Senator Dodd, Congressman Regula to Receive Public Service Awards in Aging Research

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2003 -- U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Ralph Regula (R-OH) will be saluted tonight for their support of medical research towards healthier aging at the 10th anniversary Alliance for Aging Research Bipartisan Congressional Awards Dinner in Washington, DC. The two legislators will be presented the group's Distinguished Public Service Award for leadership on policies important to the health of older Americans.

"For 10 years we have been recognizing real leaders who share our vision of healthy aging through medical research," explained Daniel Perry, executive director of the not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research. "Senator Dodd and Congressman Regula are especially deserving of this honor," he added.

Senator Christopher Dodd has been active on a broad array of issues important to seniors, ranging from preserving current Medicare coverage and home care services for low-income seniors, to improving federal standards for nursing homes. He led in the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, co- authored the legislation creating the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and consistently has fought to fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that helps heat and cool the homes of low-income seniors.

Congressman Regula, now serving his sixteenth term in the House, is a founding co-chairman of the House Older Americans Caucus and Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds all federal labor, health and education programs. In this position, he played a key role in the successful effort to double the budget at the National Institutes of Health. Concerned that there are an insufficient number of health care providers trained to address the needs of our aging population, Regula has more than doubled federal funding for health professions training in geriatrics. In addition, he has provided increased funding for volunteerism programs that help older people remain active and productive in their communities, specifically in the mentoring of children.