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Senior Advocacy Organizations join together in supporting Congressional Investigation into fraud against Seniors

National Institute of Senior Centers and National Council on Aging denounce misrepresentation of Seniors and Senior Centers

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Institute of Senior Centers and the National Council on Aging, America's leading advocacy organizations for seniors and senior centers, are supporting a congressional investigation into fraudulent letters sent to members of Congress regarding a key energy and climate vote.

The letters purport to represent the views of leaders of senior centers and other local aging organizations, but were actually sent by Bonner & Associates, a subcontractor of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, to influence members of Congress on the recently-passed Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill.

The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming is now investigating this fraud.

"As the national voice for older Americans and the community organizations that serve them, we are appalled at the blatant misrepresentation of the views and opinions of older adults," says Jim Firman, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging.

"Our mission is to ensure a voice for older Americans, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged, and these lobbyists' have essentially stolen this voice and used it for their own purposes."

"We represent the vast numbers of senior centers and programs that value the time-honored, well-lived lives of older adults, who should be free of manipulation by outside forces," said Carol J. Hunt, Chairperson of the National Institute of Senior Centers.

"We are outraged that our members' names were appropriated and used in this attempt to influence legislators. We support the Committee's efforts and have alerted our members across the nation of this ongoing investigation."

To date 13 fraudulent letters have been revealed, all purportedly sent from community and national nonprofit organizations, to congressional representatives from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Dozens of additional letters remain under investigation as potentially fraudulent.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a non-profit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans - especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged - and the community organizations that serve them.

It brings together non-profit organizations, businesses and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults.

NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, health, live independently and remain active in their communities. For more information, visit www.ncoa.org.

About NISC
The National Institute of Senior Centers is a professional network which serves several million older Americans each year through its members: community-based senior centers. Members and the centers they lead provide services and opportunities to older people.

 NISC serves to promote the growth, development, and expansion of Senior Centers, develop Senior Center leadership, improve the quality of activities and services in Senior Centers, and enhance the image and role of Senior Centers nationwide. 

Source: National Council on Aging