NEWS: Sanders and Cassidy on Unanimous Senate Vote to Pass Historic Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 - Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) today released the following statement on the unanimous vote in the Senate last night to pass the Older Americans Act (OAA) - critical legislation that will renew funding and strengthen services for older Americans. The bill's reauthorization effort was also led by Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

"We are very proud that the Senate came together - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - to expand and strengthen the Older Americans Act over the next five years," said Sanders and Cassidy. "This legislation begins to address the urgent, unmet needs of millions of seniors in America, and what we must do as a society to reduce senior hunger and improve the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in our country. Not only does the Older Americans Act save lives and ease human suffering, it saves money by keeping seniors out of the hospital. We are actively working with our colleagues in the House to get this critical legislation signed into law this year."

This legislation would reauthorize OAA funding from $2.3 billion this year to $2.76 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 - a 20 percent increase compared to last year. The OAA reauthorization also makes improvements to the law to better support family caregivers and direct care workers; and takes steps to better serve Tribal seniors, older workers, and those with disabilities.

First signed into law in 1965, the OAA has provided vital nutrition, social, economic, and health services to millions of vulnerable seniors for nearly six decades.

The OAA was last reauthorized in 2020.