Please call or send an email to the JBC legislators and urge them to fully fund the Area Agencies on Aging!
The Senate has now finished its work on the Long Bill AND KEPT THE AMENDMENT TO INCREASE STATE FUNDING FOR SENIOR SERVICES BY $6.1 MILLION!
We are so grateful for everyone who reached out to your senators this past week. But we’re not done yet!
The Joint Budget Committee (JBC) is meeting next week and will be considering the Long Bill. Please call or send an email to the JBC committee. Tell them you appreciate all the work they put into developing the budget. And urge them to keep the $6.1 million amendment that both the House and Senate included in the Long Bill. Funding for community services to older adults is important to keeping them in independent living, which ultimately saves the state money.
Below we have included contact information for the JBC committee legislators and a sample message. Please send an email or call the JBC legislators no later than Monday, April 8, 2024.
Thank you for doing this and helping CCA make older adults a priority in 2024.
Call or email the message below to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) legislators by Monday, April 8, 2024.
Representative Shannon Bird, Chair
shannon.bird.house@coleg.gov – 303-866-2843
Senator Rachel Zenzinger, Vice Chair
senatorrachelz@gmail.com – 303-866-4840
Representative Rick Taggart
rick.taggart.house@coleg.gov – 303-866-3068
Senator Jeff Bridges
jeff.bridges.senate@coleg.gov – 303-866-4846
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer
barbara.kirkmeyer.senate@coleg.gov – 303-866-4876
Representative Emily Sirota
emily.sirota.house@coleg.gov – 303-866-2910
EMAIL DRAFT
Subject Line: Please Fund Area Agency on Aging Budget Request
Salutation: Members of the Joint Budget Committee
My name is ?_______. I live in ?_____City/County.
Thank you for your past support on issues that directly affect Older Coloradans. I am writing you today to urge you to follow your colleagues in the House and Senate and keep the amendment for State Funding for Senior Services the Long Bill.
The AAAs have not had a base funding increase since FY 2019-20, even as demand for services and costs have increased during that time. As a result, AAAs around the state face serious budget shortfalls beginning FY2024-25 and their providers face large reductions. This will result in many older adults throughout the state losing access to much needed services.
Please keep in mind that AAA services are cost-effective investments for the state. They help people age in the community and enable older adults to avoid or delay the need for higher level hospital or long term care, which are more expensive and put more pressure on the state budget, particularly Medicaid.
Thank you for all that you have done to provide these critical services for Older Coloradans.
[Your Signature]