[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 62 (Monday, May 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CELEBRATING SENIOR CORPS WEEK AND THE SERVICE OF OLDER AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 6, 2013

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of national Senior 
Corps week.
  Older Americans bring a lifetime of skills and experience as parents, 
workers, and citizens that can be tapped to meet challenges in our 
communities.
  For more than four decades Senior Corps, and its three programs--
RSVP, Senior Companions, and Foster Grandparents--have proven to be a 
highly effective way to engage Americans ages 55 and over in meeting 
national and community needs.
  Each year Senior Corps provides opportunities for nearly 330,000 
older Americans across the nation, including approximately 1,700 in 
Arizona to serve their communities. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-
one as tutors and mentors to more than 1,400 young Arizonans who have 
special needs. Senior Companions help more than 860 homebound Arizona 
seniors and other adults maintain independence in their own homes. RSVP 
volunteers conduct safety patrols for local police departments, protect 
the environment, tutor and mentor youth, respond to natural disasters, 
and provide other services through more than 130 groups across Arizona.
  Senior Corps volunteers last year provided more than 96.2 million 
hours of service, helping to improve the lives of our most vulnerable 
citizens, strengthen our educational system; protect our environment, 
provide independent living services, and contribute to our public 
safety.
  Senior Corps volunteers build capacity of organizations and 
communities by serving through more than 65,000 nonprofit, community, 
educational, and faith-based community groups nationwide.
  At a time of mounting social needs and growing interest in service by 
older Americans, there is an unprecedented opportunity to harness the 
talents of 55-plus volunteers to address community challenges.
  Service by older Americans helps volunteers by keeping them active, 
healthy, and engaged; helps our communities by solving local problems, 
and helps our nation by saving taxpayer dollars, reducing healthcare 
costs, and strengthening our democracy.
  The fourth annual Senior Corps Week, taking place May 6-10, 2013, is 
a time to thank Senior Corps volunteers for their service and recognize 
their positive impact and value to our communities and nation.

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