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Efforts to balance the budget or address shortfalls should remain the purview of the legislative branch. They should be fully negotiated by elected officials. 

Policymakers should increase food benefits and expand eligibility for food programs. 

Governments should not limit their ability to address future economic and political changes and the need for investments.

Efforts to reform entitlement spending should recognize the following factors: 

Higher levels of government should provide adequate resources when mandating functions to lower levels of government.

Services should be implemented and operated by the level of government that can most appropriately and efficiently deliver them. 

Congress should increase funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. Funding should reflect the increased population of older Americans.

Policymakers should explore new, more consumer-centered systems for providing low-income assistance. 

The following principles guide AARP’s efforts to further budgetary decisions that reflect the needs of all members of society. 

Congress and state legislatures should ensure that all lawfully present non-citizen residents who qualify for essential low-income benefits have access to them.