 4, 2022, endorsing H. Res. 583, go to https://www.lcao.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/House-Aging-Committee-LCAO-Letter-3-4-22.pdf.

For a historical background of the HSCoA and details about H. Res. 583, go to https://rinewstoday.com/congressman-cicilline-poised-for-legacy-as-next-fiery-advocatsie-on-aging/.

For details about Congressman Claude Pepper (D-FL) Congressman, during his six-year serving as chair of the HSCoA, go to https://rinewstoday.com/congressman-cicilline-poised-for-legacy-as-next-fiery-advocate-on-aging/.