As a founding member of the Elder Justice Coalition (EJC), ADvancing States is pleased to celebrate the official funding for the Elder Justice Act alongside the EJC. President Obama signed the omnibus spending bill, securing the first direct Congressional appropriation for the Elder Justice Act, into law on Tuesday.

The bill includes $4 million for a new Elder Justice Initiative to “provide competitive grants to States to test and evaluate innovative approaches to preventing and responding to elder abuse.” Additionally, the spending bill substantially increases funding for the Crime Victims Fund from $730 million to $2.361 billion, which should lead to additional funding for victim assistance grants.

ADvancing States also applauds the constructive steps taken by the Administration this past year including the publication of the Elder Justice Roadmap Initiative and the establishment of a new Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services within the Administration for Community Living.