EJC Home › Questions and Answers › Answers
Question: Why is it necessary to create more bureaucracy when there are already people at the state and local level who are addressing this problem?
The bill authors have been very careful not to create unnecessary bureaucracy. The bill does not federalize state and local roles; rather it provides federal leadership and resources to those on the front lines who are often protecting the elderly with skeleton resources, skeleton staff and fragmented systems. Most people on the front lines say they are only able to address a fraction of the problem. Congressional history as far back as 1979 made the case for a federal role and, still today, not nearly enough is being done.
This is a “smart” bill. The goal is to create a minimal federal infrastructure to efficiently address elder abuse as the problem grows, especially with the aging of the boomers. It tries to take a more progressive approach to this national problem, by putting prevention at the heart of the effort, using private and public resources, and providing federal leadership to help empower local communities to care for their own.