[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING SENIOR CORPS WEEK AND THE SERVICE OF OLDER AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 2016

  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 age 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 435 in 
Southern Arizona, to serve their communities. Foster Grandparents serve 
one-on-one as tutors and mentors to young Arizonans who have special 
needs. Senior Companions help 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 a 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 sixth annual Senior Corps Week, taking place May 16-20, 2016, is 
a time to thank Senior Corps volunteers for their service and recognize 
their positive impact and value to our communities and nation.

                          ____________________