§ 3013. Federal agency cooperation

(a) In general

(1) The Assistant Secretary, in carrying out the objectives and provisions of this chapter, shall coordinate, advise, consult with, and cooperate with the head of each department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government proposing or administering programs or services substantially related to the objectives of this chapter, with respect to such programs or services. In particular, the Assistant Secretary shall coordinate, advise, consult, and cooperate with the Secretary of Labor in carrying out subchapter IX of this chapter and with the Corporation for National and Community Service in carrying out this chapter.

(2) The head of each department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government proposing to establish programs and services substantially related to the objectives of this chapter shall consult with the Assistant Secretary prior to the establishment of such programs and services. To achieve appropriate coordination, the head of each department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government administering any program substantially related to the objectives of this chapter, particularly administering any program referred to in subsection (b) of this section, shall consult and cooperate with the Assistant Secretary in carrying out such program. In particular, the Secretary of Labor shall consult and cooperate with the Assistant Secretary in carrying out title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.].

(3) The head of each department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government administering programs and services substantially related to the objectives of this chapter shall collaborate with the Assistant Secretary in carrying out this chapter, and shall develop a written analysis, for review and comment by the Assistant Secretary, of the impact of such programs and services on—

(A) older individuals (with particular attention to low-income older individuals, including low-income minority older individuals, older individuals with limited English proficiency, and older individuals residing in rural areas) and eligible individuals (as defined in section 3056p of this title); and

(B) the functions and responsibilities of State agencies and area agencies on aging.

(b) Federal programs related to chapter objectives

For the purposes of subsection (a) of this section, programs related to the objectives of this chapter shall include—

(1) title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.],

(2) title II of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 [42 U.S.C. 5000 et seq.],

(3) titles XVI, XVIII, XIX, and XX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq., 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq., 1397 et seq.],

(4) sections 1715v and 1715w of title 12,

(5) the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.],

(6) section 1701q of title 12,

(7) title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 [42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.],

(8) title I of Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.] and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act [20 U.S.C. 9201 et seq.],

(9) sections 5309 and 5310 of title 49,

(10) the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.], including block grants under title XIX of such Act [42 U.S.C. 300w et seq.],

(11) the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 [42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.],

(12) part A of the Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act of 1976 [42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.], relating to weatherization assistance for low income persons,

(13) the Community Services Block Grant Act [42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.],

(14) demographic statistics and analysis programs conducted by the Bureau of the Census under title 13,

(15) parts II and III of title 38,

(16) the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 [29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.],

(17) the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 [42 U.S.C. 15001 et seq.],

(18) the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Programs, established under part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750–3766b)), and

(19) sections 3003 and 3004 of title 29.

(1) The Secretary, in collaboration with the Federal officials specified in paragraph (2), shall establish an Interagency Coordinating Committee on Aging (referred to in this subsection as the “Committee”) focusing on the coordination of agencies with respect to aging issues.

(2) The officials referred to in paragraph (1) shall include the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and may include, at the direction of the President, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Commissioner of Social Security, and such other Federal officials as the President may direct. An official described in this paragraph may appoint a designee to carry out the official’s duties under paragraph (1).

(3) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall serve as the first chairperson of the Committee, for 1 term, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall serve as the chairperson for the following term. After that following term, the Committee shall select a chairperson from among the members of the Committee, and any member may serve as the chairperson. No member may serve as the chairperson for more than 1 consecutive term.

(4) For purposes of this subsection, a term shall be a period of 2 calendar years.

(5) The Committee shall meet not less often than once each year.

(6) The Committee shall—

(A) share information with and establish an ongoing system to improve coordination among Federal agencies with responsibility for programs and services for older individuals and recommend improvements to such system with an emphasis on—

(i) improving access to programs and services for older individuals;

(ii) maximizing the impact of federally funded programs and services for older individuals by increasing the efficiency, effectiveness, and delivery of such programs and services;

(iii) planning and preparing for the impact of demographic changes on programs and services for older individuals; and

(iv) reducing or eliminating areas of overlap and duplication by Federal agencies in the provision and accessibility of such programs and services;

(B) identify, promote, and implement (as appropriate), best practices and evidence-based program and service models to assist older individuals in meeting their housing, health care, and other supportive service needs, including—

(i) consumer-directed care models for home and community-based care and supportive services that link housing, health care, and other supportive services and that facilitate aging in place, enabling older individuals to remain in their homes and communities as the individuals age; and

(ii) innovations in technology applications (including assistive technology devices and assistive technology services) that give older individuals access to information on available services or that help in providing services to older individuals;

(C) collect and disseminate information about older individuals and the programs and services available to the individuals to ensure that the individuals can access comprehensive information;

(D) work with the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, the Bureau of the Census, and member agencies to ensure the continued collection of data relating to the housing, health care, and other supportive service needs of older individuals and to support efforts to identify and address unmet data needs;

(E) actively seek input from and consult with nongovernmental experts and organizations, including public health interest and research groups and foundations about the activities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F);

(F) identify any barriers and impediments, including barriers and impediments in statutory and regulatory law, to the access and use by older individuals of federally funded programs and services; and

(G) work with States to better provide housing, health care, and other supportive services to older individuals by—

(i) holding meetings with State agencies;

(ii) providing ongoing technical assistance to States about better meeting the needs of older individuals; and

(iii) working with States to designate liaisons, from the State agencies, to the Committee.

(7) Not later than 90 days following the end of each term, the Committee shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, a report that—

(A) describes the activities and accomplishments of the Committee in—

(i) enhancing the overall coordination of federally funded programs and services for older individuals; and

(ii) meeting the requirements of paragraph (6);

(B) incorporates an analysis from the head of each agency that is a member of the interagency coordinating committee established under paragraph (1) that describes the barriers and impediments, including barriers and impediments in statutory and regulatory law (as the chairperson of the Committee determines to be appropriate), to the access and use by older individuals of programs and services administered by such agency; and

(C) makes such recommendations as the chairman determines to be appropriate for actions to meet the needs described in paragraph (6) and for coordinating programs and services designed to meet those needs.

(8) On the request of the Committee, any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Committee without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

U.S. Code

§ 3013. Federal agency cooperation