[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, since 1963, May has traditionally 
been designated Older Americans Month. I would like to take this 
opportunity to thank these valuable citizens and share an article that 
was recently printed in the Des Moines Register. The author reminds us 
of the many contributions older Americans make to our communities.
  As we prepare for one of the largest demographic shifts in the 
history of our nation, we as policy makers often focus on the 
challenges presented by a graying nation. However, as suggested by 
Francis Keith in his article, ``Celebrate the Old Folks, Iowa's 
Assets,'' it would be a shame not to take the time to recognize and 
appreciate the vital role that seniors play in our communities.
  Today more than ever, seniors are continuing to play active roles in 
their communities. In my home state of Iowa, I know many seniors who 
perform both paid and volunteer work well into their later years. Their 
wisdom and experience are a valuable resource that we should not allow 
to go to waste.
  Mr. Marion Tierney, of Des Moines, Iowa recently spoke at an Aging 
Committee event. He is a perfect example of an older American who 
continues to be an active participant in his community. He made a 
career change half a lifetime ago because he was looking for a new 
challenge in sales and increased earning potential. Today, at the age 
of eighty, he serves nearly 100 customers of Iowa Machinery and Supply.
  In a highly competitive business, Mr. Tierney says hard work is the 
key to success. He brings know-how, experience, relationships, and 
trust to customers as he assists them in developing solutions to 
improve their productivity through the use of his company's industrial 
products. He stays on top of new technology and products and retrains 
frequently to effectively meet customer needs. In turn, his field 
experience helps the company decide which new product lines to acquire.
  His employer cites Mr. Tierney's willingness to share knowledge and 
experience with younger salesmen as a major contribution to the 
business.
  Mr. Tierney is just one example of the many contributions older 
Americans make to their communities. I hope you will join me in 
honoring Mr. Tierney and all Older Americans for their many 
contributions. Not just during the month of May, but all year long.
  I ask an article regarding Older Americans be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

             [From the Des Moines Register, Apr. 27, 1999]

                Celebrate the `Old Folks,' Iowa's Assets

                           (By Francis Keith)

       In recent months there have been numerous stories about the 
     aging of Iowa. The news reporters say our older population is 
     a burden. They say that the increasing numbers of older 
     people will be a liability for all the younger people who 
     still work and pay taxes in Iowa. The graying of Iowa it's 
     called.
       There are predictions that as this trend continues, the 
     problem of so many old people will become acute and drag the 
     state into some economic quagmire that will have a negative 
     effect on everyone living here.
       I take a different and more positive view. I am retired, 
     over 65; I was born in Iowa, I worked my whole life in Iowa 
     and I retired in Iowa. Most of my peers and close friends are 
     over 65. Many are over 70 and some over 80. For the most 
     part, we ``old Iowans'' remain very active in our community 
     and church and we know we are an asset to the state. We pay 
     our own way and we make a contribution. We old people are a 
     renewable resource.
       We pay property taxes and help pay for the public schools, 
     yet none of us has children still in school. We don't drive 
     as much as when we worked and chauffeured our children to 
     school and activities. Still, we pay our share of the street 
     budget and we don't wear out the roads.
       We pay income taxes, like everyone else, on our pensions, 
     on interest earned on our savings, even on part of our Social 
     Security.
       We don't go to jail very often. As a group, we have a very 
     low crime rate. Few of us are druggies, abuse children, 
     speed, rob banks or use excess alcohol. We don't tie up the 
     courts or fill the jails.
       We pay our share of sales tax. We still buy things locally 
     and support the stores and shops of Iowa. We eat out more 
     often. while we may not have as much income as when we 
     worked, we have more disposable income.
       Most of our income is fixed, which has its limitations. But 
     on the other hand, we aren't caught in economic downturns, 
     layoffs, unemployment, labor strikes and other crises of the 
     work years. Our income is limited, but dependable.
       We know how to work. While it's true we don't run as fast 
     as we used to, we are steady and dependable and we're not 
     afraid to work. Some of us still have business interests and 
     work every day. When we do have a business, we employ Iowans 
     and contribute to the economic well-being of our state.
       We work for free. We volunteer. We serve on boards and 
     committees of many community activities and at hospitals and 
     care centers, libraries, churches and schools. We give our 
     time; some of us almost as much as a full-time job. We baby-
     sit our grandchildren.
       We're a stable population. We don't move around much. Not 
     that we don't travel for fun. We do that whenever we can, but 
     we aren't job-hopping. We don't have to prove ourselves 
     anymore by buying a bigger house or a bigger car, just to 
     impress our peers. Been there, done that. We've been in the 
     rat race--we know sometimes the rat wins. We've learned to 
     rest a little, to see the world up close and far away. We 
     look at sunsets and flowers and people in a little different 
     way now. We have learned patience and tolerance and we are 
     more thankful and appreciative of little things.
       We even contribute when we are sick, which some doomsayers 
     point out derisively as a negative of being old. Even our 
     being in the hospital more than our younger friends 
     contributes to the economy of Iowa. We keep people working as 
     nurses, therapists, lab technicians and so on. We all die 
     sometime, and for us it's likely to be sooner. Even that 
     gives a job to someone.
       Wouldn't any state like to have a group of honest, 
     reliable, stable, sociable, tax-paying citizens who are 
     willing to work without pay, who support our local businesses 
     and who never go on strike?
       Well, look around, Iowa, we're already here. We're your 
     retired citizens. And we're working hard to keep Iowa the 
     great state we choose to retire in.
       We're nice people to have around. We know we're pretty 
     darned good citizens and we have our pride. We have beaten 
     the system. We have reached retirement with all its promises, 
     most of which are true. Let's celebrate all the ``old folks'' 
     in Iowa, not put them down as a liability.

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