The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging was initially established in 1961 as a temporary committee; it became a permanent Senate committee in 1977. As a special committee, it has no legislative authority, but it studies issues related to older Americans, particularly Medicare and Social Security. Prior to the passage of Medicare, the committee was studying health care insurance coverage for elderly American citizens. The committee conducts oversight of the Medicare program, Social Security and the Older Americans Act. Some of the issues that have been examined by the committee include unacceptable conditions in nursing homes, protection from age discrimination, and pricing practices for prescription drugs. Members, 118th Congress Historical rosters 115th Congress 116th Congress 117th Congress Chairperson Patrick V. McNamara (D-MI), 1961–1963 George Smathers (D-FL), 1963–1967 Harrison A. Williams (D-NJ), 1967–1971 Frank Church (D-ID), 1971–1979 Lawton Chiles (D-FL) 1979–1981 H. John Heinz III (R-PA), 1981–1987 John Melcher (D-MT), 1987–1989 David Pryor (D-AR), 1989–1995 William Cohen (R-ME), 1995–1997 Charles Grassley (R-IA), 1997–2001 John Breaux (D-LA), 2001 Larry Craig (R-ID), 2001 John Breaux (D-LA), 2001–2003 Larry Craig (R-ID), 2003–2005 Gordon Smith (R-OR), 2005–2007 Herb Kohl (D-WI), 2007–2013 Bill Nelson (D-FL), 2013–2015 Susan Collins (R-ME), 2015–2021 Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), 2021–present See also List of current United States Senate committees References External links Committee website Aging United States elder law 1961 establishments in Washington, D.C. Parliamentary committees on Healthcare