CHARTER

2005 WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON AGING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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 gather individuals representing the spectrum of thought and experience in the field of aging to —

(1) evaluate the manner in which the objectives of this Act can be met by using the resources and talents of older individuals, of families and communities of such individuals, and of individuals from the public and private sectors;
(2) evaluate the manner in which national policies that are related to economic security and health care are prepared so that such policies serve individuals born from 1946 to 1964 and later, as the individuals become older individuals, including an examination of the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs carried out under Titles II, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq, 1395 et seq, and 1396 et seq) in relation to providing services under this Act, and determine how well such policies respond to the needs of older individuals; and
(3) develop not more than 50 recommendations to guide the President, Congress, and Federal agencies in serving older individuals.
The statute further requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be 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.
In addition, the statute directs the President to establish an Advisory Committee to the White House Conference on Aging, which shall include representation from public agencies and private nonprofit organizations, as appropriate.

AUTHORITY

The Advisory 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 will draw on the expertise and resources of the Advisory Committee members as to the content and direction of the Conference. As the Policy Committee develops the substance, emphasis and focus of the Conference, it will request review and comment from the Advisory Committee. Members may recommend new issues or reconfiguration of issues already put forward. They may also have recommendations for Conference speakers and panelists. All recommendations will be presented to the Policy Committee for its consideration.

Members of the Advisory Committee may be asked to read and respond to written materials transmitted to them from the White House Conference staff on behalf of the Policy Committee and may be asked to attend three to six meetings in Washington, DC between March 1 and October 1, 2005 at the call of the Policy Committee Chair. In addition, conference calls with Advisory Committee Members may be initiated at the call of the Policy Committee Chair.

STRUCTURE

The Advisory Committee shall be composed of no more than 30 members. The President shall consider for appointment to the Advisory Committee individuals recommended by the Policy Committee. Each committee established under subsection (b) of the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000 (Public Law 106-501, November 2000) “shall be composed of professionals and public members, and shall include individuals from low-income families and from minority groups. A majority of the public members of each such committee shall be 55 years of age or older and individuals who are Native Americans.”

Advisory Committee members will be experts in the various fields of aging as well as policymakers focused on the wave of baby boomer retirements. Advisory Committee members collectively will have expertise in the areas of medical care, transportation, housing, Medicare, Social Security solvency, existing services for the aging, and the marketplace of the aging. In short, the Advisory Committee members, as a group, will represent the broad range of issue areas associated with aging and planning for the future.

MEETINGS

The designated Advisory Committee Chairman 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 HHS regulations.

A quorum of Advisory Committee members shall not be required to conduct Advisory Committee business. The Advisory 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 Advisory Committee.

The Advisory 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 Advisory Committee designated by the Chairman to conduct the hearing. If the Advisory Committee holds any hearings, it shall comply with the same notice and other requirements that govern the holding of its meetings. A quorum of Advisory Committee members shall not be required to conduct any hearing.

COMPENSATION

Committee members who not are 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 $150,000. Estimated total person years of required staff support is 0.25, at an estimated cost of $33,000 for staff compensation and $15,000 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. The Advisory Committee shall assist as necessary and as requested 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. The Advisory Committee shall assist as necessary and as requested by the Policy Committee.

TERMINATION

The 2005 White House Conference on Aging Advisory Committee shall terminate no later than 6 months following the date of adjournment of the White House Conference on Aging or when its work is completed, whichever is sooner.