Legislative Update by Alan Lopatin, Washington Representative Appropriations

With the lame duck session following the November 2004 Presidential and Congressional elections, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law final appropriations for Fiscal Year 2005 (October 1, 2004 - September 30, 2005). Originally, President Bush had proposed the largest increase in RSVP funding in history with his call for an $11.7 million increase in program funding. At the end of the day, RSVP was left with an increase of less than one percent (and less than $500,000). All domestic programs were subjected to an across-the-board cut of .83% of total appropriations, virtually eliminating nearly all domestic funding increases. The final appropriations figures are as follows:

   National Senior Service Corps Funding (FY 1997-2005)

While RSVP has enjoyed a significant increase in funding since fiscal year 1997, the past three years have seen no growth at all.

The Fiscal Year 2006 budget process promises even tighter appropriations restraints than before. Deficits in the excess of $400 billion have forced Congress to cut back on funding expansion and priority initiatives. Still, the increases sought for Senior Corps programs are modest and yield great return on investment of tax dollars.

President Bush will submit his FY 2006 Budget to Congress on February 7, 2005. After that, the House and Senate Budget Committees will meet to consider their companion versions of a budget blueprint-known as a Budget Resolution-to guide spending and taxing decisions for the upcoming year.

From there, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees get to work, dividing up the resources allocated to them in the Budget Resolution among the thirteen appropriations subcomittees and within each subcommittee, among the programs, projects, and activities within the subcommittee's jurisdiction. Funding for the Senior Corps falls within the purview of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The Senate Subcommittee is chair by Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin serves as the Subcommittee Ranking Democratice Member. Each has a significant impact over spending decisions covered by the bill. In the House, Democrat David Obey of Wisconsin is the Ranking Democrate and the Chairman will be elected in January by House Republicans.

All NARSVPD Members are urged to contact their Senators and Congressman and urge support for RSVP funding in Fiscal Year 2006. Ideally, RSVP funding should be included in each elected official's WISH LIST, due to be submitted to the Appropriations Committees, traditionally in March or early April. It is critical that NARSVPD members find Senators and Congressmen willing to go to bat for RSVP and the Senior Corps in the annual appropriations process.

   National Service Reauthorization

While the 108th Congress adjourned without completing action on reauthorization for national service laws, prospects in the 109th Congress are hopeful. President Bush has proclaimed his support for national service, AmeriCorps, and the Senior Corps in various events over the course of his Presidency. He has submitted national service reauthorization legislation in the past, in the form of the Citizen Service Act, and can be expected to renew his support for service in the 109th Congress.

Senior Corps advocates have supported changes in legislation to make age requirements consisten across the three Senior Corps programs (reducing the eligibility age for SCP and FGP to 55) and maintaining the administrative sturcture currently in place for Senior Corps management and reporting (Corporation State Offices). Vigilance on the part of Senior Corps directors is the only way to ensure that changes best for the Senior Corps are enacted as part of national service reauthorization.

In the House of Representatives, jurisdiction over national service lies with the Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Ohio Republican Congressman John Boehner. California Democrate George Miller is the Ranking Member of the Committee. In the Senate, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is responsible for national service reauthorization. A new chairman has been named for the Committee: Wyoming Repubican Mike Enzi. Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy is the Ranking Member of the Committee.

Other Issues

Congress is likely to be faced with the daunting task of reforming Social Security as the major initiative on President Bush's domestic agenda in the first session of the 109th Congress. At the same time, the House and Senate national service committees are also responsible for moving legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act and the Head Start Act, as well as the Community Services Block Grant (which funds community action agencies), Low Income Home Energy Assistance, and other education, labor and human services programs. Senior Corps directors should look to lend their expertise to the public debate and to local congressional offices in delivering much needed services to the community.

As events unfold on Capitol Hill and elsewhere in Washington, we will keep you informed so that you can be the most effective citizen advocate possible.

  White House Conference on Aging

The WHCoA will be held in late October, 2005, in Washington, DC. The delegates to this conference will debate the most pressing issues facing elders today and in the future, and then make 50 policy recommendations to the President regarding the direction this country should take in meeting the coming elder explosion that will begin as baby boomers born between 1946 and 1962 reach retirement age.

The three National Directors Associations for FGP, RSVP, and SCP have written and agreed to jointly support a policy recommendation for the WHCoA that supports using and expanding RSVP, FGP, and SCP as the experienced and cost-effective vehicles to tap the entrepreneurial spirit of the boomers, who studies show are just as interested in giving back to their communities in meaningful ways as they've been since the 60's.

As they did for the WHCoA in 1995, the WHCoA Policy Committee is currently engaged in holding Listening Sessions across the country so they can listen to statements from elder advocates and citizens and learn their feelings regarding the direction aging policy should take in the future, especially as it relates to positive aging and the baby boomers. Each of the Listening Sessions is convened by at least one member of the Policy Committee. If we are to see our Policy Recommendation become a reality and be accepted by the WHCoA delegates next year, it is very important that directors in the field attend these Listening Sessions and testify in support of the 3 Associations' Policy Recommendation whenever possible.

  Presidents Volunteer Service Award

This is a friendly reminder that if you have not already done so, please visit the PVSA website at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/ and register as a certifying organization. Your login information and password will be sent to you within 3-5 business days. Once you receive your login information you will be ready to order your awards. It's simple and easy to do. And, remember, the National Association of Retired Senior Volunteer Program Directors has received a grant to pay for your awards! Take advantage of the program while you can. The NARSVPD will pay for one award per volunteer. If you need any assistance in getting certified or in ordering your awards, please contact Brenda Thompson, the National Program Coordinator. Her telephone number is 541-440-3605 or you can email her directly at svfoundation@qwest.net. Good luck and get out there and get certified! 

This electronic newsletter is published by NARSVPD. It is edited by Melodye Kleinman. The newsletter contains brief and timely information about RSVP. For clarification about any issues, please contact your Cluster Delegate or Alternate. To submit items of interest, contact: Melodye Kleinman at mkleinman@wiseseniors.org.

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