The national Elder Justice Coalition (EJC) today praised the inclusion of a historic $100 million in emergency funding for elder justice programs in the omnibus and emergency funding bill passed last night by Congress.
Within this approved funding, $50 million is dedicated to supporting the work of state Adult Protective Services programs. The legislation specifically directs the funds to be spent for activities authorized under the Elder Justice Act during the pandemic.
EJC National Coordinator Bob Blancato was especially positive about the bipartisan support that led to the elder justice funding being included, stating, “We salute the distinct leadership of Chairman Richard Neal of the House Ways and Means Committee. In addition, the long-standing support of Chairman Charles Grassley of the Senate Finance Committee aided this final product. The Coalition also supports the strong efforts of Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden as well as the bipartisan Congressional leadership in the House and Senate that gave final approval to this bill.”
These funds recognize the importance of supporting the work of Adult Protective Services as well as others on the front lines, such as long-term care ombudsmen, in the effort to prevent rates of elder abuse from increasing during the pandemic and to protect those who are abused.
The Coalition commended the work of several of its members, including the National Adult Protective Services Association, LeadingAge, the National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs, and the National Council on Aging for their strong advocacy and support for this funding.
