| The national aging network and aging advocates are hailing last night’s Senate passage of S.2120, the Older Americans Act reauthorization of 2026 (OAA). The bipartisan bill would extend the act for four years, provide increases in authorizations for all seven titles of the act, and makes modernizations to some of its programs

| Bob Blancato of Matz, Blancato and Associates, states, “We view this as critical development in the desired goal to have this law renewed in 2026. The Senate over the past several years has taken the lead in developing and advancing an OAA reauthorization. We especially commend Chairman Bill Cassidy and Ranking member Bernie Sanders of the Senate HELP Committee which produced the bill. Special thanks also go to Senators Gillibrand, Scott (Fla.), Collins, Kaine, Markey, Murkowski, Lujan, Justice, Moody, Bennet, Warnock, McCormick, and Kim who co-sponsored S.2120. It should be noted that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had co-sponsored the bill when in the Senate.” 

What Is the History of the Older Americans Act? 

Now the ball moves to the House court, where they have played a stall game for the past two years. The fact that the Senate passed this bill unanimously should send a clear signal to the House that the OAA transcends partisanship. It delivers vital services in every Congressional district in the nation, from Meals on Wheels, to transportation, to senior centers, to caregiver services and special programs for tribal elders.  

Aging advocates are undertaking a campaign to reach all 435 House members to urge them to join the Senate and pass S.2120. “It makes both good policy and political sense,” says Blancato, a member of the Aging in America News advisory council.

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