117 SRES 243 ATS: Designating May 2021 as “Older Americans Month”. U.S. Senate 2021-05-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

III117th CONGRESS1st SessionS. RES. 243IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESMay 26, 2021Mr. Casey (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Collins, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Braun, Ms. Warren, Mr. Burr, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed toRESOLUTIONDesignating May 2021 as Older Americans Month.

Whereas President John F. Kennedy first designated May as Senior Citizens Month in 1963;Whereas, in 1963, only approximately 17,778,000 individuals living in the United States were 65 years of age 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 2020, there were more than 55,659,365 individuals who were 65 years of age or older in the United States, and those individuals accounted for 16.9 percent of the total population of the United States;Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic over 449,000 individuals in the United States who were 65 years of age or older have died due to COVID–19. Additionally over 183,000 residents and workers in long-term care facilities have succumbed to the virus; Whereas approximately 10,800 individuals in the United States turn 65 years of age each day;Whereas, in 2020, more than 9,015,549 veterans of the Armed Forces were 65 years of age 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—(1)supportive services to help individuals in the United States who are 60 years of age or older maintain maximum independence in the homes and communities of those individuals; and(2)funding for programs, including nutrition services, transportation, and care management, to assist more than 10,851,164 older individuals in the United States each year;Whereas, in 2020, an estimated 6,317,000 individuals in the United States who were 65 years of age or older continued 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, the arts, cultural activities, and activities relating to mentorship and civic engagement; andWhereas a society that recognizes the success of older individuals and continues to enhance the access of older individuals to quality and affordable health care will—(1)encourage the ongoing participation and heightened independence of older individuals; and(2)ensure the continued safety and well-being of older individuals: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—(1)designates May 2021 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 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.