White House Conference on Aging

The Older Americans Act Amendments of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 3001 note; Public Law 100–175) is amended by striking title II and inserting the following: II White House Conference on Aging 201. Authorization of the Conference (a) Authority To call conference Not earlier than January 21, 2025 and not later than December 31, 2025, the President shall convene the White House Conference on Aging in order to fulfill the purpose set forth in subsection (c) and to make fundamental policy recommendations regarding programs that are important to older individuals and to the families and communities of such individuals. (b) Planning and direction The Conference described in subsection (a) shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the Secretary, in cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Aging, the Director of the National Institute on Aging, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Social Security Administrator, and the heads of such other Federal agencies serving older individuals as are appropriate. Planning and conducting the Conference includes the assignment of personnel. (c) Purpose The purpose of the Conference described in subsection (a) shall be to gather individuals representing the spectrum of thought and experience in the field of aging to— (1) evaluate the manner in which the objectives of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) can be met by using the resources and talents of older individuals, of families and communities of such individuals, and of individuals from the public and private sectors; (2) evaluate the manner in which Federal policies, programs, and activities meet and respond to the needs of older individuals, including an examination of innovative and fiscally responsible strategies relating to retirement security, caregiving, nutrition and supportive services, health care, elder justice, and long-term services and supports; (3) be informed by the work and recommendations of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities, evaluate the recommendations of the Committee, and, as appropriate, suggest implementation strategies for such recommendations; and (4) develop recommendations to guide the President, Congress, and Federal agencies in improving Federal programs that serve older individuals, which may relate to the prevention and mitigation of disease, injury, abuse, social isolation, loneliness, and economic insecurity, including food insecurity, and promotion of healthy aging in place. (d) Conference participants and delegates (1) Participants In order to carry out the purposes of this section, the Conference shall bring together— (A) representatives of Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments; (B) professionals and volunteers who are working in the field of aging; and (C) representatives of the general public, particularly older individuals. (2) Selection of delegates The delegates shall be selected without regard to political affiliation or past partisan activity and shall, to the best of the appointing authority's ability, be representative of the spectrum of thought in the field of aging. Delegates shall include older individuals, individuals who are professionals in the field of aging, individuals who are community leaders, minority individuals, individuals from rural areas, low-income individuals, and representatives of Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments. 202. Conference administration (a) Administration In administering this section, the Secretary shall— (1) consult with relevant State, Tribal, and local officials, stakeholders, and subject matter experts in planning the Conference; (2) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies, including such officials of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities, as may be appropriate in the carrying out of this section; (3) make available for public comment a proposed agenda for the Conference, which will reflect to the greatest extent possible the major issues facing older individuals, consistent with the provisions of section 201(c); (4) prepare and make available such background materials for the use of delegates to the Conference as the Secretary deems necessary; and (5) engage such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section without regard to provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. (b) Duties The Secretary shall, in carrying out the Secretary's responsibilities and functions under this section, and as part of the White House Conference on Aging, ensure that— (1) the agenda prepared under subsection (a)(3) for the Conference is published in the Federal Register not later than 30 days after such agenda is approved by the Secretary; (2) the personnel engaged under subsection (a)(5) shall be fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous partisan activities; (3) the recommendations of the Conference are not inappropriately influenced by any appointing authority or by any special interest, but will instead be the result of the independent judgment of the Conference; and (4) current and adequate statistical data, including decennial census data, and other information on the well-being of older individuals in the United States, are readily available, in advance of the Conference, to the delegates of the Conference, together with such information as may be necessary to evaluate Federal programs and policies relating to aging. In carrying out this subparagraph, the Secretary is authorized to make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, public agencies and nonprofit private organizations. (c) Gifts The Secretary may accept, on behalf of the United States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including voluntary and uncompensated services) that shall be available to carry out this title. Gifts of cash shall be available in addition to amounts appropriated to carry out this title. Gifts may be earmarked by the donor for a specific purpose. (d) Records The Secretary shall maintain records regarding— (1) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts accepted under subsection (c); and (2) the identity of each person receiving assistance to carry out this title, and the amount of such assistance received by each such person. 203. Report of the Conference (a) Preliminary report Not later than 100 days after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Secretary shall publish and deliver to the States a preliminary report on the Conference. Comments on the preliminary report of the Conference shall be accepted by the Secretary. (b) Final report Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Secretary shall publish and transmit to the President and to Congress recommendations resulting from the Conference and suggestions for any administrative action and legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained within the report. 204. Definitions In this title: (1) Conference The term Conference means the White House Conference on Aging. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (3) State The term State means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands..