GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ --Congressman Rob Andrews today released a report issued by the Bureau of Justice Statistics warning seniors of the top crimes committed against older persons nationwide including household burglaries, purse snatchings, robberies, and aggravated assaults as well as ways in which seniors can work with police to prevent and prosecute these crimes.  At a press conference, in Gloucester Township, Rep. Andrews highlighted the municipality as a model of what one town is doing to combat these types of crimes--noting the addition of twelve new officers hired by Gloucester Twp. Police Department since 1995 through federal funding, which has helped to produce a 22 % drop in crime in that community.

"When we give municipalities the resources they need to fight crime in their neighborhoods coupled with the talent and dedication of the men and women that protect our streets, we begin to see the dramatic effects," said Rep. Andrews.  "Crime rates throughout South Jersey have dropped precipitously over the last five years which is due in large part to the over 500 new officers hired throughout South Jersey as well as proactive initiatives like Gloucester Township's Crime Prevention program."   

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics report, older Americans are more likely to be targets of such serious crimes as burglary and larceny.  But in the worst cases, perpetrators violently assault seniors while attempting to gain entry into their home to rob them of their property.  It is no surprise that seniors are the targets of such crimes given that people over 50 represent about:

O 26% of the population;
O 50% of disposable income; 
O 70% of the country's net worth;
O 77% of total financial assets. 

Rep. Andrews has brought back $900,000 for Gloucester Township to hire 12 new officers and $30.5 million to hire 584 new officers throughout the First Congressional District since South Jersey's received it's first COPS grant in 1995.  According to a recent study released by the New Jersey State Police, crime has been reduced by almost 9 % throughout South Jersey due in part to the addition of these new officers.  The federally funded COPS grant specifically stipulates that new officers hired as a result of this funding are to be deployed on the street to provide a clear police presence to deter crime.  The results have been extremely positive for communities like Gloucester where new officers are working with older citizens to reduce crime in their neighborhoods as well as advising seniors on how to prevent being victimized.

As part of an entire day devoted to improving the quality of life of seniors throughout South Jersey, Congressman Andrews toured the Social Security Administration Building in Glassboro to commemorate the 3rd consecutive year in which the ENTIRE FICA tax has been put into the Social Security Fund.  Andrews has been an ardent supporter of placing the bulk of the projected budget surplus back in the social security trust fund and has voted to ensure the funds solvency on key votes in the House of Representatives in each of the last three years.

Congressman Andrews next visited with senior leaders in Gloucester County to discuss several initiatives he is working on in Congress to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors back home in South Jersey.  Andrews has signed two petitions calling on the Congressional Leadership to bring to bring much needed Prescription Drug reform legislation before Congress.  The first bill, HR 1495, the "Access to Prescription Medications in Medicare Act" would add an outpatient prescription drug benefit to Medicare.  The bill covers 80% of routine expenditures, and 100% of pharmaceutical expenditures for chronically ill beneficiaries who incur drugs costs of more than $3,000 a year.  The second is HR 664 "The Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act" which calls on drug companies to end price discrimination and make their products available to seniors at the same low prices the companies give the federal government and other favored customers.  Andrews has also cosponsored HR 1885, a bill that would allow the U.S. Drug distributors to import FDA approved prescription drugs from other countries where the identical medications sell for much less. 

Rep. Andrews concluded his day by meeting with health care providers and staff of Silver Care Center Behavioral Management in Cherry Hill, NJ to highlight the successes of $4 million in federal funding from 1997-1999 toward Alzheimer's treatment and care.   Rep. Andrews spoke with these caregivers who tend to approximately 40 residents afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease to discuss their progress and challenges treating this life-altering disease that strikes about one in every 10 Americans 65 and older and 47% of people 85 and older each year.  Experts caution that by the year 2050, as many as 15% of those over 65 might have Alzheimer's.   Rep. Andrews has cosponsored HR 4029, a comprehensive bill to aid the families of Alzheimer's patients in providing better care for their loved ones and has requested $100 million in increased funding for Alzheimer's research from the National Institute of Health.
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