Regan Aging Institute Retreat FINAL Oct 2007

							  Office of Federal Affairs:
 A Federal Perspective on
Aging Research and Policy



                       Aging Research Retreat
                             October 29, 2007

                             Karen Regan, J.D.
             Director, Office of Federal Affairs
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Carolina’s Office of Federal Affairs

Select Areas of Activity
 Articulating Carolina’s Positions on Key Funding and
  Policy Concerns (e.g., research funding, student financial aid)
 Increasing Carolina’s Visibility in the Nation’s Capitol
    •   Congressional hearings and briefings; faculty visits to DC
    •   Collaboration with higher education associations and sister
        institutions
    •   Faculty nominations to Federal Advisory Committees
 Enhancing Carolina’s Connections with Elected Officials
    •   Congressional Member and staff visits to UNC Chapel Hill
    •   Invitations to campus events
 Advancing Funding Opportunities for Priority Research
       Federal Fiscal Year 2008:
         Unfinished Business
 Showdown with the President over
  domestic spending levels
     • Congress added billions of dollars to the
       President’s overall request for federal
       R&D
     • Veto Threat – Impact on Funding?
 Labor/HHS/Education FY08
  Appropriations Bill
     • Largest domestic spending bill
     • Includes funding for NIH (including the
       NIA) and the Administration on Aging
National Institute on Aging
 Administration on Aging

 “Program Innovations”
   • FY08: $10M-$11.5M
   • Discretionary Funds – competitive grants and
     contracts to support projects that develop new and
     promising practices that serve older adults and their
     families
   • Objective – reduce the risk of disease and disability
     among older adults
        Focus Areas include: interventions in disease
         management, falls prevention, nutrition,
         physical activity, depression, financial elder
         abuse, and medication management
          Key Aging Issues in
              Congress
Health Care for Seniors
   • Medicare, Lowering Drug Costs, Generics, Reimportation
Long-Term Care
   • Older American Act programs provide senior centers, congregate and
     home-delivered meals, elder abuse protection, and support for family
     caregivers
Elder Fraud and Abuse – physical, emotional and financial
   • Nursing home safety, patient abuse prevention, investment fraud
Social Security and Retirement Savings
Older Workers
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
   • Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina
Assisting Seniors with Rising Energy Costs
   • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides heat and energy
     crisis assistance to senior citizens and poor working families.
Affordable Senior Housing
   • Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program – provides grants
     to non-profits and community organizations for the development of
     supportive housing and rental assistance for very low-income seniors
The Digital TV Transition
Thank You! Please feel free to contact
   me if I can be of any assistance:
       karenregan@unc.edu
             919.843.0050