WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Bernie Sanders (I-VT), ranking member of the HELP Committee, Rick Scott (R-FL), chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ed Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) reintroduced the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act, legislation that renews funding and strengthens services for American seniors.
“The Older Americans Act is crucial in helping American seniors live healthy and independent lives in the settings they choose,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This legislation strengthens these programs, ensuring they meet the needs of older Americans now and in the future.”
“The Older Americans Act provides federal funding for many essential services for our nation’s seniors including activities to combat loneliness and isolation, job training, protections from abuse, rides to the doctor’s office and grocery store, preventing disease, helping older adults live at home, and supporting our nation’s caregivers,” said Senator Sanders. “Not only does the Older Americans Act save lives and ease human suffering, it saves money. We can choose to continue to waste billions of dollars on emergency room visits and unnecessary hospital stays, or we can provide older Americans with the resources and the services they need to live healthier, more secure, and more dignified lives. In my view, it is our responsibility not simply to reauthorize this legislation and maintain the status quo. It is our responsibility to expand the Older Americans Act so that every vulnerable senior in America can receive the services that they need.”
“I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation to strengthen support for America’s older adults and reaffirm our commitment to helping them enjoy their golden years with dignity and independence. As Chair of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I understand how essential it is that the more than 59 million older Americans in communities across our nation have access to critical services made possible through the Older Americans Act like nutrition, in-home care, and caregiver support. I was proud to lead a bipartisan resolution recognizing May 2025 as Older Americans Month, and am determined to work alongside my colleagues to see the Older Americans Act quickly reauthorized. Our seniors have spent their lives building and serving this country, and this bill is one way we ensure they continue to be supported, respected, and valued,” said Senator Scott.
“The OAA has been a lifeline for American seniors since its passage over half a century ago,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This landmark legislation helps our nation’s seniors thrive by supporting programs that provide nutrition assistance, home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation services, caregiver support, disease prevention services, long-term care, and more. Last year, over 12 million Americans were served by programs funded by the OAA. We owe it to seniors to strengthen and continue funding these programs so they have the support they need to age with dignity and respect. As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, I am firmly committed to getting this bill passed with bipartisan support.”
Since 1965, OAA has provided vital nutrition, social, and health services to millions of seniors for nearly six decades. Last reauthorized in 2020, OAA expired in the 118th Congress. The previous OAA reauthorization, also led by Cassidy and Sanders, passed the Senate unanimously last year.
This legislation would reauthorize OAA programs through fiscal year 2030 and make improvements to promote innovation and flexibility, strengthen program integrity, and better support family caregivers and direct care workers. The bill also takes steps to better serve Tribal seniors and those with disabilities in their communities.
Read the full bill text here.
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