OLDER AMERICANS ACT REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation today, which provides for a 3-year reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.

Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Education and the Workforce has been committed to seeing this legislation through. I want to particularly thank, on our side, the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Hinojosa, and Representative Bonamici. I want to thank them and Chairman Kline, Representative Curbelo, and all of the members of our committee, for making the passage of this bill a reality.

As ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I have the privilege of working on legislation that affects Americans throughout their lives, from childhood into advanced age. The Older Americans Act was first passed 50 years ago as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty to help older Americans live in dignity and stay connected to their communities by receiving essential social and nutrition services.

Today, the commitment to our Nation's seniors is more important than ever. One in 10 Americans over the age of 65 lives in poverty, and older Americans are also working longer--some because they want to but many because they have to so that they can secure their financial futures in the face of retirement insecurity. The spectrum of services provided through the Older Americans Act, in conjunction with Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, ensures that our Nation's older Americans are not left behind in their golden years.

The Pew Research Center reports that the elderly population is expected to double by 2015, and without meaningful investments in services for our seniors, too many Americans who have worked hard all of their lives will be left struggling in their later years.

Unfortunately, since 2009, the Older Americans Act's funding has actually dropped. Failing to invest in the Older Americans Act is bad for seniors, and it is bad for our country. Providing our seniors with health services, nutrition, and the supportive services they need makes them less likely to suffer illness or injury, less likely to incur expensive hospital visits, and more likely to live independently. These investments bring dignity to the lives of our seniors, and they, ultimately, will result in a significant savings to taxpayers.

I am proud that we were able to agree on increased funding for these important programs. Had our investments in these programs kept up with inflation and the growing population, the funding levels would have actually been higher, but, thankfully, we can finally say that we are moving in the right direction.

Vice President Hubert Humphrey once stated that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, our children; those who are in the twilight of life, our elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life. It is my hope that, by protecting and enhancing the Federal statutes to support our older Americans, we will be passing this test.

Again, I thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation.