Kaine Urges Government Accountability Office to Review Implications of Global Aging
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees, sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) urging the GAO to review the implications of global aging on U.S. foreign humanitarian and development assistance and U.S. national security broadly.
“Every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the number and the proportion of older adults in its population. According to the World Health Organization, the share of the global population aged 60 and over will more than double by 2050, going from one billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion. The number of people aged 80 or older is expected to triple over the same time period, reaching 425 million. While this trend started in high-income countries, it is now low- and middle-income countries that are experiencing the greatest change…By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population aged 60 and over will live in low- and middle-income countries,” he wrote.
“I am interested in understanding how the U.S. Department of State (State), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Security Council (NSC), and other relevant agencies are considering the implications of the aging global population on U.S. humanitarian and development assistance and on U.S. national security issues. I would like information on how these agencies incorporate the needs of the aging population into their stated commitments to advance the equity, accessibility, inclusion, and human rights of older people, including in the execution of overarching strategies like the State-USAID 2022-2026 Joint Strategic Plan,” he continued.
Specifically, Kaine seeks to understand:
- To what extent have State and USAID implemented and measured progress toward their 2022-2026 Joint Strategic Plan Performance Goals related to older people, including advancing the human rights, economic vitality, civic engagement, and security of older people through agency policies, diplomatic efforts, and aid?
- How, if at all, have State, USAID, and other federal agencies ensured that global health and global health security efforts address issues that disproportionately affect older people, including care for comorbid conditions, long-term care, pandemics, and climate change?
- What, if any, national security risks are related to the aging population and how are such risks addressed in national security priorities and plans?
A copy of the letter can be found here and below:
Dear Comptroller General Dodaro:
I write to request a Government Accountability Office review of the implications of global aging on U.S. foreign humanitarian and development assistance and U.S. national security broadly.
Every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the number and the proportion of older adults in its population. According to the World Health Organization, the share of the global population aged 60 and over will more than double by 2050, going from one billion in 2020 to 2.1 billion. The number of people aged 80 or older is expected to triple over the same time period, reaching 425 million. While this trend started in high-income countries, it is now low- and middle-income countries that are experiencing the greatest change. Europe and North America combined currently have the highest share of older adults in the world, but over the next three decades, West Asia, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to experience the fastest growth in the number of older adults. By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population aged 60 and over will live in low- and middle-income countries.
People aged 60 and over have a great diversity of needs, capabilities, lifestyles, experiences, and preferences. As a result, understanding the needs of this population in countries the U.S. engages with and provides aid to is vital to ensuring the effective use of U.S. funds, delivery of services, and achievement of goals.
I am interested in understanding how the U.S. Department of State (State), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Security Council (NSC), and other relevant agencies are considering the implications of the aging global population on U.S. humanitarian and development assistance and on U.S. national security issues. I would like information on how these agencies incorporate the needs of the aging population into their stated commitments to advance the equity, accessibility, inclusion, and human rights of older people, including in the execution of overarching strategies like the State-USAID 2022-2026 Joint Strategic Plan.
I request that the Comptroller General examine:
- To what extent have State and USAID implemented and measured progress toward their 2022-2026 Joint Strategic Plan Performance Goals related to older people, including advancing the human rights, economic vitality, civic engagement, and security of older people through agency policies, diplomatic efforts, and aid?
- How, if at all, have State, USAID, and other federal agencies ensured that global health and global health security efforts address issues that disproportionately affect older people, including care for comorbid conditions, long-term care, pandemics, and climate change?
- What, if any, national security risks are related to the aging population and how are such risks addressed in national security priorities and plans?
As populations continue to live longer, the U.S. must be able to respond to the dynamic needs of an aging population globally. Thank you for your time and attention to this critical request.
Sincerely,
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