Native ELDER Act Creates New Advisory Committee, Mandates Reports on Caregiver Support and In-Home Services for Native Elders

The newly proposed Enhancing Native Elders' Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect Act—the Native ELDER Act for short—is a focused effort to improve how federal aging programs serve Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian elders. If you’ve ever felt like policy for specific groups gets lost in the bureaucracy, this bill aims to fix that by creating a dedicated, high-level advisory group.

A Seat at the Table: The New Tribal Advisory Committee

The biggest change here is the creation of the Older Americans Tribal Advisory Committee (SEC. 2). This new 11-member body will advise the Assistant Secretary on anything related to Native Americans under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Think of it as a permanent, required focus group made up of people nominated by the tribes and Native Hawaiian groups themselves. The idea is to make sure the feds are hearing directly from the people who know what’s needed on the ground.

Appointments are split between the Assistant Secretary (3 members) and key Congressional leaders (8 members), ensuring a wide range of input. Crucially, this committee is tasked with helping organize—but not replacing—direct government-to-government consultations with tribes. For tribal organizations, this means a formalized channel for raising issues and shaping policy on everything from program management to coordination with other agencies like the Indian Health Service and CMS.

There’s a procedural detail worth noting: this Committee is explicitly exempted from standard federal advisory committee rules (Chapter 10 of title 5, U.S. Code). While this might streamline operations, it does mean the Committee operates outside the typical transparency and oversight requirements that apply to most other federal advisory bodies. Members will be compensated at a high rate (Level IV Executive Schedule), which acknowledges the expertise required but also adds to administrative costs.

Strengthening the Service Providers

The bill also recognizes that policy is only as good as the organizations delivering the services. Section 5 mandates that the Secretary must develop and offer technical assistance and training programs for groups receiving Title VI grants. Title VI is the section of the Older Americans Act that funds services for Native American, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian elders.

This isn't just a suggestion; the training must ensure these grantees have the "organizational strength" to deliver services effectively. This means training on everything from grant writing and data collection to program management and staff certification. For the tribal and Native Hawaiian organizations that run these programs, this is a boost in capacity building—a way to make sure federal funding translates into effective, long-lasting help for elders in their communities.

The Homework Assignment: Reports Due in 180 Days

Before making big changes, the bill demands serious research. Within 180 days of the bill becoming law, two major reports must be delivered (SEC. 6). The Assistant Secretary for Aging has to investigate two critical areas:

1. Caregiver Programs: Can the existing Native American Caregiver Support Program effectively model the comprehensive support structure used for veterans' family caregivers? This is about finding the best way to support family members juggling work, life, and the demanding job of caring for an elder.
2. In-Home Needs: They must assess the need for in-home services, specifically including accessible home modifications, for older Native Americans. If you’re an elder who wants to age in place, a ramp or a bathroom modification can be the difference between independence and moving into a facility. This report will evaluate if home modifications should become a priority service under the Older Americans Act.

Additionally, the Assistant Secretary must report on the barriers preventing tribes from accessing Title VI funding and estimate how many Native Americans aren't currently getting services. Meanwhile, the Secretary of Labor must report on how Title V funds (which support older workers) are being used to help Native American elders. These reports are the foundation for future policy, making sure that future funding decisions are based on hard data about real needs.