Native ELDER Act

This bill amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to enhance services and support for older Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians. A central provision establishes the Older Americans Tribal Advisory Committee , an 11-member body within the Office for American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs, tasked with advising the Assistant Secretary on matters affecting Native Americans under the Act. The Committee's responsibilities include identifying evolving issues, submitting recommendations for solutions, discussing policy changes, and advising on appropriate strategies for tribal consultation. Its members, appointed by the Assistant Secretary and various Congressional committees, will represent diverse expertise from Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, ensuring broad representation. The bill also expands in-home assistance under the Act to explicitly include home modifications necessary for older individuals to remain at home, promoting independent living. Furthermore, it strengthens technical assistance and training programs for grantees under Title VI, ensuring adequate organizational capacity and covering essential topics like program management and grant development. Finally, the legislation mandates two key reports to assess current programs and identify areas for improvement. The Assistant Secretary for Aging must evaluate caregiver support programs, assess the need for accessible home modifications, and identify barriers for Indian tribes accessing Title VI programs. Concurrently, the Secretary of Labor is required to report on how funding for older worker programs serves older Native Americans.