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[(2) The number of persons aged fifty-five or over in any State and for all States shall be determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most satisfactory data available to him.

[(b) The amount allotted for projects within any State under subsection (a) for any fiscal year which the Secretary determines will not be required for that year shall be reallotted, from time to time and on such dates during such year as the Secretary may fix, to projects within other States in proportion to the original allotments to projects within such States under subsection (a) for that year, but with such proportionate amount for any of such other States being reduced to the extent it exceeds the sum the Secretary estimates that projects within such State need and will be able to use for such year; and the total of such reductions shall be similarly reallotted among the States whose proportionate amounts were not so reduced. Any amount reallotted to a State under this subsection during a year shall be deemed part of its allotment under subsection (a) for that year.

[(c) The amount apportioned for projects within each State under subsection (a) shall be apportioned among areas within each such State in an equitable manner, taking into consideration the proportion which eligible persons in each such area bears to such total number of such persons, respectively, in that State.

[DEFINITIONS

[SEC. 907. As used in this title.

[(a) "State" means any of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;

[(b) "eligible individual" means an individual who is fifty-five years old or older, who has a low income, and who has or would have difficulty in securing employment, except that pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary any such individual who is sixty years old or older shall have priority for the work opportunities provided for under this Act;

[(c) "community service" means social, health, welfare, educational, library, recreational, and other similar services; conservation, maintenance or restoration of natural resources; community betterment or beautification; antipollution and environmental quality efforts; economic development; and such other services which are essential and necessary to the community as the Secretary, by regulation, may prescribe.

[AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

[SEC. 908. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated $60,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1974, and $100,000,000 for fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, to carry out the provisions of this title.]

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(d) (1) At least one-third of the Federal funds made available under this section shall be used in economically depressed areas or areas with high rates of unemployment for programs designed to assist consumers and to help improve home environments and the quality of family life.

(2) From funds made available under this section, special consideration shall be given to special consumer and homemaking programs for persons aged sixty or older who are in need of services provided by such programs, as determined by the Commissioner. Such programs shall be designed to assist such persons to live independently in their own homes and to alleviate the adverse effects of loneliness and isolation.

PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT

TITLE IV-NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES

PART H-NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

RESEARCH PROGRAM

SEC. 464. (a) The Secretary, in consultation with the Institute and the National Advisory Council on Aging and such other appropriate advisory bodies as he may establish, shall within [one year] two years after the effective date of this section develop a plan for a research program on aging designed to coordinate and promote research into the biological, medical, psychological, social, educational, and economic aspects of aging. Such program shall be carried out, as to research involving the functions of the Institute, primarily through the Institute, and as to other research shall be carried out through any other institute established by or under other provisions of this Act or through any appropriate agency or other organizational unit within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

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(b) Upon its completion, the plan for a research program on aging, required by subsection (a) of this section, shall be transmitted to the Congress and to the President and shall set forth the staffing and funding requirements to carry out such program.

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MARCH 14, 1975.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. PERKINS, from the Committee on Education and Labor, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H.R. 3922]

The Committee on Education and Labor, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 3922) to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to extend the authorizations of appropriations contained in such Act, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

The amendment to the text of the bill strikes out all after the enacting clause and inserts in lieu thereof a substitute text which appears in italic type in the reported bill.

The title of the bill is amended to reflect the amendment to the text of the bill.

PURPOSE

On March 12, H.R. 3922 as amended by the Committee was ordered reported by the Committee on Education and Labor by a vote of 36 to 0.

The purpose of H.R. 3922, as amended, is to extend and strengthen programs authorized under the Older Americans Act of 1965, including the Nutrition Program for the Elderly, through fiscal year 1979, to amend and strengthen the Older American Community Service Employment Act through fiscal year 1979, and to extend other provisions of the Comprehensive Older Americans Services Amendments of 1973.

More specifically, H.R. 3922, as amended, contains the following provisions:

(1) Extends the program of grants to states for community services for 4 additional years, through fiscal year 1979.

(2) Extends the Nutrition Program for the Elderly for 2 additional years, through fiscal year 1979 and provides for the additional distribution of commodities.

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(3) Extends the Older American Community Service Employment Act for 4 additional years through fiscal year 1979.

(4) Extends the National Older American Service programs, including the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program, as well as other Older American Community Service programs for 3 additional years, through fiscal year 1979.

(5) Creates a new Special Service Program for the elderly which would provide greater emphasis on homemaker and other home services, counseling assistance, residential repairs and renovations and transportation for the elderly-at least 20 percent of funds provided to carry out the program of grants to states for community, services (1) shall be used for these purposes. (6) Provides for direct funding for service programs for Indian tribes.

(7) Prohibits discrimination in Federal programs or activities on the basis of age.

BACKGROUND

The Older Americans Act was first enacted by the 89th Congress in 1965 and thereafter was revised in 1967, 1969 and 1973. Since its enactment, virtually all the states and territories have created state offices of Aging and, in addition, a total of 412 local area agencies have been funded under Title III to provide a focal point in communities for services to our older adults.

In 1972, Congress created a new Title VII to the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize a Nutrition Program for older Americans. The program is designed to provide Americans, aged 60 and older, with one hot, nutritious meal a day, 5 days a week. That program was extended again in 1974.

The Comprehensive Older Americans Services Amendments of 1973 added various programs for the older adult, including the enactment of the Older American Community Service Employment Act which was enacted to foster and promote useful part-time work opportunities for persons 55 years or older.

State and Community Programs

The principal focus of activity under the Older Americans Act. of 1965, as amended, has been community programs conducted under Title III to provide a variety of services to older Americans. The state agencies on Aging are designed to be the focal point in the state on behalf of older persons. In addition, the state agencies carry out activities necessary for planning, coordination, evaluation and assuring cooperation with local area agencies on aging.

During 1974, the state agencies concentrated on establishing State Advisory Committees on Aging; establishing 412 area agencies on aging, which covers 70 percent of the older population nationally; and the development of information and referral sources. In addition to these efforts, the state agencies have been active in assisting older persons who face problems associated with the energy crisis and unemployment.

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