Reps. Bilirakis, Frankel, Dingell Introduce Bill to Improve Public Health Programs for Older Adults

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) introduced the Protecting the Health of America's Older Adults Act. This bipartisan legislation would create a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve the health and well-being of older adults and provide grants to state and local health departments to implement age-friendly public health programs.

"We owe it to our seniors to ensure they have access to the best possible health care," said Rep. Bilirakis. "As the population continues to age, it only makes sense that public health officials are working closely with senior advocacy organizations to identify and address unmet needs."

"As people age, they face unique health challenges including dementia, food insecurity, balance, and isolation," said Rep. Frankel. "This bipartisan legislation will provide the CDC and state and local health departments with resources to address these, and other critical health issues older Americans confront every day."

"The number of Americans ages 65 and older will more than double over the next 40 years. We have the power to prepare for this through strategic legislation that supports critical resources for older Americans," said Rep. Dingell. "I'm proud to work with my colleague Rep. Lois Frankel to introduce the Protecting the Health of America's Older Adults Act to create a Healthy Aging program at the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. From lowering health care costs to improving health equity, this program will be a lifeline to the American people as they age."

There are many issues faced by seniors across the public health spectrum, including: transportation and housing access, chronic disease, and mental health. Improving coordination of services for seniors will benefit our entire society. The CDC program created by this legislation will provide grants and technical assistance to state, local, territorial, and tribal health departments for:

• Improving the coordination of public health interventions that improve the health and well-being of older adults;
• Disseminating and implementing evidence-based best practices and programs with respect to promoting the health and well-being of older adults;
• Coordinating multisectoral efforts to improve the health and well-being of older adults across governmental and nongovernmental health agencies;
• Improving coordination of interventions to identify gaps and reduce duplication of efforts at federal, local, and state agencies and with other aging services organizations.

The Protecting the Health of Older America's Adults Act has been endorsed by The Florida Public Health Association, Trust for America's Health, Alliance for Aging Research, Society for Women's Health Research, American Association on Health and Disability, American Public Health Association, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, Society for Public Health Education, Coalition of National Health Education Organizations, Association of State Public Health Nutritionists, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE), National Network of Public Health Institutes, Society for Public Health Education, Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to the Youth, National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs, Gerontological Partnership of America, Common Threads, Urban Health Partnerships, We All Rise, and more.