At 6:05pm (10/26/2000), the Senate passed the Older Americans Act Reauthorization (HR 782), as amended, by a vote of 94-0. The President is expected to sign the bill. See also: Statement of the President on the passage of the OAA.

At 2:10 today (10/25/2000), the House of Representatives passed, under suspension of the rules (no amendments) the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000, the substitute proposal for H.R. 782, as agreed upon by the House and Senate. The Administration's National Family Caregiver Support Program was included as a key component of the bill. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor.

Current Status:

Efforts to reauthorize the Older Americans Act continue during the Second Session of the 106th Congress, which is scheduled to adjourn in early October, 2000.

On Friday, October 6, 2000, Senate and House staff announced that a compromise had been struck on S. 1536, a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. Details on the final proposal are forthcoming, but this action signals a critical step toward the 14th reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. The Senate and House must now vote on S. 1536, and send it to the President for signature before the 106th Congress adjourns within the next week or more. See also: the Administration's Statement of Policy on S. 1536.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on July 21, 2000, unanimously by voice vote, reported out (approved) a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act. This bill, offered as a substitute for S. 1536, introduced by Sen. DeWine in 1999, is the result of months of compromise activity between HELP Committee Members on a bipartisan basis. The final bill, as reported out, will be available in electronic text format (html) shortly on this web site [PDF version]. The bill, among other essential provisions proposed by the Administration, includes the Administration on Aging’s National Family Caregiver Support Program, designed to help hundreds of thousands of families caring for their older loved ones. For HHS commendatory comments on this action, see the letter from HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala to Senator Jeffords.

Senate Committee staff plan to spend the August Congressional recess (July 31 - September 5) working towards final approval by working with the rest of the Senate as well as the House Members to ensure support. Final Senate floor action and House activity will be scheduled in September.