Charter

Purpose

Pursuant to the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-501, November 2000), the President will convene a White House Conference on Aging no later than December 31, 2005, to develop recommendations for additional research and action in the field of aging. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is responsible for planning and conducting the Conference in cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Aging, the Director of the National Institute on Aging, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Commissioner of Social Security, and the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as are appropriate. The White House Conference of Aging statute directs the establishment of a Policy Committee comprised of 17 members to provide direction, advice, and recommendations for planning and implementing the Conference.

Authority

The Policy Committee is authorized by the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-501, November 2000), and it is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), which sets forth the standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.

Function

The Policy Committee shall initially meet at the call of the Secretary, but not later than 30 days after the last member is selected. Subsequent meetings of the Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the chairman of the Policy Committee. Through meetings, hearings, and working sessions the Policy Committee shall:

• A) make recommendations to the Secretary to facilitate the timely convening of the Conference;
• B) formulate and approve a proposed agenda for the Conference not later than 90 days after the first meeting of the Policy Committee for the Secretary;
• C) make recommendations for participants and delegates of the Conference;
• D) establish the number of delegates to be selected under section 201 (d)(2);
• E) establish an executive committee consisting of three to five members, with a majority of such members being age 55 or older, to work with Conference staff, and
• F) establish other committees as needed that have a majority of members who are 55 or older.

Structure

The Policy Committee shall be composed of 17 members, including the Chairman, who shall be selected by the President from among the members of the Committee. The 17 members shall be appointed as follows:

• A) PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES: Nine members shall be selected by the President and shall include:
  • (i) three members who are officers or employees of the United States; and
  • (ii) six members with experience in the field of aging, including providers and consumers of aging services.
• B) HOUSE APPOINTEES: Two members shall be selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; and two members shall be selected by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation with such committees.
• C) SENATE APPOINTEES: Two members shall be selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate; and two members shall be selected by the Minority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with members of such committees.

Support services shall be provided by the Office of the Executive Director of the White House Conference on Aging.

The Secretary may establish such other committees, including technical committees, as may be necessary to assist in the planning, conducting, and reviewing of the Conference. The Committee shall notify the Department Committee Management Officer upon establishing any subcommittees and provide all required information, including name, membership, and functions of any such subcommittee (s) and estimated frequency of meetings. Any subcommittee shall be composed exclusively of Committee members. The Committee Chairperson shall appoint the chairperson of any subcommittee. Any subcommittee shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Meeting

The Policy Committee shall meet initially at the call of the Secretary. Subsequent meetings of the Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the Chairman of the Committee. Meetings shall be held approximately 6 times a year. The designated Federal official shall approve in advance any meeting agenda and shall be present at all meetings. Meetings shall be open to the public, except as determined otherwise by the Secretary. Adequate public notification shall be given in advance of any Committee meeting. Meetings shall be conducted, and records of the meetings kept, as required by applicable laws and Department regulations.

A quorum of Committee members shall not be required to conduct Committee business. The Committee shall act by vote of the majority of the members present. Electronic/ telephonic meetings or participation may also be conducted. The Chairman may vote only to break a tie of the other members of the Committee.

The Committee may hold hearings to solicit the views of interested individuals and organizations. Such hearings shall be conducted by the Chairman or a member of the Committee designated by the Chairman to conduct the hearing. If the Committee holds any hearings, it shall comply with the same notice and other requirements that govern the holding of its meetings. A quorum of Committee members shall not be required to conduct any hearing.

Compensation

Committee members who are not full-time Federal employees shall be paid at the rate of $200 per day for time spent at any meetings, plus per diem and travel expenses, in accordance with applicable Federal Travel Regulations.

Annual Cost Estimate

Estimated total costs for operating the Committee, including compensation and travel expenses for members, but excluding required staff support, is $160,984. Estimated total person years of required staff support is 3, at an estimated cost of $195,669 for staff compensation and $206,331 for related administrative costs.

Reports Of The Conference

• (a) PRELIMINARY REPORT — Not later than 100 days after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall publish and deliver to the chief executive officers of the States a preliminary report on the Conference. Comments on the preliminary report of the Conference shall be accepted by the Policy Committee.
• (b) FINAL REPORT — Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall publish and transmit to the President and to Congress recommendations resulting from the Conference and suggestions for any administrative action and legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained within the report. Copies of all reports shall be provided to the Department of Health and Human Services Committee Management Officer.

Termination

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging Policy Committee shall terminate no later than 6 months following the date of adjournment of the White House Conference or when its work is completed, whichever is sooner. The Committee shall terminate in any case two years from the date here of, unless renewed by appropriate action before the end of that two-year period.