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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s release of $1.4 billion in funding for Older Americans Act programs as part of the American Rescue Plan.                                                                                  

“This pandemic has shone a light on the cracks in our long-term care system – disproportionately impacting our seniors and the services they rely on to age with dignity,” said Rep. Dingell. “This funding from the American Rescue Plan will address the critical health and economic needs of older Americans, including access to vaccines, caregiver support, mental health resources, and more to ensure our seniors aren’t being left behind. I’m thankful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership on this issue and look forward to working together to finally fix our long-term care system for the better.”

As Older Americans Month begins, this funding focuses on programs to support seniors, with an emphasis on much-needed pandemic relief, including:

• $750 million for meals for older adults;
• $460 million for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) through the Older Americans Act;
• $44 million for evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention;
• $145 million to help family caregivers support loved ones; and
• $10 million to safeguard the health and welfare of residents in long-term care facilities.

Congresswoman Dingell has led the fight to reform the broken long-term care system, most recently successfully advocating for inclusion of a $12.7 billion provision in support of home and community-based services in the American Rescue Plan based off of legislation she introduced with Sen. Bob Casey. She has also been a longstanding advocate for existing programs in support of HCBS, leading the fight for long-term reauthorization of the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration and Spousal Impoverishment programs, as well as introducing legislation to make permanent the MFP program earlier this year.

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