Native ELDER Act Proposes New Tribal Advisory Committee, Extends Funding to Boost Services for Older Native Americans

Congress is considering the "Enhancing Native Elders' Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect Act," or Native ELDER Act, which aims to improve how programs under the Older Americans Act (OAA) serve Native American communities. The bill proposes creating a dedicated advisory committee, extending specific funding streams, boosting training for service providers, and requiring several reports to assess current needs and program effectiveness.

A Seat at the Table: The Older Americans Tribal Advisory Committee

A major piece of this legislation is the creation of the Older Americans Tribal Advisory Committee. This 11-member group, housed within the OAA's Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs, is tasked with advising the Assistant Secretary for Aging directly on issues affecting Native elders. Think of it as establishing a formal, consistent channel for government-to-government consultation with Tribes and input from Native Hawaiian organizations. The committee members, nominated by tribal entities and appointed by officials from the Administration and Congress, will focus on identifying challenges, recommending solutions, improving coordination between agencies like the Indian Health Service and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and ensuring Native communities are kept in the loop. They'll meet at least twice a year and produce an annual report, requiring a written response from the Assistant Secretary within 45 days.

Bolstering Support on the Ground

The Act also addresses practical support for programs serving Native elders. It specifically amends Title VI of the OAA, which funds nutrition and support services provided by tribal organizations. Section 4 extends the availability of certain Title VI funds through 2025, providing more certainty for program planning. Furthermore, Section 5 mandates the development of technical assistance and training for these Title VI grantees. This isn't just about funding; it's about building capacity. The training could cover crucial skills like program management, grant writing, data handling, and staff development, helping tribal organizations run their programs more effectively and potentially expand their reach.

Digging Deeper: Reports for Better Policy

Understanding the real needs and roadblocks is key to improvement, and the Native ELDER Act mandates several assessments. Within 180 days of enactment, the Assistant Secretary for Aging must report on several critical areas:

• Caregiver Support: Can the Native American Caregiver Support Program be modeled after successful VA caregiver programs?
• In-Home Services: What are the needs for in-home help, including home modifications like ramps or grab bars, among older Native Americans, and should the OAA prioritize funding these?
• Access Barriers: What's preventing some Tribes from accessing Title VI programs? This includes looking at funding formulas, population requirements, and coordination between state-run Title III programs and tribal Title VI programs. The report also needs to estimate the funding required to serve currently ineligible tribal organizations.

Separately, the Secretary of Labor must report within 180 days on how well older Native Americans are being served by job training programs funded under Title V of the OAA. Together, these reports aim to gather concrete data to guide future policy and funding decisions, ensuring programs are better tailored to the unique circumstances of Native elders across the country.