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42 U.S. Code § 3012. Functions of Assistant Secretary
(a) Duties and functions of AdministrationIt shall be the duty and function of the Administration to—
(1)
serve as the effective and visible advocate for older individuals within the Department of Health and Human Services and with other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government by maintaining active review and commenting responsibilities over all Federal policies affecting older individuals;
(2)
collect and disseminate information related to problems of the aged and aging;
(3)
directly assist the Secretary in all matters pertaining to problems of the aged and aging;
(4) administer the grants provided by this chapter, but not approve an application submitted by an applicant for a grant for an activity under a provision of this chapter for which such applicant previously received a grant under such provision unless the Assistant Secretary determines—
(A)
the activity for which such application was submitted is being operated, or was operated, effectively to achieve its stated purpose; and
(B)
such applicant has complied with the assurances provided to the Assistant Secretary with the application for such previous grant.[1]
(5)
develop plans, conduct and arrange for research in the field of aging, and assist in the establishment and implementation of programs designed to meet the health and economic needs of older individuals for supportive services, including nutrition, hospitalization, education and training services (including preretirement training, and continuing education), cultural experiences, activities, and services, including in the arts, low-cost transportation and housing, assistive technology, and health (including mental and behavioral health) services;
(6)
provide technical assistance and consultation to States and political subdivisions thereof with respect to programs for the aged and aging;
(7)
prepare, publish, and disseminate educational materials dealing with the health and economic welfare of older individuals;
(8)
gather statistics in the field of aging which other Federal agencies are not collecting, and take whatever action is necessary to achieve coordination of activities carried out or assisted by all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government with respect to the collection, preparation, and dissemination of information relevant to older individuals;
(9)
develop basic policies and set priorities with respect to the development and operation of programs and activities conducted under authority of this chapter;
(10)
coordinate Federal programs and activities related to such purposes;
(11)
coordinate, and assist in, the planning and development by public (including Federal, State, and local agencies) and private organizations of programs for older individuals, with a view to the establishment of a nationwide network of comprehensive, coordinated services and opportunities for such individuals;
(12)
(A)
consult and coordinate activities with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the heads of other Federal entities to implement and build awareness of programs providing benefits affecting older individuals; and
(B) carry on a continuing evaluation of the programs and activities related to the objectives of this chapter, with particular attention to the impact of the programs and activities carried out under—
(i)
titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq., 1396 et seq.);
(ii)
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et seq.); and
(iii)
the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) relating to housing for older individuals and the setting of standards for the licensing of nursing homes, intermediate care homes, and other facilities providing care for such individuals;
(13)
provide information and assistance to private organizations for the establishment and operation by them of programs and activities related to the objectives of this chapter;
(14)
develop, in coordination with other agencies (including the Health Resources and Services Administration), a national plan for meeting the needs for trained personnel in the field of aging, and for training persons for carrying out programs related to the objectives of this chapter, and conduct and provide for the conducting of such training;
(15)
consult with national organizations representing minority individuals to develop and disseminate training packages and to provide technical assistance efforts designed to assist State and area agencies on aging, and service providers, in providing services to older individuals with greatest economic need or individuals with greatest social need, with particular attention to and specific objectives for providing services to low-income minority individuals and older individuals residing in rural areas;
(16) collect for each fiscal year, for fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1988, directly or by contract, statistical data regarding programs and activities carried out with funds provided under this chapter, including—
(A) with respect to each type of service or activity provided with such funds—
(i)
the aggregate amount of such funds expended to provide such service or activity;
(ii)
the number of individuals who received such service or activity; and
(iii)
the number of units of such service or activity provided;
(B)
the number of senior centers which received such funds; and
(C)
the extent to which each area agency on aging designated under section 3025(a) of this title satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (4)(A) of section 3026(a) of this title;
(17) obtain from—
(A)
the Department of Agriculture information explaining the requirements for eligibility to receive benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 [7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.]; and
(B)
the Social Security Administration information explaining the requirements for eligibility to receive supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.] (or assistance under a State plan program under title XVI of that Act);
and distribute such information, in written form, to State agencies, for redistribution to area agencies on aging, to carry out outreach activities and application assistance;
(18)
(A) establish and operate the National Ombudsman Resource Center (in this paragraph referred to as the “Center”), under the administration of the Director of the Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs, that will—
(i) by grant or contract—
(I)
conduct research;
(II)
provide training, technical assistance, and information to State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen;
(III)
analyze laws, regulations, programs, and practices; and
(IV)
provide assistance in recruiting and retaining volunteers for State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs by establishing a national program for recruitment efforts that utilizes the organizations that have established a successful record in recruiting and retaining volunteers for ombudsman or other programs;
relating to Federal, State, and local long-term care ombudsman policies; and
(ii)
assist State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen in the implementation of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs; and
(B)
make available to the Center not less than the amount of resources made available to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman National Resource Center for fiscal year 2000;