[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5985-H5986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          OLDER AMERICANS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Reynolds). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to talk 
about an issue that is critical to the older Americans in this country 
and especially to those in my home State of Florida, the Older 
Americans Act.
  Since its enactment in 1965, the Older Americans Act has provided for 
the delivery and support of nutritious service to our elderly 
population. The support services and centers program provide funds to 
States for a wide variety of social services and activities including 
community service employment programs, home delivered meals, 
transportation assistance, home care, recreation activities, elderly 
rights protection, and research, training and demonstration programs.
  The Title III Nutrition Program is the Older Americans Act's largest 
program representing 43 percent of the total funds. It provides 240 
million meals to over 3 million elderly persons who are traditionally 
more likely to be poor, to live alone, and to be members of minority 
groups. They are also more likely to have health and functional 
limitations that place them at nutritional risk. For most of the 
participants in the program, these meals are the primary source of 
daily nutrition.
  The Older Americans Act also authorizes the Senior Community Service 
Employment Program that provides opportunities for part-time employment 
in community service activities for unemployed, low-income older 
persons. This program is administered by elderly advocacy groups, 
including Green Thumb, National Center on Black Aged, and the American 
Association of Retired Persons.
  This program has three goals: provide employment opportunities for 
older persons, create a pool to provide community service, and 
supplement the income of low-income older persons.
  These programs are so vitally important to the health and well-being 
of our senior citizens, those who work all their lives to make America 
what it is today. We need to do the right thing for our seniors and 
reauthorize the Older Americans Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this program is also one that I have visited in 
Jacksonville, Orlando, Daytona, Palatka in Florida. But I was recently 
in Millen, Georgia, and I would like to submit this article to the 
Record. It indicates ``Meals on Wheels is about more than just food.
  ``The volunteers are great. They are nice as they can be and they 
help me get things if I need them.''
  I want to read one brief remark about the program. ``Presently, the 
program cost $7,000 a month to feed all of the clients.'' However, the 
funds is currently at a serious low point. In other words, these 
programs around the country are being shut down or terminated because 
we have not reauthorized this program, the Older Americans Act.
  I do not understand what is more important than taking care of our 
seniors when they need us. I am hoping that this is one program that we 
will put on our agenda to fund and reauthorize before we leave for the 
August recess.
  Mr. Speaker, the article I referred to is as follows:

                Meals on Wheels Is About More Than Food

                           (By Karen Ludwig)

       Monday through Friday, five days a week, 250 days per year. 
     That's how often Houston County residents who qualify for 
     Meals on Wheels can depend on the organization to deliver 
     nutritious, hot and tasty noon meals with a smile.
       Meals on Wheels, incorporated in the fall of 1974, is a 
     private, nonprofit organization that provides programs and 
     services to the elderly of Houston County, according to Donna 
     James, executive director.
       ``Our highest bracket of clients are people who are 80 
     years old and above,'' said James.
       Sixty-five volunteer drivers deliver meals to 143 clients. 
     A wide variety of people, including retirees, a base squadron 
     and even home-schooled children who deliver meals with their 
     parents as an exercise in community service volunteer to 
     deliver meals.
       ``Many of the drivers do more than just deliver meals,'' 
     said James. ``They are great with the clients. Some drivers 
     presently and in the past have gone over to clients' houses 
     and helped them with odd jobs around the house.''
       Velda Paquet, Warner Robins site aid, not only packs meals 
     for the clients and does secretarial work, but she also bakes 
     cookies and visits clients even when she's not working.
       ``Velda is my right-hand man,'' said James. ``She's 
     efficient, packs the meals, works at the office and keeps me 
     hopping. It's hard to find people like her.''
       Many of the drivers also cheer up clients. James said. 
     Marjorie Moore, a client for eight years, said she loves it 
     when the home-schooled children deliver meals with their 
     parents.

[[Page H5986]]

       ``I miss the children when they don't come to visit,'' said 
     Moore. ``They are just like my great-grandchildren. They hop 
     up here next to me and love me like mine. They have very good 
     manners.''
       Irene Colquit, another Meals on Wheels client, is also fond 
     of the program and its volunteers.
       ``The volunteers are great,'' said Colquit. ``They are as 
     nice as they can be and they help me get things if I need 
     them. They are a great crew.''
       Presently, the program cost $7,000 a month to feed all of 
     the clients. James said the program's funding is currently at 
     a serious low point, but here are yearlong fund-raisers the 
     community can participate in. One such program is the adopt-
     a-client service, a $60-per client program that funds 20 
     meals at $3 per person. If money can't be raised to support 
     the program, some clients' services will be terminated.
       ``Many of the clients are in a low-income bracket,'' said 
     James. ``Their Social Security checks are eaten up by 
     medication costs. Meals on Wheels provides them with a meal 
     when they are unable to provide one or prepare one 
     themselves.''
       But all is not bad. Recently, James submitted an essay to 
     the Meals on Wheels of America to nominate a member for 
     member of the year. Thelma McCoy, a Meals on Wheels volunteer 
     and last year's president, won the award.
       ``The program will receive a much-needed $1,000 grant from 
     the Reynolds Aluminum Co. It's the second time in two years 
     that we have received this award,'' said James.

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