July 27, 2020 Washington, DC — Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge released the following statement in reacting to the Republican leadership’s HEALS Act proposal.  

“This legislation treats older lives as expendable. 

Even as an opening position, the conscious decision to ignore the escalating needs of older adults is a travesty. Rather than take the opportunity to save lives, some leaders in Congress have chosen a different and deadly path. 

The resources provided are woefully insufficient. The package offers only a fraction of the $100 billion that will be needed to help aging services providers protect older adults and offers no specific funds for aging services providers. It does nothing to address the needs of more 750,000 older adults in HUD federally-subsidized and privately-owned housing programs.

We know what is needed: ample personal protective equipment; sufficient testing supplies and rapid-results; funding and support to cover the extraordinary costs incurred as a result of this public health crisis; and pandemic hero pay, paid sick leave and other benefits for front line staff who care for older adults.

Congress needs to deliver the real relief that’s desperately needed for older Americans.“

We represent more than 5,000 aging-focused organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we address critical issues by blending applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building. We bring together the most inventive minds in our field to support older adults as they age wherever they call home. We make America a better place to grow old. For more information: www.leadingage.org.