Sample Sequestration Letter to Members of the New York State Congressional Delegation
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House Districts:
By zip code:
SENATE - Schumer
Senator Schumer district offices
Senator Charles Schumer
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510
SENATE - Gillibrand
Senator Gillibrand district offices (very bottom of the home page):
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
478 Russell
Washington, DC 20510
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Dear Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator:
The ______[name of AAA] urges you to prevent the sequester of federal funds for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs.
The sequester now slated for March 1, 2013 will unravel years of aging services development and leave thousands of New York State’s most vulnerable aging citizens – from Long Island to Buffalo and Plattsburgh and everywhere in between -- without support for their most basic needs so they can remain living in their homes and not need 24/7 care.
The across-the-board cutsin Older Americans Act appropriations will have an immediate and devastating impact on older New Yorkers and the families and neighbors who support their independence by limiting the ability of Area Agencies on Aging to provide services, education and assistance.The 5.1% cut to FY 2013 would be concentrated in the remaining six months of the federal fiscal year, so the real impact on services is closer to a 10.2% reduction.The OAA funding allocation to New York State is currently $94.3 million. The sequester would negatively impact the following preventive programs and supportive services:
SUPPORT SERVICES
Older Americans Act: Title IIIB
Overall impact:Reduce the capacity of older adults to manage multiple chronic health conditions and disabilities at home, resulting in an increase in hospital readmissions, nursing home placements and higher federal Medicare and Medicaid expenditures.
New York State impact:Title IIIB presently uses $24.3 million in federal funding to provide personal home and day care support services, case management, transportation, legal assistance and information services to 291,000 New York State residents. The sequester would translate into a reduction of services to 29,700 residents in the last six months of the federal fiscal year.
______[name of AAA] impact: Describe local impact here
SENIOR NUTRITION
Older Americans Act: Title IIIC-1 & III C-2
Overall impact: Funding reduction would reduce the capacity of nutrition programs and force the closure of nutrition sites and multi-purpose senior centers, which provide opportunities for social contact, lifelong learning, volunteering and better health.
New York State impact: Title IIIC-1 and III C-2 presently uses $57.7millionin federal funding to provide meals and nutrition counseling and education to 256,000 New York State residents. The sequester would translate into a reduction of services to approximately 26,100 residents in the last six months of the federal fiscal year.
______[name of AAA] impact: Describe local impact here
HEALTH PROMOTION
Older Americans Act: Title IIID
Overall impact: Funding reduction would diminish the ability of agencies to provide education for prevention, eroding the foundation of support for community-based care New York State seniors.
New York State impact: Title III-D presently provides $1.37 million in federal funding in additional nutritional counseling, education and information to 25,000 New York State residents. The sequester would translate into a reduction of services to approximately 2,500 residents in the last six months of the federal fiscal year.
______[name of AAA] impact: Describe local impact here
CAREGIVER SERVICES
Older Americans Act: Title IIIE
Overall impact: Funding reduction would isolate caregivers, limiting their capacity to hold down a job and provide care and support for impaired older adults, increasing the possibility of domestic violence and the abuse and neglect of older adults and children.
New York State impact: Title IIIE presently uses $9.7million in federal funding to provide support services for caregivers to nearly 33,000 New York State residents. The sequester would translate into a reduction of services to approximately 3,400 residents in the last six months of the federal fiscal year.
______[name of AAA] impact: Describe local impact here
VULNERABLE RIGHTS PROTECTION
Older Americans Act: Title VII
Overall impact: Title VII authorizes the long-term care ombudsman program (LTCOP), which investigates and resolves complaints of residents of nursing facilities and other adult care homes. Ombudsmen represent the interests of residents before governmental agencies and also seek administrative and legal remedies to protect their rights. A cut in funding would severely restrict this program.
New York State impact: Title VII presently uses $1.35million in federal funding to provide advocacy in the area of elder rights protection under LTCOP for almost 160,000 New York State residents. The anticipated reduction in federal funding will reduce the capacity of LTCOPby limiting assistance for 16,300older adults in nursing homes. The program is very cost effective because it relies on a cadre of dedicated volunteers; therefore, any decrease in funding would seriously impair its effectiveness.
______[name of AAA] impact: Describe local impact here
IMMEDIATE & DEVASTATING IMPACT
If it occurs, the sequester will devastate community-based aging programs and services in New York State that have been underfunded since inception. After years of flat federal funding, there’s no flexibility for such adjustments, therefore a sequester will have an immediate negative impact on tens of thousands of older adults and caregivers.
The ______[name of AAA]urges you to take action now to protect the lives of Older Americans and their families by preventing the sequester.
Sincerely,
Your name & signature
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