Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2023
Impact
The implementation of SB1198 is expected to reinforce existing state measures against elder abuse and expand preventative frameworks. By providing a structured grant system, it helps state and tribal organizations access essential resources, thereby enhancing their ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in elder care. The funding allocated over multiple fiscal years is designed to bolster the training and operational capabilities of workers in various eligible settings, ensuring a well-prepared workforce dedicated to serving vulnerable populations.
Summary
SB1198, known as the Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2023, aims to reauthorize funding for programs targeted at preventing and investigating elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill proposes allocating significant grants to states to enhance their capabilities in addressing these critical issues, particularly through established linkages between health services, human services, and legal services for older adults and adults with disabilities. The legislation highlights the importance of integrated care through medical-legal partnerships, maximizing support at the intersection of health and legal needs.
Contention
While the bill enjoys broad support due to its focus on protecting some of the most vulnerable in society, there exist points of contention regarding the adequacy of the appropriations proposed and the mechanisms of accountability associated with the distribution of funds. Critics may express concerns about the effectiveness of funding allocations in genuinely improving outcomes for older adults versus the bureaucratic overhead that may consume resources without tangible benefits. In this context, measures for transparent reporting and assessment of programs funded by the bill will likely be critical in determining its success and acceptance among stakeholders.
Secure the Border Act of 2023 This bill addresses issues regarding immigration and border security, including by imposing limits to asylum eligibility. For example, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; provides statutory authorization for Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to law enforcement agencies for certain border security operations; prohibits DHS from processing the entry of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving between ports of entry; limits asylum eligibility to non-U.S. nationals who arrive in the United States at a port of entry; authorizes the removal of a non-U.S. national to a country other than that individual's country of nationality or last lawful habitual residence, whereas currently this type of removal may only be to a country that has an agreement with the United States for such removal; expands the types of crimes that may make an individual ineligible for asylum, such as a conviction for driving while intoxicated causing another person's serious bodily injury or death; authorizes DHS to suspend the introduction of certain non-U.S. nationals at an international border if DHS determines that the suspension is necessary to achieve operational control of that border; prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors; authorizes immigration officers to permit an unaccompanied alien child to withdraw their application for admission into the United States even if the child is unable to make an independent decision to withdraw the application; imposes additional penalties for overstaying a visa; and requires DHS to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system and requires all employers to use the system.