Title: Key Senate and House Committees - AOTA
Headings: Key Senate and House Committees
Key Senate and House Committees
Content: Senate Special Committee on Aging
Although this committee has no legislative authority, it is able to study issues, conduct oversight of programs, and investigate reports of fraud and waste. The committee reviews Medicare’s performance on close to an annual basis and has conducted oversight of the administration of major programs such as Social Security and the Older Americans Act. Issues of interest include health care for seniors, long-term care, and elder fraud and abuse, which include nursing home safety. House Education and Labor Committee
This committee has jurisdiction over education and workforce issues. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), and Higher Education Act (HEA) are all addressed by this committee. They are engaged in workforce issues in the health care reform debate. Senate and House Committees on Appropriations
These committees have jurisdiction over legislation covering government spending. These committees write legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. Spending bills are the only laws that are required to be passed annually, and all spending bills must originate within the House Appropriations Committee. Spending levels determined by the Appropriations Committee that affect the profession of occupational therapy include funding for the National Institute on Health (NIH), National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and military and veterans’ programs.