VIDEO: Ranking Member Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Committee Vote on Older Americans Act & Health Care Reauthorizations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered remarks during today’s Committee vote on the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act, the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024, and the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2024.

Click here to watch the executive session live. 

See below for the remarks as prepared for delivery.  

Thank you, Chair Sanders.

Today, the Committee considers reauthorizing multiple programs that provide health and social services to Americans.

This includes reauthorizing the Older Americans Act (OAA), legislation empowering American seniors to live healthy and independent lives in the settings they choose.

First enacted in 1965, OAA provides funding to support essential services to aging Americans through programs like nutrition assistance, caregiver support, and elder abuse prevention.

Congress has historically reauthorized OAA in a bipartisan manner, strengthening its support for seniors each time. It is the Committee’s responsibility to examine and evaluate the efficacy of existing programs, identify areas for improvement, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. I am proud we are fulfilling this responsibility today.

I thank Chair Sanders and Senators Collins, Braun, Mullin, Casey, Kaine, and Markey for their work to improve OAA in a responsible, bipartisan manner.

I also want to highlight the work of other Committee members and senators who contributed policies to the bill: specifically, Senators Murkowski, Marshall, Romney, Budd, and Rubio.

Our bill reauthorizes crucial nutrition programs providing meals to seniors and disease prevention and health promotion programs.

Additionally, the bill strengthens the aging network by improving program integrity and transparency, supporting the development of state and local capabilities, and encouraging innovation and flexibility within OAA programs.

In addition to OAA, the Committee is considering the Autism CARES Act of 2024, led by Senators Collins and Lujan. This legislation authorizes research and public health programs to better understand and address autism and other developmental disabilities. It also supports provider training and the development of diagnostic tools and evidence-based interventions.

The Committee is also considering legislation to reauthorize traumatic brain injury (TBI) programs, led by Senators Mullin and Casey. Specifically, the bill identifies and addresses gaps in TBI data and highlights populations with higher risk of TBIs. It also reauthorizes Administration for Community Living grants to states for TBI rehabilitation and other supportive services. I want to specifically highlight and thank Senator Mullin for his dedication and work on this issue so close to him and his family.

Again, I thank Chair Sanders for today’s markup and to my colleagues for their collaboration.

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