On July 10, the House Appropriations Committee proposed significant funding cuts to the Older Americans Act (OAA), which supports several essential aging services programs.

“At a time when 11,000 Americans are turning 65 every day, these proposals would hurt American families, and we urge Congress to reject them,” said Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA). 

Alwin emphasized that supporting our families and communities extends beyond just protecting Medicare and Social Security. Non-defense discretionary spending like the OAA helps fund meals, transportation, healthy aging programs, job placement, elder justice and other services that enable millions of Americans to age with dignity.

Alwin further warned, “Underinvesting in—or, as in some proposals, completely eliminating—these programs will hurt American families who are already struggling to care for each other across multiple generations.”

He outlined that the committee’s proposals are far-reaching and include:

• Eliminating the Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP), the only federal program that provides job training and placement for low-income older workers. Since 2020, SCSEP has helped over 40,000 participants each year fight homelessness and poverty through training and work.

• Abolishing funding aimed at preventing falls among older adults, including efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collaborate with health care providers, as well as a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program that assists low-income older adults in modifying their homes. Falls are the leading cause of injuries among seniors, with the nation spending $50 billion annually on treatment.
  
  
• Cutting $37 million from meal services when 12 million older adults are threatened by or experience hunger. Last year, an estimated 55.6 million meals were served in group settings like senior centers and churches, and an estimated 206.2 million were delivered to homes.
  
  
• Eliminating the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, the only federal center addressing the dire shortage of workers who help older adults and individuals with disabilities stay independent at home. By 2031, nearly 9.3 million total direct care jobs will need to be filled.
  
  
• Failing to invest in the decennial White House Conference on Aging (anticipated for 2025), which is crucial for mobilizing both public and private sectors to address the opportunities and challenges of our aging population.

“For decades, these programs have been underfunded,” said Alwin. “Now, facing a historic boom in demand, they are being asked to do even more with even less. This is unacceptable in a nation where every person deserves the right to age with dignity. We urge the House and Senate to reject these short-sighted proposals.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Urge Congress to maintain funding for the Older Americans Act by sending letters or emails to your senators and representatives. It’s crucial to include personal stories—yours or those of family members or acquaintances who have benefited from Meals on Wheels or the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). Personalized messages have a powerful impact, underscoring the vital role these programs play in the lives of American seniors and their families.

Get started with a template at act.ncoa.org/a/oaa or send your letter to:

Senator Michael Bennet
1244 Speer Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204
303-455-7600
Email him using the contact form at: bennet.senate.gov

Senator John Hickenlooper
1961 Stout St., Suite 12-300
Denver, CO 80294
303-244-1628
Email him using the contact form at: hickenlooper.senate.gov

Congressman Doug Lamborn
1125 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Suite 330
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-520-0055
Email him using the contact form at: lamborn.house.gov