NCOA Policy Positions: Addressing the Direct Care Workforce Crisis and Caregiving

As President and CEO of the National Council on Aging, Ramsey Alwin is leading a nationwide movement to ensure equitable aging for every American. 

Building on NCOA’s 70 years of service and advocacy for older adults, Alwin is renewing the organization’s commitment to improving the lives of millions, especially those who are struggling. She is sparking critical conversations about the resources every American deserves to age well—and what needs to change to ensure all have access.

A seasoned thought leader and policy advocate, Alwin has changed the way people think about older adult poverty and economic security. She designed a new measure of economic security for older adults that better accounts for out-of-pocket health costs and worked to introduce the Measuring American Poverty Act in Congress to redefine the federal poverty measure for the older population. Thanks to Alwin’s efforts, the U.S. Census Bureau formally implemented the Supplemental Poverty Measure nationwide, virtually doubling the elder poverty count and better demonstrating true needs among this population. 

Prior to leading NCOA, Alwin directed financial resilience global thought leadership at AARP and served as Director of National Economic Security Programs at Wider Opportunities for Women. Currently, she serves on the Executive Committee of the UN NGO Committee on Aging, the America250 Health and Wellness Advisory Council, and the National Academy of Social Insurance Finance Committee.

Brenda Sulick, brings 20 years of experience advocating for vulnerable older adults and their families and is NCOA's new Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer. Prior to joining NCOA, Sulick was Vice President of Public, Government, and Community Affairs at SCAN Health Plan. Her 20 years of experience advocating for vulnerable older adults and their families include leadership positions at AARP, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and the Alzheimer's Association.

In 2022, Sulick was named a Carol Emmott Foundation Women in Health Care Leadership Fellow. She was also a national recipient of the John Heinz Senate Fellowship in Aging. Sulick has a PhD in Public Administration and Policy from Portland State University, an MA in Public Policy/Gerontology from George Washington University, and a BA in Political Science from York College.

Mike Braun is honored to represent the state of Indiana in the U.S. Senate.  Mike is a conservative who is proud to work toward creating. great American jobs, building a strong national defense, reducing the debt and deficit, and helping our veterans.

In the Senate, he serves on the Aging Committee, Agriculture Committee, Budget Committee, Appropriations Committee, and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP).

As a State Representative, Mike has partnered with conservative leaders like Vice President Mike Pence to deliver results for Hoosiers. The 2016 Indiana General Assembly was ranked as the most conservative legislative body in the country.

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives and serves as an Assistant Whip for House Leadership. Lisa sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The committee has broad jurisdiction over health care, the environment, commerce and trade, energy policy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and consumer protection.

As the Energy and Commerce Committee’s only former statewide health official, Lisa understands health care from a number of different perspectives – as an implementer at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, negotiator while serving as State Personnel Director, and advocate as CEO of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. Lisa is focused on reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs for middle-class families, addressing the disparity in outcomes for communities of color, and tackling our nation’s opioid and addiction epidemic. She serves as a Member of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, comprised of more than 100 members united with the common goal of tackling opioid addiction.