Advocacy
Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging is committed to staying engaged in, and sharing, the latest public policy news affecting older adults, caregivers and the professionals who care for them. The Washington Update is produced monthly with our partners at Matz, Blancato & Associates to share the latest information about policy issues impacting older adults and their families.
FY27 Appropriations
Congress has started their annual appropriations process, with members submitting their funding requests to the Appropriations Committee. These committees will wait to produce their funding bills until President Trump releases his annual budget, which is expected on April 3rd. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security enters week six of a shutdown, impacting TSA and FEMA programs. Funding lapsed for DHS on February 14th.
New Legislation
Representative Neal (D-MA) introduced the Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act (HR. 8060). The bill increases funding for Adult Protective Services, the Term Care Ombudsman, and Tribal elder justice as well as encourages new and increased support for legal services and medical-legal partnerships. It also introduces new programs such as nursing home worker training grants to address the growing and critical workforce shortages.
Senator Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Senior Security Act (S.4055) which would establish a Senior Investor Taskforce within the Securities and Exchange Commission. The task force would identify challenges older adults face, including fraud, and recommend regulatory and policy changes. It would also coordinate with stakeholders to strengthen prevention and response efforts.
Representative Grijalva (D-NV) introduced the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act of 2026 (HR. 7828). This bill modernizes and expands the SSI program to better reflect current economic realities and improve access to benefits for older adults and people with disabilities. Updates to the program include increases to income exclusions, eliminating certain administrative barriers like installment payment requirements and dedicated accounts, and elimination of the marriage penalty.
Representatives Seth Magaziner (D-RI) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) introduced H.Res.1013 to reestablish a permanent Select Committee on Aging in the House of Representatives. This committee was originally established in 1974 to conduct research and hold public hearings on issues affecting older Americans but expired in 1993.
New Resarch
AARP has released new research on the value of family caregiving in America: Valuing the Invaluable 2026. They found one in four Americans is a family caregiver and family caregivers provide 49.5 billion hours of care each year, the equivalent of nearly 24 million full-time workers.
On March 31st, The National Council on Aging held a briefing on how social media platforms enable older adult scams. One presentation highlighted a financial model of digital platforms that contributes to the persistence and success of these scams. Another provided focus group results from older adults which explored perceptions of the current scam landscape and potential solutions. NCOA provided policy recommendations including enhancing advertiser verification processes and establishing clear legal accountability for platforms.
Washington Update Newsletters
