August Recess Advocacy: Urge Your Legislators to Protect Funding and Reauthorize OAA

• By: USAging
• On: 08/26/2026 16:40:13
• In: Policy & Advocacy

There is still time to use our most recent Advocacy Alert to contact your members of Congress before they return to DC from the August recess! We have two top priorities for the last few months of the 119th Congress: ensure funding stability and pass Older Americans Act (OAA) reauthorization.  

On August 8, the Senate voted to advance a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government at FY 2026 levels and block the controversial proposed rule on federal grantmaking through December 11, read more on the CR in our latest Legislative Update. Last month, the Senate also passed the OAA Reauthorization Act (S. 2120). The House and Senate need to negotiate the differences in their CRs before October 1.  

While it’s a long shot, USAging is pushing Congress to include the OAA reauthorization bill in this CR. Use our recent Advocacy Alert to urge Congress to support the Senate CR and to include the OAA reauthorization bill in any final stopgap funding bill.

Participants Chosen for the Virtual Future is Now Training Program

• By: USAging
• On: 08/24/2026 15:07:43
• In: Program Update

USAging and the University of Illinois Chicago are excited to announce the selection of four new grantees that will deliver the Virtual Future is Now (VFIN) training. The VFIN training is an evidence-based planning program designed to help older family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities prepare for the future. 

Congratulations to the following Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs):

• AgeOptions (IL)
• Capital Area Council of Governments (TX)
• Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (KS)
• Elder Source (FL)

VFIN trainers will provide family-centered and person-centered tools to individuals with disabilities and their families which have shown to significantly increase future planning knowledge. The AAA grantees selected will not only assist in further testing the efficacy of this training in the field, they will also help to bridge aging and disability supports in their communities, expanding this future planning training to families within the Aging Network.

USAging is appreciative to have received so many strong applications and looks forward to the shared lessons to come from these grants.

This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4,375,000 to the Family Support Research and Training Center to Bridge Aging and Disability at the University of Illinois Chicago. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

DOJ Notice Threatens Community Living for People with Disabilities

• By: USAging
• On: 08/19/2026 12:23:10
• In: Policy & Advocacy

In late July, the Department of Justice (DOJ) published a Federal Register notice indicating it will not rely on its longstanding Olmstead guidance when enforcing Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Along with the DOJ’s June 18 legal opinion, this is a direct threat to community living for people with disabilities. The DOJ’s stance suggests that states are not required to provide in-home or community-based services and could instead place people with disabilities in nursing homes or other institutions.

While these actions do not overturn Olmstead or any federal law, they send a troubling signal that states do not need to prioritize or enforce home and community-based services for people with disabilities. This issue is already central to Texas v Kennedy, a case involving several states and the rights of people with disabilities to receive government services in their homes and communities rather than in institutions. People with disabilities still have the right to receive services in their communities. However, weakening protections for community living could make it much harder to challenge denials of home-based services, institutionalization, or other barriers to community life.

Featured Innovation: Let's Get Away Together

• By: USAging
• On: 08/17/2026 16:08:18
• In: Hot Topics in Aging

USAging's Caregiver Services and Supports Innovations Hub highlights innovative and evidence-informed caregiving programs and practices from across the Aging Network. One featured program is Let's Get Away Together, a virtual interactive travel and arts series offered by Family Caregiver Alliance in partnership with therapeutic activity experts from The Hummingbird Project. 

The program invites caregivers and people experiencing memory loss to explore different country, destination or theme through educational materials, music and interactive activities designed to engage participants together. Following each session, families receive a resource-filled follow-up message with activities, recipes and tips to continue the experience at home.

By fostering connection, creativity and shared engagement, Let's Get Away Together encourages participants to rediscover old passions, explore new interests, and create meaningful experiences together.

Explore this and other innovative programs on the Caregiver Services and Supports Innovations Hub, and consider submitting your own program to be featured! 

Mary Lazare Nominated for Assistant Secretary for Aging

• By: USAging
• On: 08/14/2026 09:23:36
• In: Policy & Advocacy

On August 7, President Trump nominated Mary Lazare for the role of Assistant Secretary for Aging, a Senate-confirmed political position established by the Older Americans Act. Since the forming of the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) in 2012, the Assistant Secretary has also served as its Administrator, as well.

While Lazare has been serving in both roles in an acting capacity since she returned to ACL last year, her official title was Principal Deputy Administrator, a title she held in the first Trump Administration, 2017-2021. Lazare’s nomination will need to be considered by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before facing a full Senate vote. More about Mary Lazare.

Senate Passes Stopgap Funding Bill that Delays OMB Grantmaking Rule

• By: USAging
• On: 08/13/2026 14:44:48
• In: Policy & Advocacy

On August 8, the Senate voted to advance a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through December 11. The CR provides funding at FY 2026 levels for Labor/HHS programs and would prevent OMB from implementing its controversial proposed rule on federal grantmaking for the duration of the CR.  For more information about the CR, please read our Legislative Update from earlier this week. 

The Senate’s CR comes after the House passed their own stopgap bill just a few weeks ago. Since the Senate’s bill differs from the House version, eyes will be back on the House in September following the August recess to see if they will accept the Senate version, or more likely kick off negotiations with the Senate on a final CR. Stay tuned early next week for an Advocacy Alert you can use to urge your lawmakers to avoid a government shutdown and advance Older Americans Act reauthorization.