Older Americans Act: FY2006 Funding, FY2007 Proposals, and FY2008 Budget Request

Publication Date: February 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Population and demographics

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Abstract:

The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the major federal vehicle for the delivery of social and nutrition services for older persons. These include supportive services, congregate and home-delivered nutrition services, community service employment, the long-term care ombudsman program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older persons. The act also supports grants to Native Americans and research, training, and demonstration activities.

For FY2008, the President's budget requests a total of $1.685 billion for OAA programs, a 5% reduction from the FY2006 level of $1.783 million. (Final FY2007 funding amounts have not yet been determined.) The budget requests $1.2 billion for Title III, Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging, a 2% reduction from the FY2006 level. No funding is requested for the disease prevention and health promotion program under Title III; the program was funded at $21.4 million in FY2006.

The FY2008 budget request includes a reduction of 19% for the Title V community service employment program, funded at $432.3 million in FY2006. The budget requests $35.5 million in funding for Title IV training, research, and demonstration grants, a 44% increase from the FY2006 level.

Continuing Resolution H.J.Res. 20 would provide funding through the end of FY2007. It passed the House on January 31, 2007, and the Senate on February 14, 2007. The bill provides an increase of $20.4 million over FY2006 levels for Title III nutrition programs and an increase of $51.3 million over FY2006 levels for Title V community service employment. It does not specify precise dollar figures for other OAA programs.

The OAA was reauthorized through FY2011 by P.L. 109-365. For information on the 2006 amendments, see CRS Report RL31336, Older Americans Act: Programs, Funding, and 2000 Reauthorization, by Carol O'Shaughnessy and Angela Napili.

This report will be updated.