[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 52--TO RECOGNIZE AND ENCOURAGE THE 
             CONVENING OF A NATIONAL SILVER-HAIRED CONGRESS

  Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. 
Boxer, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Bumpers, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cohen, Mr. 
Conrad, Mr. Craig, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Dole, Mr. Dorgan, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Glenn, Mr. Graham, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Helms, Mr. Hollings, 
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Kennedy, 
Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Levin, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Pell, Mr. 
Pressler, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reid, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. 
Simon, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Warner, and Mr. 
Wellstone) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources:

                            S. Con. Res. 52

       Whereas many States have encouraged and facilitated the 
     creation of senior citizen legislative and advocacy bodies;
       Whereas in creating such bodies such States have provided 
     to many older Americans the opportunity to express concerns, 
     promote appropriate interests, and advance the common good by 
     influencing the legislation and actions of State government; 
     and
       Whereas a National Silver-Haired Congress, with 
     representatives from each State, would provide a national 
     forum for a nonpartisan evaluation of grassroots solutions to 
     concerns shared by an increasing number of older Americans: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the congress hereby recognizes and 
     encourages the convening of an annual National Silver-Haired 
     Congress in the District of Columbia.

 Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I submit a concurrent resolution 
to recognize and encourage the convening of a national silver-haired 
congress. This concurrent resolution passed the Senate and the House of 
Representatives in 1994. Unfortunately, since each concurrent 
resolution was not voted on by the other Chamber, neither was 
technically adopted.
  That is why I am resubmitting this legislation--I think it is 
important, and I want both Houses to formally endorse this plan. As 
ranking member of the Aging Subcommittee, I am joined by Senators Cohen 
and Pryor, chair and ranking member of the Special Subcommittee on 
Aging, and many more of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in 
sponsoring this important piece of legislation.
  What is a national silver-haired congress? Well, it is the vision of 
a truly inspirational group of seniors. Beginning back in 1973, a group 
of Missouri seniors got together and decided to get involved. They 
formed a silver-haired legislature. They modeled their legislature 
after the State's and took up pieces of legislation that affected 
seniors.
  That was 1973. Today, almost half the States have silver-haired 
legislatures. These mock legislatures take bills through the entire 
legislative process and present their bills that they pass to their 
State legislators. These recommendations are taken very seriously. The 
silver-haired legislatures have helped in the passage of many programs: 
from consumer protections and crime prevention to health care, housing, 
and long-term care.
  I am submitting today a concurrent resolution to create the first 
national silver-haired congress. Based on the experience of the silver-
haired legislatures in the States, this silver-haired congress would 
provide a national forum for aging issues--a forum patterned after the 
U.S. Congress. It will be completely staffed by older Americans, and 
serve to address the broad range of seniors issues. Like us, this 
silver-haired congress would be comprised of 100 senators and 435 
representatives. But unlike us, all the members will serve without pay.
  The population of older Americans is growing at a faster rate than 
any other age group. As this elderly population grows, it is more 
important than ever to encourage the input of seniors in our political 
process. At no cost whatsoever to the American public, a national 
silver-haired congress will provide a national forum for issues of 
concern to older Americans. The input and counsel that a forum like 
this will provide to the U.S. Congress is invaluable.
  It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that I submit this 
concurrent resolution and ask my colleagues to support this wonderful 
proposal for a national silver-haired congress.

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