Will the following witnesses come forward. Mr. Samuel Simmons, President of the National Caucus and Center on the Black Aged. Ms. Iris Freeman, Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance for Health Care Consumers.

Dr. Ruth Roberts, Project Director, Community Access for Elderly Mentally Retarded Persons, Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation. Mr. Michael Guy, Director, District Three Governmental Cooperative Area Agency.

Mr. Schuette.

Mr. SCHUETTE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Biaggi. In the interest of time and in the interest I know all the committee has in hearing our witnesses, why don't I submit my statement for the record, if I may.

Mr. BIAGGI. Without objection, so ordered

Mr. SCHUETTE. Thank you for your courtesy.

[The prepared statements of Representatives Bill Schuette, Marilyn Lloyd, Tom Tauke, George C. Wortley, Christopher H. Smith, Jim Saxton, Harris W. Fawell, and Constance Morella follow:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE BILL SCHUETTE

Mr. Chairman, I congratulate you for holding this hearing today to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the Older Americans Act. This Act has been extremely successful in providing needed services to our nation's elderly and has been of particular importance to the many seniors in mid-Michigan.

Since 1965, programs authorized under the Act have provided critical services to the elderly. These programs, such as meals on wheels, the distribution of surplus agriculural commodities, transportation, adult day care, legal services, employment opportunities, and other essential assistance are absolutely vital to preserving "independence" and a higher quality of life for our seniors.

Although many of these programs have been very successful in the past, we certainly must continue to examine the adequacy of the delivery of these much needed services, and improve them when possible. Today, too many of our seniors are "left out" of these programs and are not receiving the essential services.

In some

In

cases, these seniors are simply not aware of these programs. too many others, they live in more remote rural areas which are not adequately serviced through current provisions.

At the present time, the allocation of federal dollars favors urban areas. Often, this federal bias adds insult to injury for rural areas because these communities typically lack the financial capacity of larger communities and the costs of these services are likewise more expensive. This makes the delivery of essential services enormously more difficult for our small rural communities and we must work for a more equitable split of these dollars between our urban and rural communities.

In my own state of Michigan, 20 percent of our entire senior population is serviced by these programs. Many more members of our aging population need to be reached by the essential programs under the Older Americans Act. Heightened awareness of these programs' availability, as well as the implementation of more effective delivery systems should be examined, and I again commend the Chairman for holding this important hearing to that end.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE MARILYN LLOYD

MR. CHAIRMAN,

THIS YEAR, WE CELEBRATE THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNIVERSAY OF THE OLDER

AMERICANS ACT, WHICH, SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1965, HAS HELPED MILLIONS OF WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE INSTITUTIONALIZED

ELDERLY PEOPLE

INDEPENDENTLY.

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TO LIVE

OVER THE YEARS, THE ACT HAS BEEN FINE-TUNED TO ACCOMMODATE THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF OLDER AMERICANS WHO WANT TO MANAGE THEIR OWN LIVES. TODAY, THE ACT AUTHORIZES GRANTS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, NUTRITION SERVICES, MULTI-PURPOSE SENIOR CENTER FACILITIES, TRAINING, RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITIES, AND HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

THANKS TO THE ACT, WE HAVE A FULLY DEVELOPED AGING SERVICES NETWORK FIRMLY IN PLACE WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO PLAN, MANAGE AND COORDINATE AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF SERVICES TO OLDER PEOPLE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE NATION.

WE HAVE IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE A LOCAL NETWORK IN WHICH MANY DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY. I HAVE SEEN FOR MYSELF THE DIFFERENCE THAT THIS NETWORK HAS MADE IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE ELDERLY. THIS IS ONE FEDERALLY-ASSISTED PROGRAM THAT HAS MORE THAN PAID ITS WAY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE HIGH COST OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION

--

AND ALSO IN TERMS OF PRESERVING THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

OLDER PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR OLDER AMERICANS ACT PROGRAMS. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE IS THE TITLE II-C PROGRAM WHICH DEPENDS ON THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER MEALS TO THE HOMES OF THE ELDERLY. OVER 70 PERCENT OF THE VOLUNTEERS UNDER THIS PROGRAM ARE

THEMSELVES OLDER AMERICANS.

THE ACT HAS ALSO ENCOURAGED PRIVATE SECTOR COOPERATION IN SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY. MANY COMPANIES ARE NOW OFFERING PART-TIME JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO BE FINANCIALLY AND SOCIALLY INDEPENENT. THE UNITED WAY AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN

COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS ESTABLISHED THE CARRIER ALERT PROGRAM TO RELIEVE THE ISOLATION OF OLDER PEOPLE. VOLUNTARY VISION SCREEN TESTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION. THESE ARE BUT A FEW

EXAMPLES OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE EFFORT TO BRING A BETTER LIFE TO OUR NATION'S OLDER PEOPLE.

THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER PEOPLE, AND IT IS NOW UP TO US TO SEE THAT IT WILL BE EQUAL TO THE TASK OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF A POPULATION, ONE FOURTH OF WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE AT LEAST 55 YEARS OLD BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE TOM TAUKE

The Older Americans Act of 1965 will be confronted with several new challenges during the rest of this decade and beyond. Congress must recognize and address these new demands as we reauthorize the Older Americans Act this year.

I am pleased that this Committee has initiated this hearing on the reauthorization, with special focus on the needs of certain "at risk" elderly. The Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Education and Labor Committee, on which I serve as the Ranking Republican, is also in the process of holding several hearings on the reauthorization, and I believe that today's testimony will supplement the information and activities of the Human Resources Subcommittee nicely.

In the authorizing committee, we are struggling with two conflicting concepts embodied in the Older Americans Act. Traditionally, the Act has been the source of social services for all elderly citizens. Now, forced to stretch limited resources to meet growing demands for these services, there is increasing pressure to further emphasize the targetting of services to the most needy of the elderly.

In particular, there is concern that the most vulnerable elderly--minorities, disabled, isolated rural, and frail, homebound elderly--are being underserved. Solutions to this problem will be costly, and it is essential to use the resources that are available in the most efficient and effective way possible.

In general, I believe that the aging network has balanced the growing demands being placed upon it quite well. It is now incumbent on Congress to provide the authorizing language to enable the network to better fulfill the requirements we have placed upon it and to meet the new challenges with which the network will be confronted in both the short- and long-term.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE C. WORTLEY

Mr. Chairman, I commend you on holding this hearing on a program with a proven success record. It is my hope that we can learn more about what the Older American Act has to offer and how it can be better utilized in our home districts.

In the 27th Congressional District, several organizations benefit from the funding of this worthy program. Under Title III, the Meals on Wheels Program, Catholic Charities Elderly Abuse Program and the Catholic Charities nine nutrition programs, Peace Incorporated and their ten meal programs, the Jewish Community Center, the Salvation Army's Senior Center and many other senior centers benefit tremendously by the Older Americans Act. I would like to see this list grow so that we may serve more elderly, especially in nutrition services area.

I join my colleagues in welcoming the witness panel. Maximizing the effectiveness of federal programs is important, and I look forward to learning of new program ideas that may be implemented in my home district.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE IN CONGRATULATING YOU FOR BRINGING TOGETHER SUCH A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF EXPERT WITNESSES TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATING TO THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT.

AS YOU KNOW, MR. CHAIRMAN, CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT IN 1965. ITS OBJECTIVE WAS TO ASSIST THE ELDERLY IN ACQUIRING THEIR BASIC NEEDS OF FOOD AND SHELTER. SINCE THEN, THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT HAS BECOME THE PRIMARY SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAM FOR OUR ELDERLY POPULATION. THE ACT BEGAN AS A $6.5 MILLION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT BUT HAS GROWN INTO A $1 BILLION-A-YEAR NETWORK OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

IN NEW JERSEY ALONE OUR FUNDING LEVEL IS MORE THAN $30 MILLION. THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF AGING AND THE 21 COUNTY OFFICES ON AGING RECEIVE FUNDING WHICH PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 224 NUTRITION SITES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. BESIDES BOTH CONGREGATE MEALS AND IN-HOME MEALS PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY, THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT PROVIDES FOR MULTI-PURPOSE SENIOR CITIZENS CENTERS, HOMEMAKER SERVICES, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AID TO VICTIMS OF CRIME, AND TRANSPORTATION.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM GLAD OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE INDIVIDUALS ASSEMBLED TODAY TO TESTIFY ON THIS VITALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SENIOP. SUPPORT SERVICES WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY NEEDED BY THE VULNERABLE AGED. I TRUST THAT THE INSIGHTS GAINED IN THIS FORUM WILL ASSIST US AS CONGRESS AGAIN BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF OLDER AMERICANS ACT REAUTHORIZATION. THESE ARE PROGRAMS WHICH HAVE HELPED UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS, PROGRAMS WHICH ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH STATE AND AREA AGENCIES WHICH IN TURN DRAW UPON AND COALESCE BENEFITS OF OTHER PROGRAMS AND THE RESOURCES OF PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS MUST BE CONTINUED. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.