42 U.S.C. § 3001 - Congressional declaration of objectives

• Cite as: 42 U.S.C. § 3001

The Congress hereby finds and declares that, in keeping with the traditional American concept of the inherent dignity of the individual in our democratic society, the older people of our Nation are entitled to, and it is the joint and several duty and responsibility of the governments of the United States, of the several States and their political subdivisions, and of Indian tribes to assist our older people to secure equal opportunity to the full and free enjoyment of the following objectives:

(1) An adequate income in retirement in accordance with the American standard of living.

(2) The best possible physical and mental health (including access to person-centered, trauma-informed services as appropriate) which science can make available and without regard to economic status.

(3) Obtaining and maintaining suitable housing, independently selected, designed and located with reference to special needs and available at costs which older citizens can afford.

(4) Full restoration services for those who require institutional care, and a comprehensive array of community-based, long-term care services adequate to appropriately sustain older people in their communities and in their homes, including support to family members and other persons providing voluntary care to older individuals needing long-term care services.

(5) Opportunity for employment with no discriminatory personnel practices because of age.

(6) Retirement in health, honor, dignity-after years of contribution to the economy.

(7) Participating in and contributing to meaningful activity within the widest range of civic, cultural, education and training and recreational opportunities.

(8) Efficient community services, including access to low-cost transportation, which provide a choice in supported living arrangements and social assistance in a coordinated manner and which are readily available when needed, with emphasis on maintaining a continuum of care for vulnerable older individuals.

(9) Immediate benefit from proven research knowledge which can sustain and improve health and happiness.

(10) Freedom, independence, and the free exercise of individual initiative in planning and managing their own lives, full participation in the planning and operation of community-based services and programs provided for their benefit, and protection against abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Cite as 42 U.S.C. § 3001

Source: Pub. L. 89-73, title I, §101, July 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 219; Pub. L. 93-29, title I, §102, May 3, 1973, 87 Stat. 30; Pub. L. 95-478, title I, §101, Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1513; Pub. L. 97-115, §2(a)(1), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1595; Pub. L. 98-459, title I, §102, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1767; Pub. L. 100-175, title I, §101, Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 928; Pub. L. 102-375, title I, §101, title IX, §904(a)(1), Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1197, 1305; Pub. L. 116-131, title I, §102, Mar. 25, 2020, 134 Stat. 242.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 1/4/2022

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS

2020-Par. (2). Pub. L. 116-131 inserted "(including access to person-centered, trauma-informed services as appropriate)" after "health".

1992-Par. (4). Pub. L. 102-375, §101, inserted ", including support to family members and other persons providing voluntary care to older individuals needing long-term care services" after "homes".

Par. (8). Pub. L. 102-375, §904(a)(1), substituted "vulnerable older individuals" for "the vulnerable elderly".

1987- Pub. L. 100-175, §101(1), substituted "United States," for "United States and" and inserted ", and of Indian tribes" after "subdivisions".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 100-175, §101(2), substituted "Obtaining and maintaining suitable" for "Suitable".

Par. (7). Pub. L. 100-175, §101(3), substituted "Participating in and contributing to" for "Pursuit of".

Par. (10). Pub. L. 100-175, §101(4), substituted "lives," for "lives and", and inserted ", and protection against abuse, neglect, and exploitation" before period at end.

1984-Par. (4). Pub. L. 98-459, §102(a), inserted reference to a comprehensive array of community-based, long-term care services adequate to appropriately sustain older people in their communities and in their homes.

Par. (8). Pub. L. 98-459, §102(b), inserted reference to emphasis on maintaining a continuum of care for the vulnerable elderly.

Par. (10). Pub. L. 98-459, §102(c), inserted reference to full participation in the planning and operation of community-based services and programs provided for the benefit of older people.

1981-Par. (7). Pub. L. 97-115 included a reference to education and training.

1978-Par. (8). Pub. L. 95-478 included objective of community services which provide a choice in supported living arrangements.

1973-Par. (8). Pub. L. 93-29 inserted reference to access to low-cost transportation.

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1992 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 103-171, §4(b), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1991, provided that: "The amendments made by-

"(1) sections 303(a)(2), 303(a)(3), 304 (excluding paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a)), 305, 306, 307, and 317 [enacting sections 3030g-21 and 3030g-22 of this title and amending sections 3023 to 3027 of this title], and

"(2) title VII [enacting sections 3058 to 3058ee of this title and amending sections 1395i-3, 1396r, 3012, 3018, 3021, 3023, 3027, 3030d, and 3030l of this title],

of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 1992 ( Public Law 102-375; 106 Stat. 1221 et seq.) shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1993."

Pub. L. 102-375, title IX, §905, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1309, provided that:

"(a) IN GENERAL.-Except as provided in section 811(b) [ 42 U.S.C. 1766 note], any other provision of this Act [see Tables for classification] (other than this section), and in subsection (b) of this section, this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1992].

"(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.-

"(1) FEDERAL COUNCIL ON AGING.-Incumbent members of the Federal Council on Aging may serve on the Council until their successors are appointed under section 204 of the Older Americans Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3015 ) as amended by section 205 of this Act.

"(2) STATE AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ON AGING.-The amendments made by sections 303(a)(2), 303(a)(3), 303(f), 304, 305, 306, 307, 316, 317, and 320 [enacting sections 3030g-11 to 3030g-13, 3030g-21, 3030g-22, and 3030p to 3030r of this title and amending sections 3023 to 3027 of this title] shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1992.

"(3) PROJECT REPORTS.-The amendments made by sections 410, 411, 413, 414, 415, 416, 418, and 419 [enacting sections 3035i, 3035j, 3035l to 3035o, 3035q, and 3035r of this title] shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1992.

"(4) COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT.-The amendments made by sections 501, 504, and 506 [enacting section 3056h of this title and amending sections 3056, 3056d, and 3056e of this title] shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1992.

"(5) INDIAN AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN PROGRAMS.-The amendments made by sections 601 and 603 [amending sections 3057e and 3057j of this title] shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1992.

"(6) VULNERABLE ELDER RIGHTS PROTECTION ACTIVITIES.-The amendments made by title VII [enacting sections 3058 to 3058k and 3058aa to 3058ee of this title and amending sections 1395i-3, 1396r, 3012, 3018, 3021, 3023, 3027, 3030d, and 3030l of this title] shall not apply with respect to fiscal year 1992."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1987 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 100-175, title VII, §701, Nov. 29, 1987, 101 Stat. 983, provided that:

"(a) GENERAL EFFECTIVE DATE.-Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c), this Act and the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title of 1987 Amendment note below] shall take effect on October 1, 1987.

"(b) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.-The amendments made by title I of this Act [enacting sections 3030h to 3030p, 3035f, 3035g, 3056g, and 3057 to 3057n of this title, amending sections 3001, 3002, 3011 to 3013, 3015 to 3018, 3020c, 3021 to 3029, 3030a, 3030d, 3030g, 3030aa, 3030bb, 3030jj, 3031, 3032, 3035a, 3035b, 3035d, 3037, 3056, 3056a, 3056d, 3056e, and 3056f of this title, repealing sections 3058 to 3058d of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections 3026, 3027, and 3057b of this title, and section 2 of Title 29, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 3058 of this title] shall not apply with respect to-

"(1) any area plan submitted under section 306(a) of the Older Americans Act of 1965 [section 3026(a) of this title], or

"(2) any State plan submitted under section 307(a) of such Act [section 3027(a) of this title],

and approved for any fiscal year beginning before the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1987].

"(c) EFFECTIVE DATE OF SECTION 506.-The amendments made by section 506 of this Act [enacting section 2991b-1 of this title and amending sections 2991a, 2991b, and 2992d of this title] shall take effect upon the expiration of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1987]."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 98-459, title VIII, §803, Oct. 9, 1984, 98 Stat. 1793, provided that:

"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendments made by this Act [enacting sections 3030aa, 3030bb, 3030jj, 3034, and 3037b of this title, amending this section, sections 1762a, 3011 to 3013, 3015 to 3018, 3020b, 3021 to 3029, 3030a, 3030c, 3030d, 3031, 3032, 3035, 3035a to 3035e, 3037, 3037a, 3056, 3056a, 3056d to 3056f, 3057a, 3057c, and 3057g of this title and sections 623, 630, and 631 of Title 29, Labor, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, section 3056 of this title, and section 631 of Title 29, and amending provisions set out as a note under former section 3045 of this title] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 9, 1984].

"(b)(1) The amendment made by section 206(a) [amending section 3017 of this title] shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 9, 1984].