S. 2120 — Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025

This section revises the declaration of objectives under the Older Americans Act by (1) reformatting the existing 10 objectives for older individuals—spanning adequate income, health, housing, long-term care, employment, retirement, civic participation, community services, research benefits, and independence—as subparagraphs (A)-(J) under a new paragraph (1); (2) inserting in subparagraph (B) (formerly paragraph (2)) the phrase "to improve health outcomes and reduce health care expenditures" after "economic status"; and (3) adding a new paragraph (2) recognizing that families of older individuals and community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations, play a vital role in supporting older individuals' happiness, dignity, and independence.

This section requires the Assistant Secretary for Aging to designate an officer or employee to administer services for mental health and substance use disorders and cognitive impairments of older individuals under the Older Americans Act, serve as an advocate for related needs within HHS (including by ensuring relevant departmental information and research addresses such services), and, in consultation with other HHS agencies such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, develop objectives, priorities, and a long-term plan to support state and local efforts involving education, prevention, detection, and treatment of such disorders (including age-related dementia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias with neurological or organic brain dysfunction). The Assistant Secretary must submit a report to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on these activities—including efforts to identify and reduce duplication and gaps in HHS information and research—within two years of enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025.

This section (1) shortens the name of the Resource Center on Elder Abuse to “Center” in subsection (d)(4); and (2) requires the Assistant Secretary for Aging to annually publish online, in a publicly accessible format, a list of national resource centers and demonstration projects authorized under or administratively established through funds provided under the Older Americans Act (OAA)—including for each a description of goals and activities, statutory citation or authority, award amount, and summary of required evaluations with measures of effectiveness—and to provide the list directly to state agencies, area agencies on aging, and specified congressional committees.

This section establishes new section 203B, which directs the Assistant Secretary for Aging, in carrying out functions under section 203(a)(1), to coordinate with heads of relevant federal departments and agencies. The coordination must ensure that the aging network (i.e., Administration on Aging, state and area agencies on aging, and service providers) and individuals served under the Older Americans Act are aware of, and have access to (subject to eligibility criteria), federal programs advancing the Act's objectives—including those listed in section 203(b) and others addressing housing, health care, and supportive services to help older individuals age in place.

This section revises evaluation requirements for programs under the Older Americans Act—administered through state and area agencies on aging to provide services such as nutrition, transportation, and caregiver support to older individuals—by replacing subsection (d) of Section 206 (42 U.S.C. 3017) to require the Secretary to (1) award grants or enter contracts with public or nonprofit organizations or academic/research institutions to survey state agencies, area agencies on aging, and program participants on strengths and weaknesses and, where appropriate, to compare effectiveness of related programs; (2) include in such surveys and evaluations information on programs, services, funding sources and transfers between area agencies, unmet needs, related indicators, and challenges; and (3) consult organizations concerned with older individuals, including those representing minorities, rural residents, and individuals with disabilities. The section also makes a conforming change in subsection (g) to replace “him” with “the Secretary.”

This section revises contracting authority under the Older Americans Act (OAA) (42 U.S.C. 3020c) to permit recipients of OAA grants or contracts (other than title V) to enter agreements—including contracts, commercial relationships, or other business arrangements—with for-profit organizations to provide services to non-OAA clients. (As background, OAA funds services for older Americans through state agencies, area agencies on aging, and other grantees, prioritizing those with greatest social or economic need or at risk of institutional placement; prior law limited such agreements to ensure OAA funds' protection and nondisplacement of priority services.) The revision distinguishes two cases: (1) if OAA funds are used, the agreement requires cost reimbursement (with fair market rates for services, except no rate reporting for health plans or providers), excess payments supporting OAA services, prior state agency approval (or Assistant Secretary approval for title VI grantees), and no excess compensation; and (2) if no OAA funds are used, the recipient must notify the state agency in writing within 45 days of the agreement's start (and annually thereafter, or within 45 days of substantial changes) of the agreement's existence, services, and populations served, plus assurances that it does not undermine OAA duties, award terms, or create unmitigated conflicts of interest. This section further prohibits all such agreements from displacing priority OAA services or compromising OAA objectives; directs the Assistant Secretary for Aging to establish uniform monitoring/reporting for OAA-funded agreements, conduct an annual impact review (including number of agreements per state and effects on service access), and report findings to specified congressional committees; and authorizes state agencies to request additional information on non-OAA-funded agreements if a violation is suspected. (Thus, the changes expand permissible arrangements while strengthening oversight, notifications, conflict mitigation, and federal reporting.)

This section directs the Assistant Secretary on Aging to disseminate one-time guidance, not later than one year after enactment, to state agencies and area agencies on aging on circumstances permitting reallocation of funds appropriated under part B (supportive services and senior centers) and subparts 1 and 2 of part C (congregate and home-delivered nutrition services) of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 between area agencies on aging within a state, with state agency approval and concurrence of the involved area agencies, within a budget year. In issuing the guidance, the Assistant Secretary may consider circumstances affecting expenditure of those funds.

This section requires a state agency, when designating a new area agency on aging after enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, to give a right of first refusal to a unit of general purpose local government if (1) the unit meets the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 3025(c), (2) the unit has demonstrated experience administering services for older individuals or the state agency determines no other eligible entity under subsection (c)(1) with such experience exists in the planning and service area, and (3) the unit's boundaries are reasonably contiguous with the planning and service area. (Area agencies on aging plan and provide services such as supportive services, nutrition, and legal assistance to older individuals at the local level.)

This section revises state designation requirements for area agencies on aging (AAAs)—entities responsible for developing and administering area plans to deliver Older Americans Act services such as nutrition, supportive services, and caregiver support to individuals age 60 and older—under 42 U.S.C. 3025(c). It requires states to assure that designated AAAs have the ability and maintain capabilities to develop area plans under 42 U.S.C. 3026(a) and carry out or oversee related activities directly or through arrangements in accordance with such plans and applicable laws and award terms; requires states to prioritize established offices on aging for designation unless they lack capacity. The section further amends 42 U.S.C. 3026(f)(1) to condition state approval of area plans on these assurances and to authorize states to require AAAs that fail to comply for two successive years to submit 1-year plans until achieving compliance.

This section amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) to support coordination for older individuals with disabilities. Specifically, it (1) requires area agencies on aging, in their area plans, to coordinate with entities developing or providing services for individuals with disabilities—including centers for independent living, relevant service providers, and other community-based organizations, as appropriate—broadening prior coordination solely with agencies; (2) directs the Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, within two years of enactment, to identify coordination opportunities and lessons learned between aging and disability networks (e.g., centers for independent living, State developmental disabilities councils, university centers for excellence in developmental disabilities, and State protection and advocacy agencies), issue related guidance to State and area agencies on aging, and provide non-duplicative technical assistance; and (3) updates OAA definitions in Section 102 to align the definition of "disability" and references to "major life activities" with those in Section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102), as broadened by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. (As background, the OAA funds services such as nutrition, transportation, and caregiver support primarily for individuals aged 60 and older, including those with disabilities; the changes promote integration with independent living and developmental disability programs.)

This section requires state plans under the Older Americans Act (OAA) to include assurances that state agencies provide technical assistance to area agencies on aging, to the extent feasible and appropriate, related to (1) business acumen, (2) sound fiscal practices, (3) capacity building, (4) organizational development, (5) innovation, and (6) other methods of growing and sustaining the aging network's capacity to serve older individuals and caregivers. (As background, OAA Title III grants to states fund area agencies on aging to provide supportive services such as nutrition, transportation, and legal assistance to seniors.)

This section requires each state plan under the Older Americans Act to provide assurances that the state will coordinate services, to the extent feasible, with lead state agencies for assistive technology programs under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 and with area agencies on aging to assist eligible older individuals, including those with disabilities, in accessing and acquiring assistive technology. (As background, the Older Americans Act funds supportive, nutrition, and other services for adults age 60 and older through state and area agencies on aging; the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 supports state programs that finance or provide devices and services to individuals with disabilities.)

This section authorizes the President to convene the White House Conference on Aging not earlier than January 21, 2025, and not later than December 31, 2025, to develop policy recommendations for federal programs serving older individuals, including on retirement security, caregiving, nutrition, health care, elder justice, long-term services, disease prevention, and healthy aging in place. (As background, such conferences have periodically gathered diverse stakeholders to evaluate Older Americans Act objectives and federal aging policies.) The conference is to be planned and conducted under the direction of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Aging, National Institute on Aging Director, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, Social Security Administrator, and other relevant agency heads. It requires participants to include representatives of federal, state, Tribal, and local governments; aging professionals and volunteers; and the general public, particularly older individuals—with delegates selected without regard to political affiliation and to represent diverse perspectives (e.g., older individuals, professionals, community leaders, minorities, rural and low-income residents). The Secretary must (1) consult stakeholders and experts; (2) seek agency cooperation, including from the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities; (3) solicit public comment on and publish the agenda in the Federal Register within 30 days of approval; (4) provide background materials and statistical data to delegates (authorizing grants or cooperative agreements for data collection); and (5) hire personnel without civil service or pay restrictions, ensuring balance and independence from special interests.

This section makes technical amendments to the Older Americans Act of 1965 as follows: (1) in section 201(d)(3)(J), revising report recipients to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives (from the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate); (2) in section 202(b)(8)(E), replacing the reference to "preventative health benefits under the provisions of, and amendments made by, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003" with "preventive health benefits under such program"; (3) in section 203(c)(7), (A) revising the House committee reference to the Committee on Education and Workforce (from the Committee on Education and Labor) and (B) replacing "chairman" with "chairperson"; (4) in section 339, replacing each reference to "this chapter" with "this part"; and (5) in section 432(b)(1), revising report recipients to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives (from the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate).

This section revises the definition of disease prevention and health promotion services (i.e., services available to older adults under the Older Americans Act) as follows: (1) in the list of recommended screenings, adds heart rate and respiratory function after hearing; (2) in subparagraph (K), inserts "providing" before "information"; (3) redesignates subparagraphs (L) through (O) as (M) through (P); (4) inserts new subparagraph (L) requiring provision of information on testing, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, with consideration for those posing increased risk of infection or serious health outcomes to older individuals; and (5) updates the cross-reference in redesignated subparagraph (P) from "subparagraphs (A) through (N)" to "subparagraphs (A) through (O)".

This section amends the Older Americans Act (OAA) to improve health outcomes for older individuals. Specifically, it (1) amends Section 201 (42 U.S.C. 3011) to revise the advocacy duties of the Director of the Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Aging from serving "in behalf" to "on behalf" of older Native Americans, add "reduction of health care expenditures" to the goals of quality-of-life research under subsection (g)(3)(A)(ii), and expand reporting requirements under subsection (g)(7) to include recommendations on further research, evaluation, and demonstration projects; (2) revises Section 411(a)(15) (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)(15)) to require scaling and sustaining evidence-based falls prevention programs that reduce falls, fear of falling, and fall-related injuries among older individuals, including those with disabilities, through training, technical assistance, and best-practice sharing with the aging network and Aging and Disability Resource Centers; and (3) amends Section 203(c) (42 U.S.C. 3013(c)) governing the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities to add strategies addressing social isolation via intergenerational family and community connections to its best practices (paragraph (6)(B)) and require its strategic plan to assess the effectiveness of relevant federal efforts, including those best practices (paragraph (7)).

This section authorizes the Assistant Secretary, at the request of a State agency or area agency on aging, to provide technical assistance on the requirements of evidence-based programs under the Older Americans Act of 1965. It further authorizes the Assistant Secretary to consider evidence-informed practices, based on the best available science, that may improve health outcomes.

This section amends the Older Americans Act to enhance multipurpose senior centers (i.e., facilities offering multiple services such as nutrition, health promotion, recreation, and social activities to older individuals) as follows: (1) adds to the duties of the Administration on Aging under section 202(a)(30) promoting access to services provided at such centers and, where appropriate, their establishment and maintenance; (2) requires area agencies on aging, in their plans under section 306(a)(2)(A), to address such services where appropriate; and (3) requires states, in their plans under section 307(a)(2)(A), to make public to the extent feasible any related program evaluations.

This section revises two provisions of the Older Americans Act of 1965 related to home modifications and indoor air quality. (1) It expands indoor air quality requirements under disease prevention services to cover buildings and residences where older individuals congregate or live (previously, buildings). (2) It revises the description of eligible housing services under state supportive services grants—from assisting older individuals to obtain adequate housing, including residential repair and renovation projects to maintain homes in conformity with minimum housing standards—to expressly include (if not duplicating other federal assistance) weatherization projects designed to enable older individuals to maintain homes in conformity with minimum housing and other relevant standards, in order to support aging in place and health maintenance. (Thus, states may use grant funds for weatherization to help older individuals remain in their homes.)

This section revises the multigenerational and civic engagement grant program (42 U.S.C. 3032f) as follows: (1) narrows the introductory grant purpose to projects serving younger generations and older individuals by developing, carrying out, and promoting participation in multigenerational activities; (2) expands promotion of volunteerism under subsection (a)(3) to include opportunities at facilities serving older individuals or younger generations where multigenerational activities might occur; (3) strikes subsection (a)(4), which required facilitation of the development of and participation in such activities, and makes conforming changes to the use-of-funds requirements; (4) revises grant award preferences under subsection (d) by striking the preference for eligible organizations with a demonstrated record of, or intent to, carry out or partner on such activities and redesignating remaining preferences as paragraphs (1) through (4); (5) updates the evaluation and reporting timeline under subsection (g)(1) to begin with the first grant awarded after enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 (from enactment of the Supporting Older Americans Act of 2020) and directs reports to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Education and Workforce (from the Speaker of the House and President pro tempore of the Senate); and (6) expands eligible activities under subsection (h)(1) to include programs at multipurpose senior centers, long-term care facilities, or other residential facilities for older individuals.

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, not later than two years after enactment, a report assessing (1) health outcomes for older individuals living with family members, on the same property as family members, or in close geographic proximity to family members relative to others in the area; and (2) the degree to which programs under the Older Americans Act of 1965 promote such living arrangements, as appropriate. The report must include (1) comparisons of physical and mental health outcomes between older individuals in such settings and those not in them; (2) an assessment of the extent to which such settings mitigate social isolation and loneliness; and (3) a description of different types of such settings and variations in findings across them.

This section directs the Assistant Secretary on Aging to coordinate, as appropriate, with the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to ensure the aging network—entities that deliver services and supports to older individuals under the Older Americans Act of 1965—and other stakeholders are aware of, and have access to (subject to eligibility criteria), federal programs on digital literacy and broadband adoption that support healthy aging and aging in place. It further requires the Assistant Secretary to submit a report on such coordination to the Senate Committees on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Special Committee on Aging, and the House Committee on Education and Workforce, not later than 90 days after enactment.

This section modifies provisions governing nutrition services under the Older Americans Act (OAA)—which provide home-delivered and congregate meals to promote the health and well-being of older adults—to facilitate medically tailored meals (i.e., meals customized to an individual's medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease). Specifically, it (1) amends the definition of nutrition services in Section 102(14) to explicitly include counseling related to medically tailored meals and improved nutrition from such meals; (2) revises state agency administration requirements in Section 205(a)(2)(A) to emphasize innovative approaches and interventions in nutrition delivery systems and strategies; (3) expands nutrition education and counseling activities in Section 214(2)(C) to include interventions; and (4) updates the purposes of the nutrition services incentive program in Section 330(3) to prioritize meals tailored to individuals' medical and nutritional needs to the extent feasible.

This section authorizes states to elect in their state plan under section 307 to use up to 25% of funds received under subpart 1 of part C of Title III (Congregate Nutrition Services), calculated after transfers under section 3028(b)(4)(A)-(B), for grab-and-go meals (e.g., carry-out) consumed off-site by older individuals at or near congregate meal sites or other community locations. States making this election must ensure it complements congregate meal services under section 331 and notify the Assistant Secretary of the amount and percentage of funds to be used.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study evaluating the Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP), which provides incentives to States and tribal organizations for the efficient delivery of nutritious meals to older individuals. The study must (1) assess how States and tribal organizations use NSIP funding, including the extent to which it supports procurement of food from local or regional producers, and (2) identify challenges or barriers to increasing such procurement; it may include recommendations to improve program effectiveness. The Comptroller General must submit a report on the study to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce within 18 months of enactment.

This section establishes a new section 340 in Subpart 3 of part C of title III (42 U.S.C. 3030g–21 et seq.) to promote innovations in nutrition programs and services under the Older Americans Act (OAA), which provide congregate and home-delivered meals to older individuals to reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. **(a) Demonstration**—Directs the Assistant Secretary for Aging to award competitive grants to eligible entities (i.e., state agencies, area agencies on aging, Indian Tribes, tribal organizations, public or nonprofit private entities, or partnerships thereof) to develop, test, implement, and evaluate innovative local or regional approaches improving the quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and outcomes of OAA nutrition projects under sections 311, 331, and 336; gives priority to rural areas; requires annual reports to Congress beginning one year after enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025 assessing outcomes and recommending successful approaches; and reserves not more than 1% of funds available under sections 303(b)(1)–(2) and 311(e) for the grants. **(b) Innovative approaches**—Authorizes state agencies and title VI (tribal) grantees to implement effective innovative approaches (including those tested under subsection (a)) to improve meal quality, composition, preparation, delivery, or distribution efficiency; allows waivers of subpart 1 or 2 requirements impeding implementation and maximum flexibility for title VI grantees akin to section 614(c)(3); sunsets the authority on October 1, 2030, with a report due by September 30, 2029; permits use of any increase in section 311 appropriations (over the prior fiscal year or FY2024, whichever greater) for such activities; and clarifies that section 339 requirements (i.e., nutrition services standards) continue to apply.

This section revises requirements and definitions under the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), which provides grants to states and area agencies on aging for services such as counseling, respite care, and training to support family caregivers of individuals aged 60 and older and older relative caregivers of children and youth. Specifically, it (1) requires state plans and area plans to address available supports for family caregivers and older relative caregivers; (2) expands the definition of "child or youth" to include individuals up to age 18, or age 22 if enrolled in schooling (including higher education); (3) requires caregiver assessments to account for linguistic and cultural differences, access barriers, available formats, and service quality; (4) limits older relative caregivers of youth aged 18 or older to those who established a legal or informal caregiving relationship before age 18; and (5) makes conforming changes throughout part E of title III. The section further modifies NFCSP grant provisions by (1) authorizing additional services including trauma-informed services, peer supports, and elder abuse prevention; (2) directing states to consider needs of caregivers of multiple children or youth and those affected by substance use disorder (including opioid use disorder); (3) requiring the Assistant Secretary for Aging to provide reports and resource lists on a regular basis (adding caregiver assessment use to report contents and changing dissemination to "prepare, publish, and disseminate"); (4) expanding authorized activities to improve caregiver assessments, access to supports, and program evaluations (including outcome measures); and (5) directing ongoing technical assistance beginning one year after enactment, informed by the RAISE Family Caregivers Act and Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act.

This section revises the list of supportive services eligible for grants to states under the Older Americans Act by amending paragraph (19) to specify services—which may include respite care through various models—designed to support family members and other voluntary caregivers of older individuals needing long-term care services, including those with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders with neurological and organic brain dysfunction. (Thus, states may use grant funds for expanded respite care options to assist caregivers.)

This section revises grant and contract authorities for Older Americans Act activities related to the direct care workforce (42 U.S.C. 3032(a)(13)) by (1) expanding required coordination beyond the Secretary of Labor to include, as appropriate, heads of other relevant federal departments and agencies; and (2) adding authorization for the establishment and operation of a national resource center to support growth and professionalization of the direct care workforce serving older individuals and individuals with disabilities. (Thus, without duplicating other resource centers, the center may provide training and technical assistance—including educational materials—to states, long-term services and supports providers, direct care workers, and family caregivers; and promote or demonstrate strategies for recruitment, retention, career development, and advancement of direct care workers, including through wages, benefits, and reduced barriers to entry for a diverse workforce.)

This section revises the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act by (1) striking the findings section and redesignating the definitions section as section 2; (2) amending the advisory council on supporting grandparents raising grandchildren (i.e., an interagency council that develops policy recommendations and reports on services for older relative caregivers raising children, including those affected by substance use disorders) by adding the Assistant Secretary for Health as a member, limiting non-federal members to not more than 10, broadening duties to address near- and long-term health needs (including mental health) and challenges from substance use disorder (including opioid use disorder) or other circumstances such as public health emergencies, and replacing references to "relatives" with "relative caregivers" throughout; (3) revising council reporting requirements to reference the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, add evaluation of supportive services by the Department of Health and Human Services, require a follow-up report within 180 days of the initial report (from two years) and every two years thereafter, and update the Federal Advisory Committee Act citation; and (4) extending the council's termination date to September 30, 2030.

This section amends the RAISE Family Caregivers Act (i.e., Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act) as follows: (1) authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (or designee) to develop an inventory of family caregiver support programs and requires the inventory to be made publicly available; (2) updates the statutory citation governing the Family Caregiving Advisory Council from the former appendix to the Federal Advisory Committee Act to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code; and (3) extends the Act's sunset date to September 30, 2030.

This section revises performance accountability provisions, grant requirements, and definitions for the Older American Community Service Employment Program (i.e., subsidized community service jobs and training for low-income individuals age 55 or older to promote unsubsidized employment). Specifically, with respect to performance measures under section 513 (42 U.S.C. 3056k), it (1) requires the Secretary of Labor to consider long-term goals under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 in determining expected performance levels; (2) requires a biennial report to Congress, beginning two years after enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, on the methodology for setting grantee performance levels; (3) modifies the employment retention indicator to require participants to be in unsubsidized employment in both the second quarter and fourth quarter after exit from the program (from the fourth quarter only); and (4) establishes sanctions for sustained poor performance, including barring grantees from the immediate subsequent grant competition after two consecutive years of failure (effective for grants awarded two years after enactment) and requiring states to competitively award funds after two consecutive years of failure. It also (1) updates grant project requirements under section 502(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 3056(b)(1)), including cross-references and adding older individuals to a priority list with youth; and (2) under section 518 (42 U.S.C. 3056p), expands the definition of authorized community services to explicitly include services by the aging network, tax counseling and assistance, and financial counseling, and modifies eligibility rules to cover individuals who failed to find employment after receiving specified career or training services under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

This section requires the Comptroller General of the United States to complete, not later than 18 months after enactment, a review of the Older Americans Community Service Employment Program under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3056 et seq.)—which provides subsidized community service jobs and training for low-income individuals age 55 and older—compared to programs under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA; 29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.), including (1) differences, similarities, and service to older individuals; (2) expected performance levels, indicators, and corrective measures under the OAA program (42 U.S.C. 3056k) versus WIOA (29 U.S.C. 3141), including efficacy for certain older participants; (3) recommendations for alternative performance measures; and (4) Department of Labor coordination efforts. The Comptroller General must submit a report on the review to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce not later than 180 days after completing the review.

This section establishes an Older Americans Tribal Advisory Committee within the Administration on Aging to advise the Assistant Secretary for Aging on the needs of older Native Americans (i.e., American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) and implementation of related programs under the Older Americans Act. The Committee comprises (1) 11 voting non-federal members who are geographically diverse with expertise on relevant issues, including at least one Alaska Native and one Native Hawaiian; (2) non-voting ex officio representatives from the Administration on Aging, Indian Health Service, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of the Interior, Department of Labor, and other relevant agencies; and (3) meets in person at least twice annually, coordinates with the Department of Health and Human Services Tribal Advisory Committee, and submits an annual public report with recommendations to the Assistant Secretary, who must respond in writing within 60 days. The Committee is exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act and, in its establishment and operation, requires consultation with Indian tribes, conferral with Native Hawaiian organizations, and consideration of best practices from other HHS tribal advisory committees.

This section amends Section 636 of the Older Americans Act, governing supportive services under Native American Programs (i.e., services for older Native Americans, including Native Hawaiians), to require, as practicable, the provision of such services (previously optional) and to replace "in-home assistance" with "in-home services" in subsection (b)(2). The section further amends Section 644, which establishes a funding set aside for Native American Programs, to designate the existing text as subsection (a) and to add subsection (b) requiring the Assistant Secretary for Aging to submit a report to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Education and Workforce, not later than one year after enactment of the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025, detailing total funds provided each fiscal year, a list of award recipients, and a summary of supportive services for healthy aging and independence.

This section requires the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, a report that (1) evaluates barriers to Indian tribes and tribal organizations (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304) and organizations serving Native Hawaiians accessing programs under title VI of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (i.e., grants for services to older Native Americans, including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), and coordination of such programs with titles III (state and community programs on aging) and IV (activities for health, independence, and longevity); (A) estimates the number of unserved Native Americans; (B) identifies states and area agencies on aging making grants to Indian tribes under title III; and (C) estimates funding necessary to support title VI programs for all such tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian-serving organizations ineligible under title VI as of enactment; and (2) details how title V grantees (i.e., Community Service Employment for Older Americans program) serve older Native Americans, including the Secretary of Labor's coordination with state and national grantees.

This section makes technical amendments to the Older Americans Act of 1965 by (1) capitalizing "Indian Tribe," "Tribe," "Tribes," and "Tribal" (including "Tribal organization") throughout, including in definitions in section 102 and section 612(c); (2) updating report recipients under section 418(a)(2)(6) to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House Committee on Education and Workforce (from the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President pro tempore of the Senate); and (3) revising a cross-reference in section 612(c) to 25 U.S.C. 5304 (from 25 U.S.C. 450b).

This section revises one of the functions of the Administration on Aging—the federal agency administering the Older Americans Act (OAA) to support services for individuals age 60 and older—by requiring the establishment of an information clearinghouse to collect, maintain, and disseminate best practices and resources for training, technical assistance, and related activities on elder abuse prevention. The clearinghouse is to assist State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs, adult protective services programs, and other legal services related to defense of guardianship, promotion of self-determination, and elder rights matters, including training resources for paralegals or law students under direct attorney supervision, and to support states and communities in implementing evidence-based elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention programs.

This section revises model training standards for representatives of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (i.e., state offices that investigate and resolve complaints affecting long-term care residents' health, safety, welfare, and rights) to distinguish among types of representatives, including unpaid volunteers, and adds subsection (k) directing the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs to regularly review and update such standards. Specifically, it (1) amends subsection (h)(5) to require standards that account for activities performed by each type of unpaid volunteer, with a goal of reducing unnecessary training requirements for prospective unpaid volunteers; and (2) in new subsection (k), requires tailoring standards to individualized needs based on the degree to which each type of representative performs activities needing specialized training, again aiming to minimize unnecessary training for unpaid volunteers. (Thus, the changes promote more efficient volunteer recruitment and deployment.)

This section requires the Assistant Secretary to submit annually to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and the House Committee on Education and Workforce—and to make publicly available—a report aggregating state long-term care ombudsman program reports under section 712(h) and summarizing their findings. (As background, state long-term care ombudsman programs, authorized under the Older Americans Act, provide advocacy services to protect residents of long-term care facilities from abuse, neglect, and other rights violations.)

This section directs the Assistant Secretary [for Aging] to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs under the Older Americans Act of 1965 (i.e., programs that advocate for residents of long-term care facilities, investigate complaints, and promote systemic improvements). The study must assess program effectiveness, challenges, recommendations, and—as appropriate—the current recommended staff-to-bed ratio; the National Academies must publicly issue a report on the findings within 18 months of contract execution.

This section authorizes appropriations for Administration on Aging (AoA) administration, salaries, and expenses for FY2026 through FY2030 (previously through FY2024) at $55,469,968, $58,034,197, $60,716,964, $63,523,747, and $66,460,281, respectively. (As background, the AoA administers Older Americans Act programs providing community services such as nutrition, transportation, and caregiver support to individuals age 60 and older.) It further authorizes appropriations for FY2026 through FY2030 (previously through FY2024)— (1) for the National Eldercare Locator Service (i.e., toll-free service connecting older adults and caregivers to local resources) at $2,753,033, $2,880,298, $3,013,447, $3,152,751, and $3,298,494; (2) for Native American aging programs under section 3020e-1 at $2,509,880, $2,625,905, $2,747,294, $2,874,294, and $3,007,165; (3) for elder rights support activities (e.g., long-term care ombudsman programs) under section 3012 at $1,731,790, $1,811,846, $1,895,603, $1,983,232, and $2,074,911; and (4) for Aging and Disability Resource Centers (i.e., local access points for aging and long-term services and supports) under section 3012(b) at $10,967,554, $11,474,555, $12,004,993, $12,559,952, and $13,140,565.

This section revises and extends through FY2030 (from FY2024) the authorization of appropriations for Older Americans Act grants for state and community programs on aging—including supportive services (Part B), congregate nutrition services (Part C, Subpart I), home-delivered nutrition services (Part C, Subpart II), disease prevention and health promotion services (Part D), and family caregiver support (Part E)—as follows: (1) Part B, to $520,177,347 for FY2026, $544,223,762 for FY2027, $569,381,780 for FY2028, $595,702,785 for FY2029, and $623,240,541 for FY2030; (2) congregate nutrition services, to $669,132,913 for FY2026, $700,065,148 for FY2027, $732,427,298 for FY2028, $766,285,465 for FY2029, and $801,708,804 for FY2030; (3) home-delivered nutrition services, to $339,525,428 for FY2026, $355,220,786 for FY2027, $371,641,698 for FY2028, $388,821,705 for FY2029, and $406,795,899 for FY2030; (4) Part D, to $33,565,929 for FY2026, $35,117,593 for FY2027, $36,740,986 for FY2028, $38,439,424 for FY2029, and $40,216,376 for FY2030; and (5) Part E, to $244,755,171 for FY2026, $256,069,552 for FY2027, $267,906,966 for FY2028, $280,291,593 for FY2029, and $293,248,728 for FY2030. This section also revises and extends through FY2030 (from FY2024) the authorization of appropriations for the Nutrition Services Incentive Program (i.e., payments to states to incentivize nutrition services for older adults), to $216,229,264 for FY2026, $226,224,968 for FY2027, $236,682,747 for FY2028, $247,623,961 for FY2029, and $259,070,958 for FY2030.

This section increases authorized appropriations for training, research, demonstrations, technical assistance, and related activities to support older individuals (42 U.S.C. 3032) by— (1) revising amounts under subsection (b)(1) to $18,324,285 for FY2026, $19,171,368 for FY2027, $20,057,609 for FY2028, $20,984,819 for FY2029, and $21,954,892 for FY2030 (from $14,514,550 and subsequent amounts through FY2024); and (2) revising amounts under subsection (b)(2) to $19,711,608 for FY2026, $20,622,823 for FY2027, $21,576,161 for FY2028, $22,573,570 for FY2029, and $23,617,086 for FY2030 (from $15,613,440 and subsequent amounts through FY2024).

This section revises the authorization of appropriations for the Community Service Employment for Older Americans program—providing part-time community service jobs, training, and supportive services to low-income individuals age 55 and older—by striking amounts for FY2020 ($428,000,000) through FY2024 ($540,340,139) and authorizing $540,340,139 for FY2026, $565,318,627 for FY2027, $591,451,804 for FY2028, $618,793,048 for FY2029, and $647,398,205 for FY2030.

This section revises the authorization of appropriations for Grants for Native Americans (i.e., Title VI of the Older Americans Act programs providing supportive, nutrition, and caregiver services to older Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians)— (1) for parts A and B, to $47,028,435 for FY2026, $49,202,434 for FY2027, $51,476,932 for FY2028, $53,856,574 for FY2029, and $56,346,220 for FY2030 (from $37,102,560 for FY2020 through $46,709,889 for FY2024); and (2) for part C, to $13,584,151 for FY2026, $14,212,110 for FY2027, $14,869,098 for FY2028, $15,556,457 for FY2029, and $16,275,591 for FY2030 (from $10,759,920 for FY2020 through $13,584,151 for FY2024).

This section revises authorization levels for elder rights protection activities under the Older Americans Act (previously authorized through FY2024) by— (1) for the long-term care ombudsman program (subpart II), authorizing $22,809,108 for FY2026 (same as FY2024), $23,863,512 for FY2027, $24,966,659 for FY2028, $26,120,801 for FY2029, and $27,328,297 for FY2030; and (2) for other programs (subparts III and IV, including elder abuse prevention), authorizing $6,447,609 for FY2026 (same as FY2024), $6,745,665 for FY2027, $7,057,499 for FY2028, $7,383,748 for FY2029, and $7,725,079 for FY2030.