August 06, 2021
Retirees Win Key Provisions in American Rescue Plan
In February, as the country reeled from the devastation brought on by the COVID 19 crisis, retiree leaders organized by IARA met with 7 members of the Illinois congressional delegation to urge them to include provisions important to seniors as part of the recovery bill. We are grateful for our champions in Congress who heard us and worked hard to ensure that the economic stimulus signed by President Biden in March, the American Rescue Plan (ARP), includes significant investment in programs and services that older adults depend on.
IARA retiree leaders meet with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9)
ARP supplements funding for programs covered by the Older Americans Act (OAM), including $750 million for nutrition services, such as home-delivered meals, $460 million to address social isolation to increase vaccination outreach, and $44 million for health promotion and disease prevention programs.
IARA retiree leaders meet with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
Other OAM related investment in ARP includes a $145 million for caregiver counseling, respite care and other programs through the National Family Caregiver Support Program, as well as $10 million for the long-term care Ombudsman program. These critical measures are part of a broader investment in care that includes $12.7 billion to increase access to home care for low-income older adults and a 10% increase in federal support for Medicaid home and community-based services, which was a key ask in IARA visits with members of congress.
IARA retiree leaders meet with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17)
For years, the Alliance has called for support for the multiemployer pension program, & ARP includes a much needed $86 billion to guarantee benefits under these plans. These provisions are among the many others including rent assistance, and stimulus payments that do much to support seniors in the recovery.
Watch the video below of the IARA Older American’s Month Virtual Town Hall with Congresswoman Kelly (IL-2) to hear more about critical provisions for seniors enacted with the passage of the American Rescue Plan