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Insider’s Report: It’s Time to Bring Back the House Select Committee on Aging
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This month, as we celebrate Older Americans Month and honor the contributions that older Americans make to our communities, it couldn’t be a better time to also highlight the urgent need to reinstate the House Select Committee on Aging which would help restore congressional focus on key issues that impact seniors.
Some two decades ago, seniors had a Congressional committee dedicated solely to safeguarding their interests. Then the Republicans, led by Speaker Newt Gingrich, took control of the House for the first time in 40 years and shut down the House Select Committee on Aging.
Today, with seniors representing a growing portion of the U.S. population and several federal programs that seniors rely on at an inflection point, there is an increasing need for a House committee that advocates for older Americans.
That’s why the National Committee has signed onto a letter with the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO) urging Congress to pass H. Res. 583, legislation introduced by U.S. Representative David Cicilline (RI-01) which would reinstate the House Select Committee on Aging and give renewed focus to issues like Social Security and Medicare, housing, prescription drugs, long-term care and more.
While there are other committees with jurisdiction over seniors’ programs, there is no single committee dedicated to keeping an eye on the big picture for seniors. Fortunately, the Senate Special Committee on Aging has continued to operate in the absence of a House counterpart. As a former staff director of the Senate Aging Committee, National Committee President & CEO Max Richtman knows firsthand how important this committee is to addressing the needs of older Americans.
Today, the Senate committee is working on everything from scams against seniors to increasing home and community-based services, to calling out questionable billing practices by Medicare Advantage insurers.
Seniors have been better off these past decades with a Senate Aging Committee at work — and would greatly benefit from a reinstated and robust House Aging Committee, whose sole mission would be to look out for older Americans’ interests.
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| Good Bills |
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The National Committee endorses H. Res. 583 , legislation introduced by U.S. Representative David Cicilline (RI-01) which would reinstate the House Select Committee on Aging and give renewed focus to issues like Social Security and Medicare, housing, prescription drugs, long-term care and more.
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| Ask Web |
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Our resident Social Security expert, Webster Phillips — a Senior Policy Analyst for the National Committee and a 31-year veteran at the Social Security Administration — is here to answer your questions about Social Security.
You can either search our archives for valuable advice on a broad range of concerns or submit your question here.
This week's question is: I am a 54-year-old woman, and I am disabled. I haven’t worked enough during the past 10 years to be insured for Social Security disability benefits, but I am receiving Supplemental Security Income payments. I was married to my former husband for over 30 years and have been divorced for the past 4 years. He is the same age as me. Can I qualify for benefits on his record now or do I have to wait until he either becomes disabled or reaches age 62?
Click here to read the answer.
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| Take Our Poll |
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At a time when 12,000 Americans are turning 60 every day, do you believe there is an urgent need for Congress to reinstate the House Select Committee on Aging and fully address the growing demands on family caregivers and our nation’s burgeoning retirement security crisis?
Take our poll now!
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Ask Web
Whether you’re currently retired or approaching retirement, we can help answer your questions and provide valuable advice on Social Security. |
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Find useful resources on everything from caregiving and hearing care to long-term care and transportation. |
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| You’re never too old to improve your financial literacy |
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In 1992, aging advocacy groups fought unsuccessfully to keep the House Select Committee on Aging (HSCoA) from being eliminated. Thirty years later, the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations (LCAO), recognized the opportunity to bring back the HSCoA by endorsing H. Res. 583 to reestablish the HSCoA when introduced Aug. 10, 2021. (April 27, 2022, Market Watch, written by NCPSSM President & CEO Max Richtman)
Read More →
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