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Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Seniors’ Independence Act to provide nutritional and social services to older Americans, including an amendment by Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) to expand the number of seniors eligible for employment assistance.
“This nation has a moral obligation to help senior citizens who have limited ability to care for themselves,” said Holt. “Older Americans have contributed to our economy, our society, and our communities, and we must fulfill our duty to help them in their later years. Since 1965, the programs under the Older Americans Act have provided such vital services.”
The Seniors’ Independence Act of 2006 reauthorizes the Older Americans Act, which was originally passed in 1965. The legislation provides nutritional support (such as Meals on Wheels), community service employment, protections against neglect and abuse, and other important services for older Americans in need. It was passed by the House of Representatives today.
During consideration of the bill by the Education and the Workforce Committee, Rep. Holt added an amendment to stop the Department of Labor from using an unfair calculation of income to determine eligibility for the Title V community service employment programs (SCSEP). In January 2005, the Department of Labor issued a “Training and Employment Guidance Letter” that changed eligibility criteria. Instead of discounting certain forms of income like veterans’ compensation, Social Security Disability Insurance, unemployment compensation, and a portion of traditional Social Security benefits, the new regulation mandated inclusion of that income, thus making fewer seniors eligible for vital services. Rep. Holt’s amendment changed the criteria to pre-2005 levels, and it was unanimously agreed to. The bill, as passed by the House, includes this change.
“It would be disingenuous to offer the services to persons with greatest economic need and persons who are disabled, but then use their Social Security income or disability benefits to exclude them from participation,” said Rep. Holt. “It would also be a mistake to hold someone’s service in the Armed Forces against them in determining their eligibility for employment assistance. I am pleased that my amendment was unanimously accepted, and I will continue to advocate for those in need of these vital community services.”
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