The Native ELDER Act updates the Older Americans Act to better serve Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian elders. It creates a new 11-member Older Americans Tribal Advisory Committee that meets at least twice a year, advises the federal Administration on Aging, and submits annual reports to Congress with the Assistant Secretary required to respond within 45 days. The bill also lets in-home assistance funding pay for home modifications that help elders stay in their own homes, and updates a funding set-aside formula that had been frozen at 2019 levels. The Assistant Secretary for Aging and the Secretary of Labor must each report to Congress within 180 days on access barriers and unmet needs.
Transparency & Accountability
- Tribal advisory committee — New 11-member body created to advise on Native elder programs
- Annual reporting requirement — Committee must report yearly with mandatory 45-day Assistant Secretary response
- Agency studies — Two 180-day reports required on Native elder service gaps
Congressional Summary
Enhancing Native Elders' Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect Act or the Native ELDER ActThis bill establishes a tribal advisory committee, revises certain grants, and requires reporting related to older (i.e., aged 60 or older) American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Specifically, the bill directs the Administration on Aging (AOA) to establish a tribal advisory committee to provide advice and guidance on matters relating to older Native Americans.Additionally, the bill specifies that the technical assistance and training programs provided to grant recipients (e.g., tribal organizations providing supportive services) may include topics such as program management, data development and use, basic business skills, grant development, program and service innovations, and staff training and certification.The bill directs the AOA, when making grants to tribal organizations to provide supportive services for older Native Americans, to prioritize organizations that will use these grants for necessary home modifications that will facilitate the ability of older Native Americans to remain at home.The AOA must also report to Congress on (1) the feasibility of modeling the Native American Caregiver Support Program after the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, (2) the level of need for in-home services that include accessible home modifications for older Native Americans, and (3) the barriers to Indian tribes accessing programs for older Native Americans. This report must be made publicly available.The Department of Labor must report to Congress on how recipients of funding under the Senior Community Service Employment Program are serving older Native Americans.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-03-05
- Date Added
- 2026-04-28
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