Elder Justice Coalition assesses options

Members of the Elder Justice Coalition met December 2 with legislative aides for Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) to discuss strategies for introducing the Elder Justice Act again in the 111th Congress. Coalition members agreed to educate new members of Congress early on to capitalize on momentum from the 110th Congress. Also discussed was timing introduction so that the legislation will not get lost amid the looming issues that will likely get immediate attention including the economy, energy and health care reform.

Several barriers identified in the 110th Congress that the coalition must consider include: identifying the offsets needed for the $777 million cost to fully fund the bill, a perception that the initiatives in the bill are duplicative of existing programs, and objections on Constitutional grounds related to how reports are to be made to the president and Congress. Moreover, more than one committee in the House has jurisdiction including Judiciary, Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce. Another option mentioned was combining Elder Justice with Senator Herbert Kohl's (D-WI) Criminal Background Check bill that passed the Senate Finance Committee at the same time that the Elder Justice Act also passed the committee. These ideas were raised but no decision was reached at this meeting concerning changes to the bill.

The coalition will meet again to further discuss modifications to the legislation, timing of introduction, briefing House and Senate staffs, preparing and sending letters of support from coalition members and generating grass roots support.