State of the Union for America's Seniors

Legislation | January 19, 2016

In his last State of the Union message, delivered on January 13, 2016, President Obama noted recent legislative accomplishments, especially in the areas of tax reform and federal budgeting.

We share the President's views on the importance of making permanent several so-called "tax extenders", including the tax-favored rollover of Individual Retirement Account funds to charitable organizations and the 9% rate for the low-income housing tax credit. LeadingAge worked for several years for these changes in tax policy, and we are very pleased that they finally became law.

We also advocated for the 2-year lifting of spending caps that would have resulted in severe reductions in federal funding for senior housing and home- and community-based services.

President Obama went on to lay out a vision of the policy direction the United States should take in coming years.

LeadingAge also has a vision for the coming decades. We look forward to a time when:

There will be no homeless elders.
American families have better ways to plan for their future needs for long-term services and supports.
A fairer and more rational system is set in place to ensure quality in long-term services and supports and pay for them.

We will work with President Obama's successor and with legislators of both parties to make this vision a reality.