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The proposed rule would create federal regulations for Adult Protective Services (APS) programs as authorized by the Elder Justice Act.  APS programs were originally recognized by federal law in 1975 under title XX of the Social Security Act via the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).  States have wide discretion whether to allocate any funding to APS via the SSBG program, and there are no regulations pertaining to APS under SSBG.  Since 1975, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four territories have developed APS programs in accordance with local needs, structures, and laws.  Historic investments through the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided the very first funding for APS program formula funding to states as authorized by the Elder Justice Act (EJA).  These regulations would promote an effective APS response across the country so that all older adults and adults with disabilities, regardless of the state or jurisdiction in which they live, have similar protections and service delivery from APS systems.