Tag Archives for Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

SSA Trustees Report Calls on Congress to Fix Social Security and Medicare

Published in RINewsToday on June 22, 2026

Congress faces the urgent legislative task of ensuring the long-term viability of the nation’s Social Security program. As in previous years, the Social Security Board of Trustees’ 2026 report warns that without congressional action, the OASI and DI Trust Funds will pay full benefits only through 2034. Afterward, payroll tax revenue will cover about 83% of scheduled benefits, highlighting the need for timely Congressional intervention.

Federal law requires that trust fund-financed programs such as Social Security and Medicare pay out only as much in benefits as they receive in revenues once their trust fund reserves run out.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), about 21% to 22% of the U.S. population currently receives Social Security benefits. The released Trustee’s report notes that at the end of 2025, Social Security paid benefits to more than 70 million Americans: 56 million retired workers and their dependents, 8 million disabled workers and their families, and 6 million survivors of deceased workers. Medicare covered an estimated 69.3 million people.

The Trustees also said that recent congressional actions, including the Social Security Fairness Act and changes to the taxation of Social Security benefits, weakened the program’s long-term financial outlook.

The Social Security Board of Trustees is the group that issues the annual report on the financial health of Social Security’s trust funds — the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance fund and the Disability Insurance fund.

It has six seats:

1.    Secretary of the Treasury — also the Managing Trustee

2.    Secretary of Labor

3.    Secretary of Health and Human Services

4.    Commissioner of Social Security

5.    Public Trustee appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

6.    Public Trustee appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

As of the 2026 Trustees Report, the current government-position trustees are:

·         Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury and Managing Trustee

·         Keith E. Sonderling, Acting Secretary of Labor

·         Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services

·         Frank J. Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

The two public trustee seats are currently vacant

Demographic Changes Strain Social Security Finances

The annual Trustees Report, released on June 9, said several long-term demographic trends strain the financial stability of Social Security, as fewer workers pay payroll taxes into the program to support a growing population of beneficiaries.

Americans live longer and collect benefits for more years, while millions of Baby Boomers continue to retire. Birthrates stay below historical levels, so fewer workers enter the labor force.  Lower levels of immigration increase financial pressure by reducing the number of workers who pay payroll taxes.

The combined Social Security trust funds are currently projected to pay full benefits through 2034. However, the outlook for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund has weakened slightly. Trustees project OASI reserves will be depleted in late 2032. At that point, revenues are expected to cover only about 78% of scheduled OASI benefits, compared to the overall 83% coverage for all Social Security benefits after combined depletion.

The Trustees Report also notes that Social Security’s disability program remains financially stable. The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund is expected to stay adequately financed throughout the 75-year projection period and pay full benefits without interruption.

Taking a Look at Medicare

Also released on June 9, the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report found that Medicare remains financially stable in the near term but faces significant long-term funding shortfalls caused by rising health care costs and an aging population.

According to the Trustees, Medicare spending will grow faster than revenues dedicated to financing the program. The health care needs of retiring Baby Boomers, growing Medicare enrollment, rising medical costs, and increased spending for services used frequently by older adults—including skilled nursing care, home health care, and hospice services—largely drive this increase.

The Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund, which pays for Medicare Part A services, is projected to be depleted in the second quarter of 2033—three months earlier than last year’s prediction. After depletion, Medicare Part A would be able to cover about 89% of its costs from incoming revenue. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility services, home health care, and hospice care.

Congress must act within the next seven years to prevent significant reductions in Medicare payments to providers. Addressing the projected shortfall before the 2033 trust fund depletion is essential to avoid an estimated 11% funding gap.

Unlike Part A, Medicare Parts B and D are not expected to face trust fund insolvency because they are financed through a combination of beneficiary premiums and general federal revenues.

Max Richtman, President & CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), says a range of proposals could help extend the solvency of Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund without reducing benefits.

Among the options, says Richtman, are raising the Medicare tax rate on earned and investment income above $400,000 from 3.8% to 5%, and closing loopholes that allow some high-income business owners to avoid Medicare taxes by structuring income in ways that escape both payroll taxes and the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). NCPSSM also supports redirecting revenue from the 3.8% NIIT—currently deposited into general federal revenues—directly to the HI Trust Fund, he says, noting that the group estimates this change could generate roughly $500 billion over 10 years.

In addition, Richtman recommends building on the prescription drug reforms in the Inflation Reduction Act by expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices, accelerating negotiations as more medications are added, and extending inflation-rebate requirements to commercial insurance plans. Savings from these measures, he says, would be credited directly to the HI Trust Fund, further strengthening Medicare’s long-term outlook.

Reactions From Advocacy Groups and Lawmakers

In a statement, AARP CEO Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan warned that the 2026 projections show Congress still must close a financing gap of nearly 20%, or Americans could face benefit reductions they cannot afford.

“This should be a wake-up call: Congress needs to act. Americans have worked hard and paid into Social Security their entire lives, and they deserve to count on it when they retire,” she said. “They planned for retirement, followed the rules, and now Congress must keep its promise by strengthening, not cutting, Social Security,” Minter-Jordan added, urging lawmakers to work across party lines to strengthen the program.

“The Social Security Trustees Report is a clarion call for Congress to strengthen the program now before the looming depletion of the trust fund becomes a full-blown crisis,” said NCPSSM’s Richtman in a released statement.

“If Congress fails to act, the combined retirement and disability trust fund reserves will run dry in 2034, and beneficiaries will suffer an automatic 17% cut—a scenario few want to see happen. Lawmakers should not wait until the last minute when options become more limited and remedies more costly,” he said.

Richtman also argued that benefit reductions are not necessary to restore Social Security’s financial health and that beneficiaries living on fixed incomes should not bear the burden of strengthening the program.

In a statement, Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, likewise emphasized that the Trustees Report demonstrates the consequences of inaction.

“As the Trustees Report plainly states, if there is insufficient revenue, Social Security benefits will be automatically cut,” Altman said.

On June 15, 2026, House Speaker Mike Johnson said during a Louisiana radio interview that Republicans would like to address the growth of mandatory federal spending programs in future budget discussions, including Social Security. He argued that the federal budget is increasingly driven by automatic spending commitments and said that Social Security and other entitlement programs “have to be adjusted and fixed.”

Responding to Johnson’s remarks, Altman argued that some Republican proposals would move Social Security toward privatization, a characterization that supporters of those proposals dispute. She also criticized proposals that would reduce future benefits rather than increase revenues to strengthen the program.

Public opinion surveys consistently show strong bipartisan support for preserving Social Security benefits. Altman argued that proposals to reduce benefits through means testing or other changes would be unpopular with voters and called on congressional candidates to explain how they would address the program’s long-term financing challenges.

During a June 10 morning hearing of the Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee with Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, held in room 1100 at 100 Longworth House Office Building, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) noted that Social Security benefits have only been modified twice in 40 years, most recently in 1983, with only minor changes under his chairmanship of the House Committee on Ways and Means in 2025.

“Congress needs to get its act together to address Social Security and the insolvency that’s coming instead of poking blame at other people when it is our duty, our responsibility,” Smith said, urging bipartisan cooperation between Republicans and Democrats to reform the program. He called for the protection of vulnerable populations who depend entirely on Social Security for retirement and a dignified standard of living, particularly in the rural communities they represent.

“This latest report from the trustees is proof that Congress must step up now to protect Social Security before it’s too late. It’s only going to cost more and be more difficult to solve the longer we wait,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in a statement issued on June 10, outlining his plan to rescue Social Security by creating a sovereign wealth fund independent of the Social Security Trust Fund.

Cassidy joined Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) in issuing a bipartisan statement following the release of the Trustees Report. The senators said that “Congress shouldn’t delay any longer” and urged lawmakers to begin debating and voting on proposals to strengthen Social Security’s long-term solvency.

Putting Social Security on the Ballot

The Trustees’ Report makes it very clear that Social Security and Medicare are not facing an immediate financial crisis. Both programs will continue paying benefits for years to come. However, these reports also warn Congress that delaying action will make the eventual policy solutions more difficult to achieve and potentially more disruptive.

Many Republican proposals focus on slowing future benefit growth through measures such as raising the retirement age, modifying cost-of-living adjustments, or expanding means testing, while many Democrats favor increasing revenues by requiring higher-income Americans to contribute more into the system.

Over a year ago, lawmakers introduced a major bill to rescue Social Security and Medicare. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act (S. 1690) to ensure both programs remain stable in the future. The plan raises money by closing tax loopholes for ultra-wealthy Americans, but it completely shields anyone making under $400,000 a year from paying higher taxes. Representative Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA) brought the exact same bill to the House floor at the same time.

Legislative proposals, such as Whitehouse’s, to adjust the taxable wage cap or apply payroll taxes to certain forms of investment income have also been offered as ways to ensure Social Security’s fiscal solvency.

A new voter education campaign is highlighting the financial challenges facing Social Security. Led by NCPSSM’s Richtman, the “Social Security is on the Ballot” initiative aims to build public support for legislative solutions, including Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Boyle’s proposed Fair Share Act, to help secure funding for the program.

There are many issues competing for voters’ attention this year,” explains Richtman, “But few will have such a profound effect on your future. Voters should insist [at the ballot box] that the fundamental promise of Social Security be preserved – as the program is strengthened for the future,” he said.

This multi-faceted campaign will encompass social media, short web videos, special editions of our “You Earned This” podcast and radio show, mailings, and grass-roots engagement/activism.

For over 70 million older Americans who rely on their Social Security and Medicare benefits, the Trustees’ Reports deliver a very clear message: Congress must act sooner rather than kicking the proverbial can down the road (as it usually has). As the projected trust fund depletion dates draw closer, lawmakers will need to work across the aisle to strengthen these programs and ensure they remain financially sound for current beneficiaries and future generations.

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For a copy of the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report, go to The 2026 OASDI Trustees Report

For a copy of the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report, go to 2026 Medicare Trustees Report

Pandemic Lessons: “Essential Caregivers Act” Can’t Wait. A Merciful, Bipartisan Bill for a Voiceless Population

Published in RINewsToday on January 19, 2026

As COVID-19 spread rapidly across the country in March 2020—entering nursing homes largely through community transmission and staff movement—the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance calling for nationwide visitor bans in nursing homes. These strict restrictions barred all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, with limited exceptions for hospice care.

According to March 29, 2025 article, “Changes in Federal and State Policies on Visitation Restrictions in Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” published in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, 31 states enacted statewide indoor visitation bans through executive orders between March 9 and April 6, 2020, and the end dates were between 6/15/2020 and 3/24/2021. CMS would later relax its guidance, permitting indoor visitation when facilities reported no new COVID-19 cases for 14 days and community positivity rates were low.

Charlie Galligan, a licensed criminal defense investigator in Rhode Island, knows firsthand the toll those restrictions took. He and his wife, Kerry, provided daily care for his parents for 13 years—his father, Jack, who died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2022, and his mother, Audrey, who lives with a traumatic brain injury. Balancing work with caregiving became the catalyst that pushed Galligan to lobby Congress to prevent the prolonged and unnecessary isolation of nursing home residents during future pandemics, including advocating for policies that allow designated family caregivers to visit.

“Long-term care lockdowns continued well after humane safety measures were established and family caregivers had been vaccinated,” Galligan claimed, noting that countless residents died alone as a result. “Daughters were forced to say goodbye to mothers with Alzheimer’s over FaceTime—often staring at their phones as exhausted staff struggled to provide even minimal connection.”

A Legislative Effort Revisited

The initial legislative proposal—the Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 3733)—was introduced in June 2021 to reaffirm and enforce the right of nursing home residents to receive visits from family and friends during declared emergencies. When that proposal stalled due to the absence of a Senate companion bill, a second attempt followed the next year with the introduction of S. 4280/ H.R. 8331.  Political insiders say that these bills stalled due to the legislative process, timing, and competing priorities not because Congress rejected the process. Most recently, the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025 was reintroduced last month.

On Dec. 16, 2025, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney (R-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation in their respective chambers to prevent a repeat of the prolonged isolation and reduced care nursing home residents faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and U.S. Representative John B. Larson (D-CT) joined them in cosponsoring the Essential Caregivers Act.

The Senate bill, S. 3492, currently with seven cosponsors, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. That same day, the companion measure, H.R. 6766, with 35 cosponsors, was introduced in the House and referred to the Ways and Means Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“Our movement to enact the Essential Caregivers Act is not led by professionals or lobbyists,” Galligan said. “We are simply a determined group of family caregivers—primarily brilliant, tenacious women from across the country, and one token guy from Rhode Island—who love our mothers and fathers and refuse to accept silence and separation as acceptable standards of care.”

Congressional Supporters Call for Passage

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced how dangerous and inhumane it is to isolate seniors and vulnerable patients from the people who care for them the most, say Rep. Tenney, in a statement announcing the introduction of the bill.  “Families were locked out, residents declined rapidly, and farm to many suffered alone,” she said.

“The Essential Caregivers Act ensures that this never happens again,” says Rep. Tenney, noting that they are loved ones, not visitors.  “They are caregivers, advocates, and lifelines. This bipartisan legislation protects dignity, safeguards patient rights, and makes sure compassion and comment sense guide our response during an future emergency,” she adds.

Sen. Blumenthal emphasized the bill’s bipartisan intent. “By allowing at least one designated essential caregiver to have safe, in-person access to their loved ones during an emergency, our legislation ensures that residents will never again face the devastating isolation experienced by so many during COVID-19,” he said.

Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a cosponsor of the Senate bill, echoed that sentiment. “We want to keep people safe from germs, but we also want to keep them connected—because isolation can take a real toll on health,” Reed said. “Essential Caregivers Act would ensure that even during limited visitation, residents can still have in-person contact with a loved one.”

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse has expressed support and is on a waiting list to cosponsor it – cosponsors are being added in bipartisan pairs. “Loneliness can take a real toll on residents of long-term care facilities,” he said. “This legislation recognizes the critical role loved ones play in supporting residents’ well-being, even during public health emergencies.”

Not yet committed to cosponsoring are Rhode Island’s two Representatives

At press time, Rep. Gabe Amo, had not yet committed to cosponsoring the bill. “I am reviewing the Essential Caregivers Act of 2025,” Amo said. “Family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system, and I remain committed to advancing policies that support patients, caregivers, families, and health care providers.”

Like his House colleague, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), has not yet committed to sponsoring the bill. Magaziner acknowledges the importance of allowing nursing home residents access to their loved ones and is open to considering the legislation. However, he is also working to understand what safeguards would be in place to ensure resident safety during emergencies, according to Noah Boucher, the lawmaker’s communications director.

The Nuts and Bolts

Recognizing that family members are essential to residents’ care and well-being, S. 3492 and H.R. 6766 aim to prevent the emotional, psychological, and physical harm caused by prolonged separation during public health emergencies.  This bill strikes a balance protecting public health while safeguarding the wellness of residents.

The Essential Caregivers Act requires nursing facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding to participate. It guarantees that at least one designated essential caregiver may access a resident during periods of restricted visitation, provided the caregiver follows the same safety protocols as facility staff. If a resident is unable to designate a caregiver, a representative may do so on the resident’s behalf.

The legislation also affirms caregivers’ rights to advocate for residents, participate in care planning, and ensure residents’ civil rights are protected. Additional provisions address roommate rights, as well as exemptions for end-of-life and compassionate care.

Facilities must provide written justification if caregiver access is denied, with appeals overseen by state survey agencies.

The bill has been endorsed by the AARP and Consumer Voice.

Rhode Island Advocates Call for Passage

Calling for passage of the legislation, Rhode Island Long-Term Care Ombudsman Lori Light said the COVID-19 pandemic made painfully clear how critical family caregivers are to residents’ health, safety, and well-being.

“During extended lockdowns, we witnessed firsthand the profound impact isolation had on residents, including increased depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, weight loss, and loss of engagement in daily life. For many residents, family members are not simply visitors—they are essential partners in care – they provide emotional support, help residents communicate their needs, notice subtle changes in medical conditions, and advocate when something doesn’t seem right. When access was cut off, residents lost a vital layer of protection and connection. The lessons we learned during COVID-19 must guide future policy decisions,” Light said. “No resident should ever again experience prolonged isolation from the people who know them best,” said Light.

According to Deb Burton, MS, executive director of RI Elder, the isolation imposed on long-term care residents during the pandemic was devastating. While infection control was essential, she said, the complete separation of residents from their families caused profound and lasting harm. Burton, a gerontologist, noted that residents experienced rapid physical, cognitive, and emotional decline.

“Families endured anguish knowing their loved ones were frightened, confused, and alone during the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Family members are not simply visitors—they truly are essential caregivers. They provide a familiar face, a steady hand to hold, and an understanding of a resident’s routines, preferences, and communication needs. This is especially true for individuals living with dementia or other forms of memory loss, for whom familiarity and connection are critical to well-being and safety,” Burton said.

Comments from the American Health Care Association 

While expressing support for family involvement, the nursing home industry has raised concerns about certain provisions of the bill.

From Holly Harmon, senior vice president of quality, regulatory, and clinical services at the American Health Care Association: “While we wholeheartedly support family members taking an active role in their loved one’s care, there are certain provisions of this bill where we have concerns. Mainly, we believe each situation, including public health emergencies, requires a collaborative process among public health officials and stakeholders to determine the most appropriate way to keep residents safe and loved ones connected, rather than implementing a blanket, inflexible process for all situations. We hope to work with lawmakers to make improvements to these proposals as the engagement of loved ones is critical to our residents’ wellbeing.

“Despite our caregivers doing everything they could to step in for family members during the pandemic, we were deeply concerned about the prolonged isolation of our residents. Public health officials were put between a rock and a hard place on how to best protect those in long term care, and due to the vicious nature of the virus on our resident population, it was determined best to restrict visitors and social interactions. Nursing homes were required to follow these restrictions until March 2021, and even then, CMS and CDC had strict guidelines due to the ongoing spread of the virus.

“The best way to prevent this global tragedy again is for officials to prioritize long term care residents and staff during public health emergencies, so that they can remain protected, active, and engaged with their loved ones and the community.”

A Final Note…

The best way to prevent another tragedy is to prioritize long-term care residents and staff during public health emergencies, so they can remain protected, active, and connected to loved ones. We must learn from the painful lessons of COVID-19. No one should be forced to decline alone, grieve alone, or die alone because of a lack of clear policy, RIElder’s Burton added. She noted that the Essential Caregivers Act ensures that in the next public health emergency” when it could be any one of us in a facility” we will not be separated from the person who knows us best and stands ready to advocate for us.

Caregiver Galligan remains hopeful. “This is simply a merciful bill for a voiceless population”, he said.

(updated 1-21-26)

43 Days to Reauthorize the Older Americans Act

Published in RINewsToday on August 18, 2025

The clock is ticking. Funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) is currently secured only through September 30, 2025—that’s just 43 days away. Unless Congress acts to reauthorize the law or approve new appropriations before the start of FY 2026 on October 1, funding could lapse. A bipartisan effort must be made on Capitol Hill to ensure both reauthorization and the FY 2026 budget are addressed, avoiding any interruption in services for America’s older adults.

Last reauthorized in 2020, the OAA expired during the 118th Congress. S. 4776, spearheaded by Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the committee’s ranking member, passed the Senate by unanimous consent last year. However, the House failed to pass a companion measure due to unrelated political disagreements.

Two months ago, Chairman Cassidy and nine co-sponsors reintroduced the OAA Reauthorization Act of 2025. The 91-page bill, S. 2120, would renew funding and strengthen services for older Americans. It was referred to the Senate HELP Committee the day it was introduced, where hearings, markups, and a committee vote are expected. If approved, it will move to the full Senate for consideration. As of press time, a companion bill had not yet been introduced in the House.

Chairman Cassidy’s co-sponsors include Senators Bernie Sanders, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY, Rick Scott (R-FL), chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Since its passage in 1965, the OAA has provided vital nutrition, social, and health services to millions of seniors. The legislation was originally sponsored by Rep. John E. Fogarty (D-RI) in the House and Sen. Lister Hill (D-AL) in the Senate, and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 14, 1965.

Strengthening Programs for the Future

Although S. 2120 closely mirrors last year’s S. 4776, there are notable differences. The legislation would reauthorize OAA programs through FY 2030 and increase funding by 18% over the next four years. It also includes measures to promote innovation, strengthen program integrity, and provide better support for family caregivers and direct care workers. The bill aims to improve services for Tribal elders and older adults with disabilities, ensuring these populations can remain active and supported in their communities.

One key provision strengthens the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP). The bill would establish a full-time National Director position and require the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study of state ombudsman programs. This study would assess program effectiveness, staffing challenges, recommendations for improvement, and the adequacy of current staff-to-bed ratios. The legislation also calls for updated training standards for long-term care ombudsman volunteers.

The National Family Caregiver Support Program would also be expanded. The bill encourages easier access to caregiver services, removes barriers to obtaining help, and ensures supports are both accessible and practical. It specifically requires trauma-informed services and elder abuse prevention programs to be available, helping caregivers better manage challenges in their roles.

On elder abuse prevention, S. 2120 authorizes a clearinghouse for best practices, focusing on legal and protective services to strengthen state ombudsman programs, adult protective services, and related legal supports.

Bipartisan Support and Legislative Momentum

“The Older Americans Act is crucial in helping American seniors live healthy and independent lives in the settings they choose,” said Chairman Cassidy. “This legislation strengthens these programs, ensuring they meet the needs of older Americans now and in the future,” he says.

Sen. Scott also underscored the urgency of passing S. 2120 in a released statement. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation to strengthen support for America’s older adults and reaffirm our commitment to helping them enjoy their golden years with dignity and independence,” he said. “As Chair of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I understand how essential it is that more than 59 million older Americans have access to critical services made possible through the Older Americans Act. Our seniors have spent their lives building and serving this country, and this bill is one way we ensure they continue to be supported, respected, and valued,” he added.

“The OAA has been a lifeline for American seniors since its passage over half a century ago,” said Sen. Gillibrand in a statement on June 18. “This landmark legislation helps our nation’s seniors thrive by supporting programs that provide nutrition assistance, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, caregiver support, disease prevention, and more. We owe it to seniors to continue funding these programs so they can age with dignity and respect. As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, I am firmly committed to getting this bill passed with bipartisan support.”

Sen. Sanders’s statement echoed that message, highlighting the broad scope of OAA-funded services: “The Older Americans Act provides federal funding for many essential programs, including combating loneliness and isolation, job training, protections from abuse, rides to the doctor and grocery store, disease prevention, caregiver support, and help for older adults to live independently at home. Not only does the Act save lives and ease human suffering, it saves money. We can waste billions on emergency room visits and unnecessary hospital stays, or we can provide seniors with the resources they need to live healthier, more dignified lives.”

“The failure to reauthorize the OAA in 2024 had tragic consequences in 2025. One in particular was the elimination of the Administration of Community Living which runs OAA programs.  Also proposals (since rejected) to end funding for Adult Protective Services and ombudsman programs. When you are in legislative limbo bad stuff can happen. It’s time for that to end,” says Robert “Bob” Blancato, serving as National Coordinator of the bipartisan 3,000-member Elder Justice Coalition, the Executive Director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs and National Coordinator of the Defeat Malnutrition.

Advocacy and the Call to Action

National advocacy groups—including Consumer Voice, Argentum, the National Council on Aging, the National Association of Development Organizations, USAging, and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs—are urging swift passage of S. 2120. These organizations stress that delaying re-authorization would put millions of vulnerable seniors at risk of losing essential supports.

With the many benefits the OAA delivers to Rhode Island’s older adults—and considering that the late Rep. John Fogarty of Rhode Island played a pivotal role in securing passage of the original legislation in 1965—it is only fitting that the state’s current senators take a leading role today. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) should cosponsor S. 2120 and work closely with their Senate colleagues to ensure its passage. Since there is currently no companion measure in the House, Rhode Island’s Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo must take the initiative—by urging their colleagues to introduce one, or by stepping forward themselves to lead the effort.

Congress must act before September 30 to prevent a lapse in funding. The well-being of millions of older Americans—and their ability to age in place at home with dignity — depends on it.