[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1315-S1316]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 448--REAUTHORIZING THE JOHN HEINZ SENATE FELLOWSHIP 
                                PROGRAM

  Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. Casey) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                              S. Res. 448

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. JOHN HEINZ SENATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       Senate Resolution 356, 102d Congress, agreed to October 7, 
     1992, is amended by striking section 5 and inserting the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 5. FUNDS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
     provisions of this resolution $85,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2005 through 2014.''.

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to submit a 
resolution reauthorizing the John Heinz Senate Fellowship Program. This 
Congressional fellowship program, created in 1992, is a fitting tribute 
to my late colleague and dear friend, United States Senator John Heinz. 
Senator Heinz dedicated his life and much of his Congressional career 
to improving the lives of senior citizens. He believed that Congress 
has a special responsibility to serve as a guardian for those who 
cannot protect themselves. This fellowship program, which focuses on 
aging issues, honors the life and continues the legacy of Senator 
Heinz.
  During his 20 years in the Congress, John Heinz compiled an enviable 
record of accomplishments. While he was successful in many areas, he 
built a national reputation for his strong commitment to improving the 
quality of life of our Nation's elderly. Pennsylvania, with nearly 2 
million citizens aged 65 or older--over 15 percent of the population--
houses the third largest elderly population nationwide. As John 
traveled throughout the State, he listened to the concerns of this 
important constituency and came back to Washington to address their 
needs through policy and legislation.
  Senator Heinz led the fight against age discrimination by championing 
legislation to eliminate the requirement that older Americans must 
retire at age 65, and by ensuring full retirement pay for older workers 
employed by factories forced to close. During his Chairmanship of the 
Senate Special Committee on Aging from 1981-1986 and his tenure as 
Ranking Minority Member from 1987-1991, Senator Heinz used his position 
to improve health care accessibility and affordability for senior 
citizens and to reduce fraud and abuse within Federal health care 
programs. Congress enacted his legislation to provide Medicare 
recipients a lower cost alternative to fee-for-service medicine, as 
well as his legislation to add a hospice benefit to the Medicare 
program.
  John also recognized the great need for nursing home reforms. He was 
successful in passing legislation mandating that safety measures be 
implemented in nursing homes and ensuring that nursing home residents 
cannot be bound and tied to their beds or wheelchairs.
  The John Heinz Senate Fellowship Program will help continue the 
efforts of Senator Heinz to give our Nation's elderly the quality of 
life they deserve. The program encourages the identification and 
training of new leadership in

[[Page S1316]]

aging policy by awarding fellowships to qualified candidates to serve 
in a Senate office or with a Senate Committee. The goal of this program 
is to advance the development of public policy in issues affecting 
senior citizens. Administered by the Heinz Family Foundation in 
conjunction with the Secretary of the Senate, the program allows 
fellows to bring their firsthand experience in aging issues to the work 
of Congress. Heinz fellows who are advocates for aging issues spend a 
year to help us learn about the effects of Federal policies on our 
elderly citizens, those who are social workers help us find better ways 
to protect our Nation's elderly from abuse and neglect, and those who 
are health care providers help us to build a strong health care system 
that addresses the unique needs of our seniors.
  The Heinz fellowship enables us to train new leaders in senior 
citizen advocacy and aging policy. The fellows return to their 
respective careers with a new understanding about how to work 
effectively with government, so they may better fulfill their goals as 
senior citizen advocates.
  The John Heinz Senate Fellowship Program has been a valuable tool for 
Congress and our communities since its establishment in 1992. The 
continuation of this vital program will signal a sustained commitment 
to our nation's elderly. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
cosponsoring this resolution, and urge its swift adoption.

                          ____________________