[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 130 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9986-S9987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST NUTRITION 
     PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY UNDER THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965

  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Labor 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 11, and that the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) recognizing the 
     25th anniversary of the establishment of the first nutrition 
     program for the elderly under the Older Americans Act of 
     1965.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the concurrent resolution.
  Mr. FAIRCLOTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and further ask 
unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and any statements relating to this resolution be printed at the 
appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 11

       Whereas older individuals who receive proper nutrition tend 
     to live longer, healthier lives;
       Whereas older individuals who receive meals through the 
     nutrition programs carried out under the Older Americans Act 
     of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) have better nutrition than 
     older individuals who do not participate in the programs;
       Whereas through the programs 123,000,000 meals were served 
     to approximately 2,500,000 older individuals in congregate 
     settings, and 119,000,000 meals were served to approximately 
     989,000 homebound older individuals, in 1995;
       Whereas older individuals who participate in congregate 
     nutrition programs carried out under the Act benefit not only 
     from meals, but also from social interaction with their 
     peers, which has a positive influence on their mental health;
       Whereas every dollar provided for nutrition services under 
     the Older Americans Act of 1965 is supplemented by $1.70 from 
     State, local, tribal, and other Federal funds;
       Whereas home-delivered meals provided under the Act are an 
     important part of every community's home and community based 
     long-term care program to assist older individuals to remain 
     independent in their homes;

[[Page S9987]]

       Whereas the home-delivered meals represent a lifeline to 
     many vulnerable older individuals who are not able to shop 
     and prepare meals for themselves;
       Whereas the nutrition programs carried out under the Act 
     successfully target the older individuals who are in greatest 
     need and most vulnerable in the community; and
       Whereas the nutrition programs have assisted millions of 
     older individuals beginning with the enactment of Public Law 
     92-258, which established the first Federal nutrition program 
     for older individuals, and continuing throughout the 25-year 
     history of the programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the first amendment 
     to the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish a nutrition 
     program for older individuals, and
       (2) recognizes that nutrition programs carried out under 
     the Older Americans Act of 1965 continuously have made an 
     invaluable contribution to the well-being of older 
     individuals.

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