Printable Version
Alliance Resolution on Second Economic Stimulus
Friday, November 14, 2008(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Resolution
Second Economic
Stimulus
Adopted November 14, 2008
Whereas the current
economic deterioration has caused increased
fiscal distress for states
resulting in cuts
and reductions to health care coverage for
millions of older adults; and
Whereas the current
economic deterioration has caused a sharp
increase in older Americans
experiencing
home foreclosures; and
Whereas an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the economy and prevent states from taking action that would jeopardize the health care and services needed by millions of older adults and people with disabilities; and
Whereas rising food and fuel costs are reducing the underfunded Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and services to key vulnerable older Americans at the community level, even as those same costs drive increasing numbers of older Americans to seek assistance; and
Whereas supportive services
funded through the OAA, such as home-delivered
meals and
energy assistance, rides to
doctor’s appointments, home health visits an
the many other supports that allow seniors to
live independently in their homes and
communities face grave fiscal crises as the
needs of older adults increase; and
Whereas additional
emergency funding for OAA will stem the tide of
service reductions to
seniors who otherwise
risk going hungry, deteriorating health,
becoming isolated, and being
unnecessarily
institutionalized.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Alliance for Retired Americans supports an increase in the FMAP and emergency funding for the OAA as a part of a second economic stimulus bill.
Be it further resolved that the Alliance for Retired Americans calls upon Congress to enact as soon as possible an economic stimulus package that includes providing state fiscal relief by temporarily augmenting the current level of federal support for state Medicaid programs.