Order Code RL33880
Older Americans Act: FY2008 Funding and
FY2009 Budget Request
Updated March 27, 2008
Angela Napili
Information Research Specialist
Knowledge Services Group

Older Americans Act: FY2008 Funding and
FY2009 Budget Request
Summary
The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the major federal vehicle for the delivery
of social and nutrition services for older persons. These include supportive services,
congregate nutrition services (meals served at group sites such as senior centers,
community centers, schools, churches, or senior housing complexes), home-delivered
nutrition services, community service employment, the long-term care ombudsman
program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older persons.
The OAA also supports grants to older Native Americans and research, training, and
demonstration activities. Funding for most OAA programs is provided through
appropriations legislation for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS-Education).
On February 4, 2008, the President submitted his FY2009 budget request, which
would provide $1.731 billion for OAA programs, a 10% decrease from the FY2008
funding level of $1.924 billion.
For OAA’s Title V Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP),
the FY2009 Budget requests $350.0 million, a 33% decrease from the FY2008 level
of $521.6 million.
Funding for preventive health services under OAA’s Title III would be
eliminated under the FY2009 budget request. This program was funded at $21
million in FY2008.
The FY2009 budget request would also eliminate funding for Alzheimer’s
Disease Demonstration Grants, which received $11.5 million for FY2008.
The FY2009 Budget requests $28.0 million under OAA’s Title IV for the new
Choices for Independence demonstration, intended to help older Americans plan for
their long-term care needs so that they can maintain their independence in the
community. In FY2008, Congress appropriated $16.2 million to Choices for
Independence under Title II Aging Network support activities, rather than as a
demonstration under Title IV.

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
FY2008 Funding and FY2009 Budget Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Title II. Administration on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Title III. Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Title IV. Program Innovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Title V. Community Service Employment for Older Americans . . . . . . . . . . 5
Title VI. Grants for Services for Native Americans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Title VII. Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
List of Tables
Table 1. The Older Americans Act, Alzheimer’s Demonstration Grants,
and White House Conference on Aging Funding, FY2000-FY2008,
and FY2009 Budget Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
List of Figures
Figure 1. Older Americans Act, FY2008 Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Figure 2. Funding for Older Americans Act Programs FY2000-FY2008,
and FY2009 Budget Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Older Americans Act: FY2008 Funding and
FY2009 Budget Request
Introduction
Originally enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act (OAA) supports a wide
range of social services and programs for older persons.1 These include supportive
services, congregate nutrition services (meals served at group sites such as senior
centers, community centers, schools, churches, or senior housing complexes), home-
delivered nutrition services, community service employment, the long-term care
ombudsman program, and services to prevent the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of
older persons. Except for Title V, Community Service Employment for Older
Americans, all programs are administered by the Administration on Aging (AoA) in
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Title V is administered by the
Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration.
Table 1 summarizes OAA appropriations from FY2000 through FY2008 and
the FY2009 Budget Request. It includes funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease
Demonstration Grants and the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. Figure 1
shows the distribution of FY2008 OAA funding by program. Figure 2 shows total
OAA funding from FY2000 through FY2008 and total OAA funding proposed in the
FY2009 Budget Request.2
FY2008 Funding and FY2009 Budget Request
On December 26, 2007, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161), which provides $1.924 billion for OAA programs in
FY2008, 4% more than the FY2007 level. This figure includes the act’s
across-the-board reduction of 1.747% for items in the Labor-HHS-Education
division.3
1 The OAA was reauthorized in 2006 by P.L. 109-365. For further information, see CRS
Report RL31336, The Older Americans Act: Programs, Funding, and 2006 Reauthorization
(P.L. 109-365)
, by Carol O’Shaughnessy and Angela Napili. An unofficial compilation of
the OAA, as amended, is at the Administration on Aging website
[http://www.aoa.gov/OAA2006/Main_Site/oaa/oaa_full.asp].
2 For information on OAA appropriations in earlier years, see CRS Report RL32437, Older
Americans Act: History of Appropriations, FY1966-FY2004
, by Carol O’Shaughnessy.
3 The Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) Division G, on Labor-HHS-
Education appropriations, includes an across-the-board reduction of 1.747% to accounts,
(continued...)

CRS-2
On February 4, 2008, the President submitted his FY2009 Budget Request,
which would provide $1.731 billion for OAA programs, a 10% decrease from the
FY2008 funding level.
The following provides details of funding under Titles II through VII of the
OAA. Title I (Declaration of Objectives) does not authorize appropriations.
Title II. Administration on Aging
Title II establishes AoA within HHS as the chief federal agency advocate for
older persons and sets out the responsibilities of AoA and the Assistant Secretary for
Aging. The Assistant Secretary is appointed by the President with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
Funding authorized under Title II goes toward program administration and
Aging Network support activities. Aging Network support activities currently
include the following:
! the National Eldercare Locator, a nationwide toll-free phone number
and website that helps identify community resources for older
persons;
! the Pension Counseling and Information Program, which funds
regional counseling projects that help older Americans learn about
and receive the retirement benefits to which they are entitled;
! the Senior Medicare Patrol Program, which funds projects that
educate older Americans and their families to recognize and report
Medicare and Medicaid fraud;
! the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, which
provides training and technical assistance to state and local long-
term care ombudsmen; and
! the National Center on Elder Abuse, which provides information to
the public and professionals, and provides training and technical
assistance to state elder abuse agencies and to community-based
organizations.
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides $49.7
million for Title II in FY2008, including an $18.5 million increase from FY2007 for
Aging Network support activities. This increase includes $16.2 million for the new
Choices for Independence initiative, intended to help older Americans plan for
long-term care services and supports so that they can maintain their independence in
the community.4 Choices for Independence reflects recently authorized provisions
in the Older American Act Amendments of 2006 (P.L. 109-365) related to Aging and
3 (...continued)
items, programs, projects, and activities in the bill text and the Explanatory Statement
narrative, with some exceptions (Title V, §528).
4 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
pp. 61and 69, at [http://www.aoa.gov/about/legbudg/current_budg/docs/FinalAoAFY2009
CongressionalJustification01282008.pdf].

CRS-3
Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs), evidence-based prevention programs, and
consumer-directed services targeted to persons at high risk of nursing home
placement and spend-down to Medicaid.5 Choices for Independence is explained in
more detail in the Title IV section below.
The Administration’s FY2008 budget request would have funded Choices for
Independence at $28.0 million under Title IV, which authorizes funds for training,
research, and demonstration projects. However, the House-passed, Senate-passed,
and conference report versions of FY2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations
bills, as well as the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161), all
provided funding for Choices for Independence under Title II Aging Network support
activities.6 The House committee report explained that “[t]hese established
programs, which began as demonstration projects, provide critical support for the
national aging services network.”7
The FY2009 Budget requests $31.8 million for Title II, and repeats the FY2008
Budget’s proposal to fund Choices for Independence as a demonstration project
under Title IV, rather than under Title II. See the Title IV section below for more
information on Choices for Independence.
Title III. Grants for State and Community Programs on Aging
The major program under the OAA, Title III — Grants for State and Community
Programs on Aging — authorizes grants to 56 state and 655 area agencies on aging
to act as advocates on behalf of, and to coordinate programs for older persons.8 Title
III accounted for 67% of the OAA’s total FY2008 funding. States receive separate
allotments of funds for supportive services and centers, family caregiver support,
congregate and home-delivered nutrition services, the nutrition services incentive
grant program, and disease prevention and health promotion services. In FY2006,
9.5 million older persons were served by Title III programs.9
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides $1.284
billion for Title III, a 2% increase over the FY2007 level of $1.263 billion.
5 H.Rept. 110-231, p.207.
6 The House Appropriations Committee recommended that $16.5 million be used for
Choices for Independence (H.Rept. 110-231, p. 207). The Senate Appropriations Committee
recommended that $28.0 million would be used for the Choices for Independence Initiative
(S.Rept. 110-107, p. 203). The conference report for H.R. 3043 would have provided $22.3
million for Choices for Independence activities (H.Rept. 110-424, p. 160).
7 H.Rept. 110-231, p.207.
8 The 56 state agencies on aging include units in 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, and the District
of Columbia. More information is at [http://www.aoa.gov/prof/agingnet/agingnet.asp], the
AoA website.
9 AoA, Aging Network, 2006 State Program Reports, “Table 1. Estimated Unduplicated
C o u n t o f P e r s o n s S e r ve d U n d e r T i t l e I I I o f t h e O A A , ” a t
[http://www.aoa.gov/prof/agingnet/NAPIS/SPR/2006SPR/Tables/Table1.pdf].

CRS-4
Under the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Title III-C congregate
meals program and the home-delivered meals program each have a 3% funding
increase, and nutrition services incentives grants have a 4% increase from the previous
year. Both Senate and House Appropriations Committee reports noted that funding
for OAA nutrition programs has remained relatively flat over the past several years
while the population of older Americans has continued to increase. According to
committee reports, the Senate Appropriations Committee “hopes that the funding
increase provided will help alleviate the fiscal strain affecting these programs,” and the
House Appropriations Committee intends the increase “to be a significant first step in
properly investing in the care of the nation’s frail elderly.”10
The FY2009 Budget proposes that funding for almost all Title III programs
remain at their FY2008 levels. The exception is the Title III-D disease prevention and
health promotion program; its funding ($21.0 million in FY2008) would be eliminated
under the FY2009 Budget. The Budget Justification explains that “Integrating the
provision of prevention services into AoA’s core program structures will provide a
more effective means to address preventive health needs than the previous approach
of using a small funding stream to provide States with unfocused seed money.”11
Therefore, the President’s FY2009 budget request for all Title III programs is $1.263
billion, a 2% reduction from the FY2008 level.

Title IV. Program Innovations
Title IV of the OAA authorizes the Assistant Secretary for Aging to award funds
for training, research, and demonstration projects in the field of aging. In recent years,
AoA has funded a number of national efforts that support the work of state and area
agencies on aging, including national resource centers that focus on legal assistance,
retirement needs of minority populations, and the vulnerable elderly. Other recent
projects have included funding for Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs).
The ADRC program provides competitive grants to states to help them develop and
implement “one stop” access points to information on long-term care support options.
The program is currently operating in 40 states, two territories, and the District of
Columbia.12 Other activities have included outreach to help Medicare beneficiaries
understand their benefits under the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), conducted
in cooperation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides $14.7
million for Title IV in FY2008, $9.4 million less than the FY2007 level.
For Title IV, the President’s FY2009 budget request is $32.9 million. About 85%
($28.0 million) of requested Title IV funds would be used for the Choices for
Independence demonstration described below. The balance of the request would be
10 S.Rept. 110-107, p. 201. H.Rept. 110-231, pp. 205-206.
11 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
p. 35.
12 A directory of ADRCs is at the Aging and Disability Resource Center Technical
Assistance Exchange website, [http://www.adrc-tae.org].

CRS-5
used to maintain support for ongoing activities, including national resource centers
that provide technical assistance to aging service providers, multigenerational civic
engagement activities, and program evaluation.
According to the Administration’s FY2009 Budget Justification, the Choices for
Independence demonstration will be a randomized controlled experiment in three to
five states. It will test whether Medicare and Medicaid savings can be achieved through
home and community-based alternatives to nursing homes. Choices for Independence
has three components. First, Aging and Disability Resource Centers provide public
education, information, and assistance with planning for long-term care. Consumers
receive information on private financing options (such as long-term care insurance and
home equity conversions), home modification, assistive technology, and options for
alternative living arrangements. Second, the “Evidence-Based Prevention” component
helps seniors change behavior to reduce risk of disease and disability. Funds support
activities in areas such as falls prevention, exercise, chronic disease self-management,
medication management, and nutrition. This component builds on existing Title IV
evidence-based disease prevention projects. Third, the “Nursing Home Diversion”
component gives states a “flexible funding source” they could use to help seniors avoid
institutionalization. This component would provide financial incentives to
low-to-moderate-income individuals who are at risk of nursing home placement but
who are not yet eligible for Medicaid. ADRCs would help older people and their
families develop a plan to meet their long-term care needs. According to the Budget
Justification, the Choices for Independence initiative would require a 25% state match
for all three components, and states would have to meet certain performance and
outcome standards as a condition of participation.13
The Administration estimates that through the FY2009 Choices for Independence
demonstration, there would be 156,000 ADRC contacts, 10,000 participants in the
evidence-based chronic disease self-management program, and 359 clients served
through the nursing home diversion component.14
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act funded various Choices for
Independence activities under Title II Aging Network support activities, rather than as
a demonstration project under Title IV.
Title V. Community Service Employment for Older Americans
Title V, also known as the Senior Community Service Employment Program
(SCSEP), has as its purpose the promotion of useful part-time opportunities in
community service activities for unemployed low-income persons who are 55 years or
older and who have poor employment prospects. For FY2008, the community service
employment program represents more than a quarter of the OAA’s funds ($521.6
million out of $1.924 billion). Enrollees work part-time in a variety of community
13 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
pp. 4, 61, and 64-67.
14 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
p. 66.

CRS-6
service activities. DOL estimates that in FY2008 the program will provide for 59,316
job slots, serving about 105,914 participants, at a cost of $4,925 per participant.15
Enrollees are paid no less than the highest of the federal minimum wage, the state
or local minimum wage, or the prevailing wage paid by the same employer for similar
public occupations. In addition to wages, enrollees receive physical examinations,
personal and job-related counseling, and transportation for employment purposes, under
certain circumstances.
The 2006 Older Americans Act reauthorization amendments (P.L. 109-365)
maintained the program focus on employing older people in community service jobs and
reemphasized the community service aspects of the program. While the program is to
move participants into unsubsidized employment, the amendments recognized that
many older people who have special needs may need to remain in subsidized
employment and that the program supplements the income for some workers who
cannot find jobs in the private economy.16
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides $521.6 million for
Title V in FY2008, an 8% increase over the FY2007 funding level. The Explanatory
Statement explains that the increase allows for the anticipated federal minimum wage
increase to $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008.17 (The program year for FY2008
funds begins July 1, 2008.)
The Administration’s FY2009 budget requests $350.0 million for Title V, a
reduction of 33% from the FY2008 level. According to the Administration, the proposed
level would fund approximately 36,300 job slots serving 71,795 participants in 2009,
at a cost per participant of $4,875. A 2003 DOL/Office of Management and Budget
program assessment rated the program ineffective, in part because of “lack of
competition in the program” and “its duplication of other federal programs.” The DOL
Budget Justification states that “In FY 2009, the workforce investment system will play
a stronger role in placing job-ready older workers in unsubsidized employment as an
alternative to placing them in SCSEP subsidized employment.”18
15 DOL, FY2009 Congressional Budget Justficiation, Employment and Training
Administration, Community Service Employment for Older Americans
, pp. CSEOA-18-19,
at [http://www.dol.gov/dol/budget/2009/PDF/CBJ-2009-V1-05.pdf].
16 For further information, see CRS Report RL31336, Older Americans Act: Programs,
Funding, and 2006 Reauthorizatio
n, by Carol O’Shaughnessy and Angela Napili.
17 U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008,
Committee Print of the Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, on
H.R. 2764 / Public Law 110-161
, January 2008, p. 1471, at
[http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/house/appropriations/08conappro.html]. The minimum
wage increase is in P.L. 110-28, §8102.
18 DOL, FY2009 Congressional Budget Justficiation, Employment and Training
Administration, Community Service Employment for Older Americans
, pp. CSEOA-10, 14,
and 18-19.

CRS-7
Title VI. Grants for Services for Native Americans
Title VI authorizes funds for supportive and nutrition services to older Native
Americans. Funds are awarded directly by AoA to Indian tribal organizations, Native
Alaskan organizations, and non-profit groups representing Native Hawaiians. To be
eligible for funding, a tribal organization must represent at least 50 Native American
elders age 60 or older. In FY2007, grants were awarded to 237 tribal organizations
representing approximately 300 Indian tribes and two organizations serving Native
Hawaiian elders.19 The program provides services such as transportation, home-
delivered and congregate nutrition services, information and referral, and a wide range
of home care services.
The 2000 amendments (P.L. 106-501) added a new part to Title VI authorizing
caregiver support services to Native American elders. Respite, caregiver training,
information and outreach, counseling, and support groups are among the services
provided.
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides $33.2
million for Title VI, a 3% increase over the FY2007 level. The FY2009 budget request
is $33.2 million, the same as the FY2008 funding level.
Title VII. Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection Activities
Title VII authorizes the long-term care ombudsman program as well as elder
abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention programs. Most Title VII funding is directed
at the long-term care ombudsman program. Of its $20.6 million funding in FY2008,
three-quarters was for ombudsman activities. The purpose of the program is to
investigate and resolve complaints of residents of nursing facilities, board and care
facilities, and other adult care homes. In FY2006, ombudsmen handled nearly 286,000
complaints, conducted investigations on over 190,000 cases, and provided almost
440,000 consultations to long-term care facilities’ staff.20
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides $20.6
million for Title VII, a 2% increase over the FY2007 level. The Administration’s
FY2009 budget request is $20.6 million, the same as the FY2008 level.
Alzheimer’s Disease Demonstration Grants
The FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) funds Alzheimer’s
Disease Demonstration Grants at $11.5 million, 2% less than the FY2007 level. This
program is administered by AoA but it is not part of the Older Americans Act.
The Administration’s FY2009 budget request would eliminate Alzheimer’s Disease
Demonstration Grant funding. The Administration argues that the program, active since
19 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
p. 45.
20 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
p. 52.

CRS-8
1992, “has served the purpose of generating new models and approaches that States can
now incorporate into their own State and community programs.” The Budget
Justification also notes that states can use Title III funds, including Family Caregiver
funds, to provide care for persons with Alzheimer’s.21
21 HHS, AoA, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees,
p. 76.

CRS-9
Table 1. The Older Americans Act, Alzheimer’s Demonstration Grants, and White House Conference on Aging
Funding, FY2000-FY2008, and FY2009 Budget Request
($ in millions)
OAA Programs, Alzheimer’s Demonstration
FY2009
Grants, and White House Conference on
FY2000
FY2001
FY2002
FY2003 FY2004
FY2005k FY2006l FY2007m
FY2008 p
Request
Aging
Title II: Administration on Aging
$16.461
$17.232
$20.501
$20.233
$30.618
$31.567
$30.812
$31.518
$49.653
$31.829
Program administration
16.461
17.232
18.122
17.869
17.324
18.301
17.688
18.385
18.064
18.696
Aging network support activities
n/a
n/a
2.379f
2.364f
13.294h
13.266h
13.124h
13.133h
31.589o
13.133r
Title III: Grants for State and Community
Programs on Aging

987.617
1,151.285
1,230.293
1,240.891
1,243.059
1,250.192
1,242.378
1,263.232
1,283.816 $1,262.790
Supportive services and centers
310.082
325.082
357.000 355.673 353.889
354.136
350.354
350.595
351.348
351.348
Family caregiversa
n/a
125.000
136.000
149.025
152.738
155.744
156.060
156.167
153.439
153.439
Disease prevention/health promotion
16.123
21.123
21.123
21.919
21.970
21.616
21.385
21.400
21.026
0
Nutrition services
661.412
680.080
716.170
714.274
714.462
718.696
714.579
735.070
758.003
758.003
— Congregate meals
(374.336)
(378.412)
(390.000)
(384.592)
(386.353)
(387.274)
(385.054)
(398.919)n
(410.716)
(410.716)
— Home-delivered meals
(146.970)
(152.000)
(176.500)
(180.985)
(179.917)
(182.826)
(181.781)
(188.305)n
(193.858)
(193.858)
— Nutrition services incentive grants
(140.000)
(149.668)e
(149.670)
(148.697)g
(148.192)
(148.596)
(147.744)
(147.846)
(153.429)
(153.429)
Title IV: Program Innovations
31.162
37.678
38.280
40.258
33.509i
43.286
24.578
24.058
14.655
32.918r
Title V: Community Service Employment for
Older Americans

440.200
440.200
445.100
442.306
438.650
436.678
432.311
483.611n
521.625
350.000
Title VI: Grants to Native Americans
18.457
23.457
31.229
33.704
32.771
32.702
32.353
32.375
33.214
33.214
Supportive and nutrition services
18.457
23.457
25.729
27.495
26.453
26.398
26.116
26.134
26.898
26.898
Native American caregiversb
n/a
0
5.500
6.209
6.318
6.304
6.237
6.241
6.316
6.316
Title VII: Vulnerable Elder Rights Protection
Activities

13.181
14.181
17.681
18.559
19.444
19.288
20.142
20.156
20.633
20.633
Long-term care ombudsman program
d
d
d
d
14.276
14.162
15.000
15.010
15.577q
15.577
Elder abuse prevention
d
d
d
d
5.168
5.126
5.142
5.146
5.056q
5.056
Legal assistance
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Native Americans elder rights program
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Older Americans Act Programs
$1,507.078 $1,684.033 $1,783.084 $1,771.057 $1,798.051 $1,813.713 $1,782.574 $1,854.950 $1,923.596 $1,731.384
Alzheimer’s Demonstration Grantsc
$5.970
$8.962
$11.500
$13.412
$11.883
$11.786
$11.660
$11.668
$11.464
0
White House Conference on Aging
0
0
0
0
$2.814j
$4.520j
0j
0
0
0

CRS-10
Sources: FY2000-FY2006: Appropriations legislation and committee reports, various years. FY2007-FY2008: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Committee Print of the Committee on Appropriations,
U.S. House of Representatives, on H.R. 2764 / Public Law 110-161
, January, 2008, pp. 1776, 1809-1810, at [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/house/appropriations/08conappro.html]. FY2009 Budget
Request: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, Fiscal Year 2009 Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees; U.S. Department of Labor, Fiscal Year 2009
Budget in Brief
.
a. Authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (P.L. 106-501, §316). Funding for Native American family caregiving is shown in Title VI.
b. Authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (P.L. 106-501, §604).
c. The FY1999 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 105-277) transferred the administration of the program from the Health Resources and Services Administration to AoA. The program was
authorized under Sections 398 to 398B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280c-3 to 280c-5). Authorization of appropriations expired in 2002.
d. Separate amounts not specified.
e. Congress originally appropriated $150 million, then rescinded $332,000 (0.22%) pursuant to Section 1(a)(4) of P.L. 106-554.
f. Includes approximately $1.2 million for the Eldercare Locator, and $1.2 million for Pension Counseling and Information Program. These programs were authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments
of 2000 (P.L. 106-501, §205).
g. Congress transferred the program, previously funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to AoA in FY2003. P.L. 110-19 repealed certain provisions regarding state agency and tribal grantee commodity
purchases, as added by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (P.L. 109-365), and restored former commodity purchase provisions, with revisions.
h. Includes funds for activities previously funded under Title IV: Senior Medicare Patrols, National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, and National Center on Elder Abuse. Also includes funds
for the Eldercare Locator, and Pension Counseling and Information Program.
i. See tablenote h. Funds shown are reduced from FY2003 level due to transfer of some funds to Title II.
j. P.L. 100-75 required the President to convene the conference no later than Dec. 31, 2005. It was held December 11-14, 2005. See [http://www.whcoa.gov]. FY2006 obligations for the White House
Conference on Aging were funded by carryover balances of prior-year appropriations.
k. FY2005 amounts reflect the 0.80% across-the-board reduction required by P.L. 108-447, Division J, Section 122. The Administration was given discretion on how to distribute the reduction among
individual accounts and line items.
l. FY2006 amounts reflect two rescissions: (1) There was a 1% across-the-board reduction required by P.L. 109-148, Division B, Title III, Chapter 8, Section 3801. (2) On June 14, 2006, the HHS Secretary
notified the Appropriations Committees that he would transfer funds among HHS programs to finance activities related to the Medicare drug benefit call center. This transfer was a 0.069% across-the-
board reduction and it reduced Administration on Aging funds by $0.9 million. It was authorized by Section 208 of P.L. 109-149.
m. For FY2007, P.L. 110-5 specified dollar amounts for some, but not all, programs. Agencies had some flexibility to determine program amounts based on FY2006 appropriations.
n. Funding level was specified in P.L. 110-5, Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007.
o. The Choices for Independence Initiative includes newly authorized provisions of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2006 (P.L. 109-365) related to “aging and disability resource centers (ADRCs),
evidence-based prevention programs, and consumer-directed services targeted at individuals who are at high risk of nursing home placement and spend-down to Medicaid” (H.Rept. 110-231, p. 207).
The President’s FY2008 budget requested Choices for Independence funds under Title IV, while the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) provides the funds under Aging Network
support activities under Title II. The President’s FY2008 budget request would have provided $28.0 million for Choices for Independence. P.L. 110-161 provides $16.2 million for Choices for
Independence (after a 1.747% across-the-board reduction).
p. P.L. 110-161 applies an across-the-board reduction of 1.747% to figures in the bill text and Explanatory Statement narrative (Division G, Title V, §528).
q. Separate amounts not specified in FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act tables. These figures were calculated by CRS by applying the 1.747% across-the-board reduction to figures in the Explanatory
Statement narrative in the Congressional Record, December 17, 2007, p. H16242.
r. The President’s FY2009 budget requests $28.0 million for Choices for Independence activities under Title IV. See tablenote o.


CRS-11
Figure 1. Older Americans Act, FY2008 Funding
($ 1.924 billion)
Source: Prepared by CRS based on Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Committee Print of the Committee on Appropriations,
U.S. House of Representatives, on H.R. 2764 / Public Law 110-161
, January, 2008, pp. 1776, 1809-1810, at
[http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/house/appropriations/08conappro.html]
Figure 2. Funding for Older Americans Act Programs FY2000-FY2008
and FY2009 Request
2,000
$1,924
1,900
$1,814
1,800
$1,855
$1,798
$1,783
1,700
$1,771
$1,783
President's Request
$1,731
$1,684
1,600
1,500
$1,507
1,400
1,300
1,200
1,100
1,000
FY2000 FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 FY2005 FY2006 FY2007 FY2008 FY2009
Source: Prepared by CRS based on appropriations legislation