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K ohl
co-sponsors Elder Justice Act of 2007…
Chairman of Aging Committee supports efforts to
boost protection against Elder Abuse
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on
Aging, has lent his support to the Elder Justice Act of 2007,
introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (UT) and Senator Blanche Lincoln
(AR). Chairman Kohl, an original co-sponsor of the legislation,
offered the following statement:
"Our nation has for far too long turned its back on the shame
of elder abuse. Congress has held hearings on the devastating
effects of elder abuse for a quarter of a century. With this bill,
we are finally saying enough is enough - elder abuse is unacceptable
and we are going to act to stop it.
"This bill takes several important steps to make improvements
to what is now an inadequate system of protection for our vulnerable
elders. First, it boosts funding for the long-term care ombudsman
program, which serves as an advocate for the elderly and disabled in
long term care. It also establishes an adult protective services
grant program and forensics centers that are charged with developing
expertise on elder abuse.
"In addition, it elevates the importance of elder justice
issues by creating a coordinating council of federal agencies that
will make policy recommendations and submit reports to Congress
every two years. And the legislation requires the Departments of
Labor and Health and Human Services to take a proactive role in
funding initiatives aimed at improving training programs and working
conditions for long-term care professionals as a strategy for
increasing the number of such workers during the coming years.
"The legislation we are introducing today will go a long way
to focusing more attention on solutions for elder abuse, and
developing new approaches to improve the quality of long-term care."
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