[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 656 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 656

           Designating May 2022 as ``Older Americans Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 26, 2022

   Mr. Kelly (for himself, Mr. Braun, Mr. Casey, Mr. Scott of South 
Carolina, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Rubio, Ms. Warren, Mr. Scott of Florida, 
and Ms. Rosen) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Designating May 2022 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 2021, there were more than 55,847,953 individuals who were 65 years 
        of age or older living in the United States, and those individuals 
        accounted for 16.8 percent of the total population of the United States;
Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic--

    (1) more than 743,016 individuals in the United States who were 65 
years of age or older have died due to COVID-19; and

    (2) more than 200,000 residents and workers in long-term care 
facilities, including more than 154,000 in nursing homes, have succumbed to 
the virus;

Whereas approximately 11,150 individuals in the United States turn 65 years of 
        age each day;
Whereas, in 2021, more than 8,868,000 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 10,000,000 older individuals in 
the United States each year;

Whereas, as local aging network leaders, Area Agencies on Aging are critical 
        partners in the healthy aging continuum;
Whereas, in 2021, an estimated 6,634,000 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; 
        and
Whereas 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

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates May 2022 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.
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