[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 108 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       30TH ANNIVERSARY OF OLDER AMERICANS ACT NUTRITION PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2001

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H. Con. Res. 199 
that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Older Americans Act 
Nutrition Programs to occur in March 2002. I wish to first commend the 
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Program (NANASP) 
and my good friend Bob Blancato for their work on behalf of this 
resolution. I hope all my colleagues and the many national, state and 
local aging organizations will join in support.
  In 1972, Congress passed legislation authored by my friend and 
colleague, Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, to establish for 
the first time a federal program to provide senior citizens with daily 
meals served either in congregate settings or in their home. It was 
viewed then as an important federal initiative to address the growing 
number of ``at risk'' seniors who faced hospitalization or time in a 
nursing home due to malnutrition and poor diet.
  During these past 30 years Older Americans Act nutrition programs 
have done a marvelous job of serving millions of senior citizens with 
vital nutritional meals and also providing them equally valuable 
socialization opportunities.
  We should also acknowledge those federal programs, which achieve and 
exceed their mission. The Older Americans Act nutrition programs so 
ably administered by the Administration on Aging, state and area 
agencies on aging and thousands of dedicated nutrition providers and 
volunteers, is one such program.
  I hope during the 30th anniversary celebration, we can recommit 
ourselves to the cause of promoting good nutrition for our older 
Americans through the Older Americans Act nutrition programs and the 
many vital private sector programs that complement the public dollars. 
One such excellent program is City Meals on Wheels that operates in my 
home New York City. Each year City Meals on Wheels raised millions of 
dollars to provide senior citizens with weekend, holiday, and emergency 
meals.
  I commend the dedicated men and women who work each day in our senior 
centers, community centers, schools and other congregate sites serving 
the meals under the Older Americans Act nutrition program. I also 
salute the many thousands of people who deliver meals to the homebound 
elderly. They are a vital link to these older Americans and often their 
work goes unheralded.

                          ____________________