July 23, 2026
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to celebrate unanimous Senate passage of her bipartisan Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act. The OAA Reauthorization Act renews funding for the essential services provided by the OAA, including programs that provide nutrition assistance, meal deliveries, transportation services, caregiver support, long-term care, and more.
“The OAA is a lifeline for American seniors, and I am proud to have successfully led the charge for its reauthorization in the Senate,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our seniors have spent their lives building our communities, raising families, and serving our country. They have earned the right to age with health, dignity, and independence in the settings of their choice—and OAA programs help them do just that. I am proud to see this legislation pass the Senate with unanimous support, and I am calling on the House to take up and pass this legislation immediately.”
The OAA has been a lifeline for American seniors since its passage in 1965. Every year, OAA programs deliver over 250 million meals, provide more than 14 million rides, and offer 30 million hours of caregiver support and in-home assistance with daily tasks like bathing and dressing. In total, about one in six older adults across the country rely on OAA-funded services every year.
However, authorization of the OAA expired at the end of 2024, jeopardizing OAA programs’ long-term future.
Specifically, this year’s OAA Reauthorization Act reauthorizes the following programs through fiscal year 2030:
the national eldercare locator service;
regional aging and disability resource centers;
grants to support counseling and assistance on pensions and other retirement benefits;
grants to support home-delivered nutrition services like Meals on Wheels;
programs to facilitate the delivery of supportive services to tribal organizations; and
programs to prevent elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The bill also modifies existing programs for older individuals to promote innovation and flexibility, strengthen program integrity, and better support family caregivers and direct care workers.
