Specifically
"Every day, 12,000 Americans turn 60. By 2030, nearly 75 million people in the U.S--or 20 percent of the country--will be age 65 or older. As America grows older, the need for support and services provided under programs like Social Security, SSI, Medicare, Medicaid and the Older Americans Act also increases, and the need for re-establishing the HSCoA becomes even more important.
"Historically, the HSCoA served as a unique venue that allowed open, bipartisan House debate from various ideological and philosophical perspectives to promote consensus that, in turn, helped facilitate the critical work of the standing committees. Addressing the needs of older Americans in a post-pandemic world will require this type of investigative, legislative oversight, work that can only be advanced and promoted by reestablishing the HSCoA.
"As Americans are aging, we also face a variety of intergenerational concerns that merit the investigation by the HSCoA, such as growing demands on family caregivers and a burgeoning retirement security crisis.
"Restoring the HSCoA would provide the House with an opportunity to more fully explore a range of aging issues and innovations that cross Standing Committee jurisdiction of importance to both Republicans and Democrats, while holding field hearings, convening remote hearings, engaging communities and promoting understanding and dialogue.
"Today, the Senate Permanent Special Committee on Aging is working on everything from scams against seniors to increasing HCBS services, to calling out questionable billing practices by Medicare Advantage insurers. Seniors have been better off over the last 30 years with a Senate Aging Committee in existence and the Senate investigative committee would benefit from a reestablished HSCoA, whose sole mission would be to look out for older Americans.
"Over 30 years ago, working closely with authorizing committees with jurisdiction over aging programs and services, the HSCoA put an end to mandatory retirement. Alzheimer's became a household word because of its investigative hearings. Legislation was passed to improve the quality of care in the nation's nursing homes, even creating the nation's National Institute's for Health."
Centralist to play key role in passage
"This is a unique moment in time where centrists from both sides in the House could influence legislative action thru genuine bipartisan collaboration," said Vin Marzullo, who served 31 years as a career federal civil rights & social justice administrator at the National Service agency. "I am urging our newly elected Congressman, Seth Magaziner, to join with the lead sponsor, Congressman David Cicilline, in the re-introduction of the House Resolution to re-establish HSCoA.
"Additionally, I would advise that bipartisan efforts begin by reaching out to Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), co-chairs of the 'Problems Solvers Caucus,' for their co-sponsorship/support," added Marzullo. "That could be a pathway for better legislating and governing and Congressman Magaziner stated during the campaign that he'd look for common ground with members on the other side of the aisle. This is it--we need an adult conversation about the Aging of America and how we intend to aid and support our elders, caregivers, and long term care options."
We'll see if Cicilline and Magaziner tag-team for a fifth attempt to reestablish the HSCoA. For the sake of improving the quality of life of America's seniors, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) must put politics aside and work with a Bi-Partisan Coalition and the Democratic Caucus, to achieve real results for our nation's older adults.
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Herb Weiss, LRI'12, is a Pawtucket-based writer who has covered aging, health care and medical issues for over 42 years. To purchase his books, Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly, and a sequel, compiling weekly articles published in this commentary, go to herbweiss.com.
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