The Elder Justice Coalition reports the following:
Last week, the House Appropriations Committee announced that the Labor-HHS, Education, and Related Agencies bill will be voted on in the Subcommittee on July 26th followed by a full Committee vote on August 2nd.
The Committee also indicated it is seeking to make cuts of $46 billion from current funding levels, including $18 billion from Labor-HHS.
This could result in no first time funding for the Elder Justice Act. In response, the EJC has been meeting with House and Senate Appropriations Committee members to discuss how crucial funding is for the EJA.
CALL TO ACTION
If your member of Congress serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS, please contact their office and ask them to support funding for the Elder Justice Act! The EJC is asking for a minimum funding level of $21.5 million for the EJA in FY 2012. This amount was included in President Obama’s FY 2012 Budget Proposal.
Breakdown:
Adult Protective Services (APS)-$16.5 million for State Adult Protective Services demonstrations to improve operations. Of these funds, $1.5 million will be targeted for coalition building, training and technical assistance, elder rights program development and research for preventing and addressing elder abuse within Tribal nations according to the Administration on Aging (AoA).
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program-an additional $5 million to improve resident advocacy to elders and adults with disabilities who live in long-term care settings.
For information on how to contact your Representative, CLICK HERE.
