United States House Permanent Select Committee on Aging
The United States House Permanent Select Committee on Aging was a permanent select committee of the United States House of Representatives between 1974 and 1992.
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The committee was created with the intent not of forming legislation directly, but of conducting investigations and holding hearings.[1] In such a manner it would spur legislation and other action via regular committee channels. The action to approve the committee was passed on October 8, 1974, by a 299–44 margin in the House.[2]
The committee became operational in June 1975 and initially had 35 members.[3] Its first chair was Missouri's William J. Randall.[4] The committee soon grew to 65 members.[3] Florida's Claude Pepper, a powerful and influential member of Congress known for his commitment to representing the elderly, became chair in 1977 following Randall's retirement.[3][5] In his late seventies and early eighties while chairing the committee, Pepper was renowned for his fast-paced presence in Congress; he used himself and the committee to focus attention against the problem of age stereotyping.[6] The committee soon grew to 65 members.[3] In 1983, Pepper stepped aside and Edward R. Roybal of California became chair.[7]
The committee conducted research and held public hearings into the issues affecting older Americans. Hearings were given titles, such as 1983's "Endless Night, Endless Mourning: Living with Alzheimer's".[8] In particular, the committee held hearings and published a number of reports on elder abuse, including Elder Abuse: An Examination of a Hidden Problem, Elder Abuse: A National Disgrace, and Elder Abuse: A Decade of Shame and Inaction.[9]
The committee's work led to the passage of reform legislation intended to reform nursing home operations and reducing abuse against their patients.[3] Also resulting were increased home care benefits for the aging as well as legislation establishing research and care centers for Alzheimer's Disease.[3]
The committee's work came to an end on October 9, 1992, at the conclusion of the 102nd Congress. It was not renewed during the 103rd Congress,[10] as the House was under pressure to reduce its internal costs and to streamline the legislative process.[11]
References
- Madden, Richard L. (October 3, 1974). "House to Retain Security Panel". The New York Times.
- "Votes in Congress". The New York Times. October 13, 1974.
- Pozgar, George D. (1992). Long-term Care and the Law: A Legal Guide for Health Care Professionals. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 128. ISBN 0-8342-0289-1.
- "Randall, William Joseph, (1909 - 2000)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- "Pepper, Claude Denson, (1900 - 1989)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Hunter, Marjorie (September 9, 1977). "At 77, Florida's Pepper, a New Deal Veteran, Is Still Going Like '38". The New York Times.
- "Roybal, Edward Ross, (1916 - 2005)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Ballenger, Jesse F. (2006). Self, Senility, and Alzheimer's Disease in Modern America: A History. JHU Press. p. 123. ISBN 0-8018-8276-1.
- Teaster, Pamela B. (2008). "Legislation, Elder Abuse". In Claire M. Renzetti; Jeffrey L. Edleson (eds.). Encyclopedia of Interpersonal Violence. SAGE Publications. p. 415. ISBN 1-4129-1800-6.
- Congressional Quarterly Almanac, 103rd Congress, 1st Session, 1993, Vol. 49. Congressional Quarterly. 1993.
- Evensky, Jerry (2007). Adam Smith's Moral Philosophy: A Historical and Contemporary Perspective on Markets, Law, Ethics, and Culture. Cambridge University Press. p. 167. ISBN 0-521-70386-7.