[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 7, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S2791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING OWL'S MOTHER'S DAY CAMPAIGN

 Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize OWL and 
the important work that it does for older women in our country. For 
more than 30 years, OWL has served as the only national nonprofit to 
focus solely on the issues of aging American women and be the voice for 
the 74 million mid-life and older women in our country.
  Every Mother's Day, OWL focuses on a key issue that affects our 
Nation's aging women--our mothers, grandmothers, wives, sisters, aunts, 
and friends. Past issues of OWL's Mother's Day Campaign have ranged 
from examining our Nation's health care system, addressing the growing 
epidemic of elder abuse, and educating women on end-of-life choices. 
This year, OWL has chosen to focus on the need for quality, accessible 
long-term care. Women often serve as the primary caregivers for a loved 
one, and women also may need long-term services and supports as they 
outlive men. Today, OWL is hosting a briefing to unveil a report on key 
findings and discuss how this year's Mother's Day Campaign can create a 
dialogue around this topic.
  I particularly look forward to seeing their findings this year. As 
chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging and particularly this 
May in observance of Older Americans Month, I am well aware of the need 
to examine the long-term care system in America. As the population ages 
and more Americans need long-term care services and supports, it is 
important that they receive high-quality care without placing a burden 
on their families. The Aging Committee has and will continue to examine 
this topic and raise awareness of the issues surrounding our Nation's 
long-term care.
  OWL's continued work across the Nation is more critical now than ever 
before, and we must ensure that our existing long-term care system is 
able to meet the needs of America's women.

                          ____________________