[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 172 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 172

           Designating May 2017 as ``Older Americans Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 18, 2017

Ms. Collins (for herself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Flake, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Rubio, 
 Ms. Warren, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Burr, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. 
   Cortez Masto, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Designating May 2017 as ``Older Americans Month''.

Whereas President John F. Kennedy first designated May as ``Senior Citizens 
        Month'' in 1963;
Whereas, in 1963, only approximately 17,000,000 individuals living in the United 
        States were age 65 or older, approximately \1/3\ of those individuals 
        lived in poverty, and few programs existed to meet the needs of older 
        individuals in the United States;
Whereas, in 2017, there are more than 47,800,000 individuals age 65 or older in 
        the United States, and those individuals account for 14.9 percent of the 
        total population of the United States;
Whereas approximately 10,000 individuals in the United States turn age 65 each 
        day;
Whereas, in 2015, more than 9,300,000 veterans of the Armed Forces were age 65 
        or older;
Whereas older individuals in the United States rely on Federal programs, such as 
        programs under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) 
        (including the Medicare program under title XVIII of that Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1395 et seq.) and the Medicaid program under title XIX of that Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1396 et seq.)), for financial security and high-quality 
        affordable health care;
Whereas the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) provides 
        supportive services to help individuals of the United States who are age 
        60 or older maintain maximum independence in the homes and communities 
        of those individuals;
Whereas that Act provides funding for programs, including nutrition services, 
        transportation, and care management, to assist more than 11,000,000 
        older individuals in the United States each year;
Whereas compared to older individuals in the United States in past generations, 
        older individuals in the United States in 2017 are working longer, 
        living longer, and enjoying healthier, more active, and more independent 
        lifestyles;
Whereas more than 5,300,000 individuals in the United States age 65 or older 
        continue to work as full-time, year-round employees;
Whereas older individuals in the United States play an important role in society 
        by continuing to contribute their experience, knowledge, wisdom, and 
        accomplishments;
Whereas older individuals in the United States play vital roles in their 
        communities and remain involved in volunteer work, mentoring activities, 
        the arts, cultural activities, and civic engagement; and
Whereas a society that recognizes the success of older individuals and continues 
        to enhance their access to quality and affordable health care will 
        encourage the ongoing participation and heightened independence of those 
        individuals and will ensure the continued safety and well-being of those 
        individuals: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates May 2017 as ``Older Americans Month''; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to provide 
        opportunities for older individuals to continue to flourish 
        by--
                    (A) emphasizing the importance and leadership of 
                older individuals through public recognition of the 
                ongoing achievements of the older individuals;
                    (B) presenting opportunities for older individuals 
                to share their wisdom, experience, and skills with 
                younger generations; and
                    (C) recognizing older individuals as valuable 
                assets in strengthening communities across the United 
                States.
                                 <all>