Opinion: Congress must get the Older Americans Act reauthorization across the finish line

On July 14 the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Older Americans Act reauthorization. It is a national program best known for its nutrition program (meals on wheels), senior centers and caregiver support. A 2025 poll by the John A. Hartford Foundation showed that 84 percent of Americans support the Older Americans Act.

This bill was co-authored by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and joined by 15 bipartisan co-sponsors including then-Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), now President Trump’s Homeland Security secretary.

This Senate action comes just weeks after the House of Representatives and Senate produced a landmark bipartisan housing bill, the 21st Century ROAD to House Act. Can the Older Americans Act make it two in a row?

The Senate action is not only a victory for older adults and persons with disabilities, but also for the idea that bipartisanship can still produce results. However, it takes two to tango. The House must also reauthorize the Older Americans Act. For more than two years, the House has shown scant interest in this bill, despite Older Americans Act services operating in every House district. It is time for House members to do right by their older adult constituents and for Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Va.) to work together like the Senate to reach a final agreement.

In a time when we recognize the value of social care in enhancing the quality of life for older adults, it is time to reward one of the original social care laws, the Older Americans Act.  

In a time when we are concerned about the sustainability of Medicare and Medicaid, we should support the Older Americans Act, which saves both programs by keeping older adults independent in their homes through falls prevention and chronic disease self-management programs, among others. One year of core home and community-based Older Americans Act support can be provided for less than $2,000 compared to almost $120,000 for a year of Medicaid-covered nursing home care. 

As we grow increasingly concerned about isolation and loneliness among older adults, we should reward the federal program which offers older adults and tribal elders meals, activities, and daily socialization opportunities in places like senior centers.  

When we see more older adults falling victim to elder financial abuse, especially scams, we should invest in the Older Americans Act which supports Adult Protective Services. We should also reward the Older Americans Act, which funds the only federal job program focused on aiding low-income older adults and the only federal program directly helping family caregivers.

The Older Americans Act is now 61 years old and has met every criterion of a successful program providing us both a human and a financial return on investment. Every federal Older Americans Act dollar generates $4 in non-federal support. Take nutrition. Right now, one in three Meals on Wheels providers report keeping a waitlist, with seniors waiting months and even years to get the nutritious meals, connection and care they need and deserve. There is not a single program in the OAA that does not need additional funding. According to Mon Ami, although the 60-plus U.S. population grew 24 percent between 2015 and 2025, inflation adjusted funding for the Older Americans Act decreased by 0.5 percent.

House members, take time during the upcoming August recess to visit your district’s parts of the national aging network. Talk to those older adults receiving services provided by the Older Americans Act every day. Ask them what a difference its services make in their life. Then tell them you support the Older Americans Act and you will come back in September and vote yes, so it can become law in 2026. Older adults who are still the most dependable voters will be watching.

I am joined by Sandy Markwood, CEO of USAging; Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels America and Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of National Council on Aging in advocating for Congress to finish what it started back in 2024 and get the bipartisan Older Americans Act reauthorization across the finish line. We hope the House doesn’t leave seniors waiting yet again.

Bob Blancato is executive director of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs.

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