AJR 8, as amended, Brown. Older Americans Act of 1965.
This measure would recognize the 50th anniversary of the Older Americans Act of 1965, affirm the Legislature’s continuing support for the goals of the act, and memorialize the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate to reauthorize the act.
Fiscal committee: no.
P2 1WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment
2of the Older Americans Act of 1965; and
3WHEREAS, During the past 50 years, the implementation of
4the Older Americans Act of 1965 has contributed to the economic
5well-being of millions of older Americans, and has improved the
6quality of life for those individuals; and
7WHEREAS, One of the key elements contributing to the
8successful implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965
9has been the establishment of an aging network composed of local
10area agencies on aging, providers of congregate and home-delivered
11nutrition, and many other community service providers; and
12WHEREAS, The federal Administration on Aging in the United
13States Department of Health and Human Services was created by
14the Older Americans Act of 1965, and has been empowered to act
15as an effective advocate for the concerns and needs of older
16individuals; and
17WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 serves as a
18model for the development of community-based services, including
19services that provide alternatives to the institutionalization of older
20individuals; and
21WHEREAS, Some of the programs authorized under the Older
22Americans Act of 1965 were created to address the specific
23concerns of those older Americans with the greatest social and
24economic needs, especially minority older Americans; and
25WHEREAS, Many services under the Older Americans Act of
261965, including long-term care ombudsman and legal services
27providers, have acted as powerful advocates for older individuals;
28and
29WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 has brought
30together thousands of dedicated professionals and volunteers and
31has provided inspiration to those individuals; and
32WHEREAS, Services authorized under the Older Americans
33Act of 1965 have provided important part-time community service
34employment opportunities for low-income older individuals; and
35WHEREAS, Many older individuals, and those who serve them,
36have benefited greatly from the research, training, and education
37that programs established under the Older Americans Act of 1965
38have provided; and
P3 1WHEREAS, Some of the programs under the Older Americans
2Act of 1965 were designed to address the special needs of older
3Native Americans; and
4WHEREAS, In recognition of the changing needs of a rapidly
5aging society, the Older Americans Act of 1965 has been
6periodically amended; and
7WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 served as the
8foundation for an effective human services policy for millions of
9Americans as the United States entered the 21st century; now,
10therefore, be it
11Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California and the
12Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature
13recognizes the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Older
14Americans Act of 1965, and the successful implementation of that
15act; and be it further
16Resolved, That the Legislature applauds the many and varied
17contributions at all levels of the aging network fostered by the
18Older Americans Act of 1965; and be it further
19Resolved, That the Legislature affirms support for the Older
20Americans Act of 1965, and the primary goals of that act of
21providing services to maintain the dignity of older Californians,
22and promoting the independence of those individuals; and be it
23further
24Resolved, That the Legislature memorializes the United States
25House of Representatives and the United States Senate to
26reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965 forthwith, with
27adequate funding to reflect the growing populations of Americans
28who benefit from the act’s programs and services; and be it further
29Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
30of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
31States, to the Speaker of the United States House of
32Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate,
33and to each Senator and Representative from the State of California
34in the Congress of the United States.
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