United States Senate Special Committee on Aging explained

Senate Aging Committee
Type:	Special Committee
Chamber:	senate
Congress:	118th
Formed:	February 13, 1961^[1]
Chair Party:	D
Chair:	Bob Casey
Chair Since:	February 3, 2021
Ranking Member:	Mike Braun
Rm Party:	R
Rm Since:	January 3, 2023
Majority1:	D
Majority1 Seats:	7
Minority1:	R
Minority1 Seats:	6
Website:	https://www.aging.senate.gov/

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.^[2]

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.^[2]

Historical rosters

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
• John Heinz (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^[5]
• 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

External links

• Committee website

Notes and References

1. Web site: U.S. Senate. Special Committee on Aging. (2/13/1961 -) . National Archives Catalogue . 1 July 2024.
2. Web site: About the Aging Committee . U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging . October 14, 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070131201407/http://aging.senate.gov/about.cfm . January 31, 2007 .
3. (118th Congress)
4. (118th Congress)
5. Pursuant to John Breaux served as chairman from January 3, 2001 until noon on January 20, 2001. Larry Craig served as chairman from noon on January 20, 2001 until June 6, 2001.