Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Advocacy Spotlight: State and Federal Advocacy Updates
This spring, communities across Illinois advocated for programs that support older adults in remaining healthy and connected to their communities. While there is still work ahead, recent state and federal developments demonstrate the impact of sustained advocacy efforts.
Illinois Budget Preserves Key Aging Services
Advocates worked diligently to secure an increase in funding for Home Delivered Meals but the FY27 state budget ultimately maintained funding at the current $63.3 million rather than providing the additional investment requested. As demand for nutrition services continues to rise, advocacy efforts will remain critical to ensuring resources keep pace with the needs of older adults.
Other advocacy efforts resulted in several important achievements during the legislative session:
- Continued funding of $5.27 million for Caregiver Support Services
- Passage of HB 4911 Amendment 2, legislation that strengthens elder abuse prevention by establishing mandatory reporting requirements for financial institutions when financial exploitation is suspected. The bill has been sent to the Governor for consideration.
The preservation of funding for the state’s Caregiver Support Program and Adult Protective Services-related initiatives reflects the collective voice of advocates across Illinois and reinforces the importance of continuing to prioritize programs that help older adults age safely in their homes and communities.
Federal Budget Process Moves Forward
At the federal level, the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee recently released its FY27 appropriations bill, which includes funding for several Older Americans Act (OAA) programs and other aging services. Following advocacy efforts from aging network organizations nationwide, the proposal includes modest funding increases for key programs, including:
- OAA Title III-C1 Congregate Meals: $1 million increase
- OAA Title III-C2 Home-Delivered Meals: $1 million increase
- Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP): $1 million increase
- Title VI Native American Aging Programs: $4 million combined increase
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: approximately $1.3 million increase
The appropriations process now moves to the Senate, where lawmakers will develop their own funding proposal. Advocates will continue working to secure stronger investments across all Older Americans Act programs as negotiations continue.
The Need for Older Americans Act Reauthorization
While annual appropriations determine funding levels, the Older Americans Act (OAA) itself still awaits reauthorization. The OAA is the primary federal law supporting services such as nutrition programs, caregiver support, transportation, health promotion, and ombudsman services.
Reauthorization is essential to modernizing the law and ensuring aging services can effectively respond to the changing needs of older adults, caregivers, and communities. As the number of older adults continues to grow nationwide, advocates remain focused on securing both robust funding and a long-term reauthorization that strengthens the aging network for years to come.
Advocacy Makes a Difference
The progress achieved this year at both the state and federal levels emphasize the value of advocacy and partnership. Whether through sharing personal stories, meeting with elected officials, or participating in action alerts, every voice contributes to building a stronger system of support for older adults.
