We have the opportunity to advise on an upcoming collaborative research project of Rutgers University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California at Berkeley. The project will focus on the JFNA NORC-SSP Initiative, the New York State/City model(s), and the Village-to-Village effort. This collaborative study is expected to make available valuable information that could be shared with potential funders and public policy stakeholders at the national, state and local levels, who will soon if not already be planning or even grappling with the aging-in of the Baby Boomers.
If you have a NORC program, please review this letter from Rob Goldberg so that we can include your community in the study. We appreciate your reply by the end of December. Thank you!
If you have a NORC program, please review this letter from Rob Goldberg so that we can include your community in the study. We appreciate your reply by the end of December. Thank you!
Last week, Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act, legislation thatseeks to strengthen existing public transit programs for older adults and people with disabilities by giving states added flexibility to utilize their federal funds. The bill also expands program transparency through new reporting standards, enhances the planning and coordination process, provides technical assistance and seed grants to innovative community programs, and establishes a mobility management program for older adults and people with disabilities. AJFCA has worked in support of this legislation and now we need your help to advance it!
It is anticipated that the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will consider a reauthorization of federal transit programs this month, possibly as early as Friday. It is critical that S. 1942 gain the support of committee members, especially Republicans, in order to have a chance of being included in the committee's reauthorization legislation. For those of you in states with Senators on the Banking Committee (listed below), your grassroots advocacy efforts are especially needed over the next several days.
Key Republican Senators: Richard Shelby (AL); Michael Crapo (ID); Bob Corker (TN); Jim DeMint (SC); David Vitter (LA); Mike Johanns (NE); Patrick Toomey (PA); Mark Steven Kirk (IL); Jerry Moran (KS) and Roger Wicker (MS).
Key Democratic Senators: Tim Johnson (SD); Jack Reed (RI); Charles Schumer (NY); Robert Menendez (NJ); Daniel Akaka (HI); Sherrod Brown (OH); Jon Tester (MT); Mark Warner (VA); Jeff Merkley (OR); Michael Bennet (CO) and Kay Hagan (NC).
Action Requested:
? Contact your Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act.
STEP 1: Call/Email the Senator's state and DC offices; ask for the staff member who handles transportation issues. DC offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.
STEP 2: Make the "ask" and offer to email them background materials on the bill for their review (see attached bill summary).
STEP 3: Let them know exactly why you support S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act.
You may use this template letter as a basis for your letter to Senators.
? Message: "We support S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act. The bill provides states added flexibility under the Section 5310 program for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities to utilize funds for operating costs such as rising fuel costs. The bill expands the transparency of the Section 5310 and 5317 New Freedom programs through new reporting standards to better track how funds are used, requires states to report annually to the FTA how they plan to coordinate with transportation services offered under the Older Americans Act, and strengthens the coordinated public transit human service planning process. It directs new resources for technical assistance and grants to seed innovative community programs and establishes a mobility management program for older adults and people with disabilities. We urge Senator ______ to co-sponsor this important legislation."
? Please report to Shelley Rood any interest you receive from your Senators or their staff in co-sponsoring the bill-so that we can follow up as needed.
Background:
The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act would provide states with greater flexibility to use Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Section 5310 program funds to assist with the costs of operating vehicles, such as insurance, rising fuel costs and driver compensation. The Section 5310 program provides formula grant funds to states to help nonprofit organizations meet the transportation needs of the elderly where public transportation options are unavailable.
Public transportation trips by older and disabled non-drivers, including those under the Section 5310 program, totaled an estimated 43 million in 2009. The legislation would also expand the transparency of Section 5310 programs through new reporting standards requiring that groups representing older adults and people with disabilities are included in the planning process and be given an opportunity to review and comment on how funds would be used within a state.
Finally, the bill would direct new funding to the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST, www.seniortransportation.net/) in order to award a larger number of community seed grants to demonstrate creative and effective solutions to increasing mobility for older adults. It would also establish a Mobility Management program, which would determine the transportation needs of consumers and connect them with the best available transportation options in their communities.
A summary of the bill follows:
Section 5310 Elderly and Disabled Program
Authorizes states to use up to 33 percent of any increase in its annual Section 5310 allocation for operating and maintenance needs after FY 2012.
Authorizes states to use their Section 5310 allocations to assist with the costs of operating vehicles or other capital assets acquired through the Section 5310 program at a 50 percent federal match.
Requires states to report annually to FTA how they plan to coordinate their Section 5310 program with transportation services offered under Title III of the Older Americans Act.
Expands the National Transit Database to require the program to track Section 5310 data on an annual basis, including the number of vehicles purchased and rides provided.
Metropolitan and Statewide Planning and Coordination
Strengthens the coordinated public transit human service transportation planning process by requiring that groups representing older adults and people with disabilities are included in the planning process, and that these groups are given an opportunity to review and comment on the final plan.
Technical Assistance and Mobility Management
Directs new funding ($11.5 million over two years) to the NCST to provide technical assistance to transit and human service organizations, and disseminate best practices and test innovative and replicable approaches for addressing the mobility needs of seniors.
Establishes a supplemental FTA Mobility Management grant program ($8 million over two years) to connect older and disabled adults with the best available transportation options in their communities.
It is anticipated that the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will consider a reauthorization of federal transit programs this month, possibly as early as Friday. It is critical that S. 1942 gain the support of committee members, especially Republicans, in order to have a chance of being included in the committee's reauthorization legislation. For those of you in states with Senators on the Banking Committee (listed below), your grassroots advocacy efforts are especially needed over the next several days.
Key Republican Senators: Richard Shelby (AL); Michael Crapo (ID); Bob Corker (TN); Jim DeMint (SC); David Vitter (LA); Mike Johanns (NE); Patrick Toomey (PA); Mark Steven Kirk (IL); Jerry Moran (KS) and Roger Wicker (MS).
Key Democratic Senators: Tim Johnson (SD); Jack Reed (RI); Charles Schumer (NY); Robert Menendez (NJ); Daniel Akaka (HI); Sherrod Brown (OH); Jon Tester (MT); Mark Warner (VA); Jeff Merkley (OR); Michael Bennet (CO) and Kay Hagan (NC).
Action Requested:
? Contact your Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act.
STEP 1: Call/Email the Senator's state and DC offices; ask for the staff member who handles transportation issues. DC offices can be reached through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.
STEP 2: Make the "ask" and offer to email them background materials on the bill for their review (see attached bill summary).
STEP 3: Let them know exactly why you support S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act.
You may use this template letter as a basis for your letter to Senators.
? Message: "We support S. 1942, The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act. The bill provides states added flexibility under the Section 5310 program for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities to utilize funds for operating costs such as rising fuel costs. The bill expands the transparency of the Section 5310 and 5317 New Freedom programs through new reporting standards to better track how funds are used, requires states to report annually to the FTA how they plan to coordinate with transportation services offered under the Older Americans Act, and strengthens the coordinated public transit human service planning process. It directs new resources for technical assistance and grants to seed innovative community programs and establishes a mobility management program for older adults and people with disabilities. We urge Senator ______ to co-sponsor this important legislation."
? Please report to Shelley Rood any interest you receive from your Senators or their staff in co-sponsoring the bill-so that we can follow up as needed.
Background:
The Senior Transportation and Mobility Improvement Act would provide states with greater flexibility to use Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Section 5310 program funds to assist with the costs of operating vehicles, such as insurance, rising fuel costs and driver compensation. The Section 5310 program provides formula grant funds to states to help nonprofit organizations meet the transportation needs of the elderly where public transportation options are unavailable.
Public transportation trips by older and disabled non-drivers, including those under the Section 5310 program, totaled an estimated 43 million in 2009. The legislation would also expand the transparency of Section 5310 programs through new reporting standards requiring that groups representing older adults and people with disabilities are included in the planning process and be given an opportunity to review and comment on how funds would be used within a state.
Finally, the bill would direct new funding to the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST, www.seniortransportation.net/) in order to award a larger number of community seed grants to demonstrate creative and effective solutions to increasing mobility for older adults. It would also establish a Mobility Management program, which would determine the transportation needs of consumers and connect them with the best available transportation options in their communities.
A summary of the bill follows:
Section 5310 Elderly and Disabled Program
Authorizes states to use up to 33 percent of any increase in its annual Section 5310 allocation for operating and maintenance needs after FY 2012.
Authorizes states to use their Section 5310 allocations to assist with the costs of operating vehicles or other capital assets acquired through the Section 5310 program at a 50 percent federal match.
Requires states to report annually to FTA how they plan to coordinate their Section 5310 program with transportation services offered under Title III of the Older Americans Act.
Expands the National Transit Database to require the program to track Section 5310 data on an annual basis, including the number of vehicles purchased and rides provided.
Metropolitan and Statewide Planning and Coordination
Strengthens the coordinated public transit human service transportation planning process by requiring that groups representing older adults and people with disabilities are included in the planning process, and that these groups are given an opportunity to review and comment on the final plan.
Technical Assistance and Mobility Management
Directs new funding ($11.5 million over two years) to the NCST to provide technical assistance to transit and human service organizations, and disseminate best practices and test innovative and replicable approaches for addressing the mobility needs of seniors.
Establishes a supplemental FTA Mobility Management grant program ($8 million over two years) to connect older and disabled adults with the best available transportation options in their communities.
More than 16,000 Holocaust survivors who have been denied German compensation pensions will claims now be eligible to receive them as a result of Claims Conference negotiations with the German government. The agreement will result in at least $650 million in additional Claims Conference payments over the next decade.
Prior to the negotiations, certain survivors were only eligible for pensions from the Claims Conference Article 2 Fund and the Central and Eastern European Fund (CEEF) if they had been in a ghetto, in hiding, or living under false identity for at least 18 months during the Nazi era. This minimum time period of persecution was part of the eligibility criteria established by the German government, and which the Claims Conference for years has been working to change.
For more information visit the Claims Conference website.
Prior to the negotiations, certain survivors were only eligible for pensions from the Claims Conference Article 2 Fund and the Central and Eastern European Fund (CEEF) if they had been in a ghetto, in hiding, or living under false identity for at least 18 months during the Nazi era. This minimum time period of persecution was part of the eligibility criteria established by the German government, and which the Claims Conference for years has been working to change.
For more information visit the Claims Conference website.
