[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE ``OLDER 
                        AMERICANS ACT'' OF 1965

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th 
anniversary of the passage of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
  Passed by the historic 89th Congress, the ``Older Americans Act'' was 
signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 14, 1965 in 
response to the growing national consensus that the level of community 
social services available for older Americans was simply inadequate.
  The original legislation established the authority for grants to 
states for community planning and other social services.
  These services included funding for vital research and development of 
projects, and personnel training to assist our aging citizens.
  This legislation authorized the creation of a wide array of programs 
through a national network of 56 state agencies that specialize in 
aging.
  The legislation also led to the creation of 629 area agencies on 
aging, nearly 20,000 service providers, 244 Tribal organizations, and 2 
Native Hawaiian organizations representing 400 Tribes throughout our 
country.
  The Older Americans Act also assisted in the creation of community 
service employment for low-income elder Americans.
  These community services included implementation of job training for 
our aging community; along with focusing on the protection of the 
rights of vulnerable Americans.
  Every year, an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of 
elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
  In 2013 alone, over 4.2 million elder Americans were below the 
poverty level.
  Today, an estimated 65.7 million Americans, or nearly 30 percent of 
the general population, provide care for an older adult, or someone 
living with illness or disability.
  The Older Americans Act has led to the creation of vital programs 
such as the National Meals on Wheels of America, which provide meals to 
our ever growing elderly community.
  According to the United States Census Bureau, 9 percent of the 
residents of my congressional district, which is centered in Houston, 
Texas, are over the age of 65.
  These older citizens in the city of Houston utilize services provided 
by the Harris County Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support 
Network.
  Without the passage of significant legislation such as the ``Older 
Americans Act'' of 1965, older American citizens throughout our country 
would never know of the positive impact that a professional caregiver 
can provide them.
  Older women are more than likely to be living alone at the age of 75, 
and a caregiver will provide them the necessary assistance to live a 
healthy life in their own home.
  The issues facing our seniors grow every day with the increasing pace 
of the world around us.
  The services that the Older Americans Act generated have assisted 
countless elder Americans in the half century since the law was 
enacted.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 
passage of the ``Older Americans Act'' of 1965 and to recognize its 
remarkable contributions to the quality of life enjoyed by older 
Americans and in making our country a better and sweeter place to live.

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