Aging Policy Briefing

2025 will be a busy year for Aging Network advocates with a new Congress and a new White House. New challenges and opportunities will arise, and it’s more important than ever for the Aging Network to successfully advocate on the top policy issues affecting the health and well-being of older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities.

This year’s APB will cover a plethora of topics, including efforts to reauthorize the Older Americans Act; FY 2026 appropriations for key aging programs; and federal updates on aging, caregiving and health policy.

Attendees will learn more about the priorities of the new administration; get read into USAging’s Policy Priorities; and gain insider knowledge of the 2025 policy landscape from key federal agency officials, congressional staff and Aging and health policy experts. The APB will provide attendees with the messaging, tools and tactics to best advocate on behalf of older adults and caregivers at the local, state and national levels.

Registration for the 2025 APB has closed.

AGENDA:
Note: This is a new flow!

Monday, March 31

8:00 AM 8:00–8:30 AM 8:30–8:45 AM 8:45–10:15 AM	Registration Open Breakfast Welcome Pam Curtis, President, USAging and CEO, Senior Resources of West Michigan, Norton Shores, MI Sandy Markwood, CEO, USAging The Warm-Up: How to Get Your Advocacy On! Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, USAging Olivia Umoren, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, USAging
10:15–10:30 AM 10:30–11:00 AM	Break Reconciliation: What Advocates Need to Know About the FY 2026 Federal Budget Process Ilene Stein, Vice President, Government Affairs, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
11:00–11:30 AM	The Framer: USAging’s 2025 Policy Agenda Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, USAging Olivia Umoren, Director, Public Policy and Advocacy, USAging
11:30 AM–12:30 PM	Protecting Medicaid for Older Adults Leonardo Cuello, Research Professor, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families Gelila Selassie, Senior Attorney, Justice in Aging Jennifer Dexter, Vice President of Policy, National Health Council

12:30–1:30 PM 1:30–2:30 PM 2:30–3:15 PM	Lunch A Federal Perspective on Aging and Community Living Mary Lazare, Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Administration for Community Living Perspectives on Medicare Threats and Opportunities Tricia Neuman, Senior Vice President and Executive Director, Program on Medicare Policy, KFF Lisa Harootunian, Director, Health Program, Bipartisan Policy Center Sara Singleton, Principal, Leavitt Partners
3:15–3:30 PM 3:30–4:15 PM 4:15–4:45 PM 4:45–5:00 PM	Break Advancing Better Caregiving Policy in 2025 Jason Resendez, CEO, National Alliance for Caregiving Kezia Scales, Vice President of Research & Evaluation, PHI Taking the Temperature and Navigating Change Bob Blancato, Principal, Matz Blancato Associates Ryann Hill, CEO, Indigo Hill Strategies Where Do We Go from Here? Sandy Markwood, CEO, USAging Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs, USAging

Tuesday, April 1

Capitol Hill Day

7:30–8:00 AM 8:00–8:15 AM	Hill Day Breakfast, Sponsored by Amazon Opening Remarks Pam Curtis, President, USAging and CEO, Senior Resources of West Michigan, Norton Shores, MI Sandy Markwood, CEO, USAging Karla Torres, Head of Community Engagement, Amazon Devices & Services
8:15–9:00 AM	From the Hill: Congressional Viewpoints Carrie Hughes, Health and Human Services Director, House Committee on Education and Workforce (Rep. Bobby Scott, D-VA) Michaela Brown, Senior Adviser, Health Policy, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT) McKinley Lewis, Staff Director, Senate Special Committee on Aging (Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL), invited Ian Prince, Professional Staff, House Committee on Education and Workforce (Rep. Tim Walberg, R-MI)
9:00–9:15 AM	Closing Remarks Pam Curtis, President, USAging Amy Gotwals, Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs
9:15 AM	Depart for Capitol Hill Visits

2025 REGISTRATION FEES:

Aging Policy Briefing

AAA Members	$395
Title VI Aging Programs	$265
Non-Members	$550

Discounts (for APB only)

$25 discount with two or more registrations from the same agency (use code 2025APBGROUP)
$25 discount for State Grassroots Coordinators (use code 2025APBSGC)

HOTEL DETAILS:

Our host hotel is the Grand Hyatt DC (1000 H St., NW, Washington, DC 20001), located in the Penn Quarter neighborhood just two miles from Capitol Hill. Stay in the center of downtown Washington, DC, at this luxury hotel a few blocks from restaurants, the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, the White House and the Washington Monument. You'll enjoy newly renovated rooms and suites, exceptional service and a direct connection to Capitol Hill via the Metro (Metro Center station).

About USAging

Registration is now open for USAging’s 50th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, July 20–23, in Chicago! View the agenda and register today.