** High Priority **
The Latest NANASP Update, copied by permission from Bob Blancato,
NANASP, for GN Membership.
April 14, 2003
Budget Resolution Update
The House and Senate passed the Conference Report on the FY 2004 Budget
Resolution on Friday, April 11th. The Congress now is on its Spring
recess and will not return until April 28th.
The battle of the budget this year was especially intense. As reported
in the April 1st Bulletin, the fights were over the size of a tax cut
and discretionary spending levels. The final agreement calls for:
A tax cut that could be as much as $550 billion over eleven years
and as small as $350 billion over eleven years.
President Bush had requested a $726 billion cut over eleven years.
$784 billion for discretionary spending, of which $384 billion is
for non-defense programs. The House-passed Budget resolution had called
for $775 billion with $375 billion for non-defense. The Senate-passed
budget called for $791 billion including $39 billion for non-defense.
Passage of this budget resolution allows the FY 2004 appropriations
process to move along. NANASP, together with the Leadership Council of
Aging Organizations (LCAO), continues to support a 10% increase in
funding for all Older Americans Act programs. In addition, NANASP is
still working to restore the $2.8 million that was cut from the
congregate nutrition program in the omnibus FY 2003 appropriations
bill.
FY 2003 Appropriations
One of the final actions taken before Congress adjourned for the Spring
recess was passage of a $79 billion emergency supplemental
appropriations bill for FY 2003. These funds are to be used for the war
against Iraq, the war against terrorism and homeland security.
Social Services Block Grant Funding Gets Senate Boost
Last week the Senate passed S. 476, a bill to provide incentives for
charitable contributions by individuals and businesses. This bill had
been referred to as "the faith-based initiative bill." However, in a
last minute compromise, most of the faith-based provisions were removed
from the bill. What did remain in the final bill was a $1.4 billion
increase (over 2 years) for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).
NANASP has long supported an increase for this program, which provides a
wide array of services to seniors including nutrition services.
The overall prospects of this bill becoming law are unclear at this
point. There is no comparable House bill and the White House has
signaled its objection to the SSBG funding increase. NANASP will
continue to monitor the bill.
Recess Advocacy
The Spring recess is a great opportunity to make contact with your
Representative or Senators while they are in your home state/district.
During these next two weeks, if you plan to contact your House and
Senate members, you may refer to the talking points below in your visit
or communication:
1. FY 2004 Funding For Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs
The President's budget would freeze OAA Nutrition spending at FY 2002
levels except for home delivered meals where he called for a $2 million
increase. A freeze or a cut in spending for OAA nutrition programs will
mean that cuts in meals for needy seniors in your district and/or state
will follow. Therefore, NANASP urges Congress to support the Leadership
Council of Aging Organization's position of a 10 percent increase for
OAA programs.
2. Medical Nutrition Therapy Bill
The Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Amendment Act (H.R. 1225 and S.
632) was introduced in March and would expand medical nutritional
therapy services covered under Medicare to those with cardiovascular
disease. Currently these services are provided only for beneficiaries
with diabetes and renal disease. NANASP supported the original bill on
MNT and sees this bill as a critically important next step. Urge your
Representative and Senators to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 1225 or S.
632.
3. Visit a program during the Spring Recess (April 14-25)
Invite your Members of Congress to visit your program while they are on
recess to see the local value of the congregate program: It provides an
important and nutritious meal; it provides nutrition education; and it
helps promote independence of seniors though daily socialization
opportunities.
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