First established in 1961 as a temporary committee, the Senate Special Committee on Aging was granted permanent status on February 1, 1977. The Committee frequently commissions studies of issues related to relevant policy issues, such as the situation of Medicare and Social Security. During its history, various members of the Committee have worked to expose unacceptable conditions in nursing homes and add protections for seniors in the area of age discrimination. On this site, visitors can learn about upcoming hearings sponsored by the Committee, learn about prescription medicine assistance programs, and track important pieces of proposed legislation. Visitors can also read about the special issues that form the core interests of the Committee, such as repealing the death tax and identity theft, among others. Finally, users who elect to do so may also sign up to receive e-news via their email account.