[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 48 (Thursday, March 17, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 550--RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT 
NUTRITION PROGRAM IN ADDRESSING HUNGER, MALNUTRITION, FOOD INSECURITY, 
AND SOCIAL OR GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND QUALITY 
  OF LIFE FOR MILLIONS OF OLDER INDIVIDUALS IN THE UNITED STATES EACH 
                                  YEAR

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 550

       Whereas thousands of local nutrition programs supported by 
     part C of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 
     U.S.C. 3030d-21 et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``OAA Nutrition Program''), both congregate and home-
     delivered programs, provide a vital lifeline to millions of 
     individuals 60 years of age or older in communities across 
     the United States who may be homebound and socially or 
     geographically isolated, and struggling with hunger, food 
     insecurity, or malnutrition;
       Whereas local nutrition programs supported by the OAA 
     Nutrition Program provide nutritious meals, socialization, 
     friendly visits, and wellness and safety checks through 
     volunteers and staff to individuals who may suffer from long-
     term chronic conditions, as well as to those who live in the 
     community and have the greatest social or economic need;
       Whereas the official purposes of the OAA Nutrition Program 
     are to reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, to 
     promote socialization of older individuals, and to promote 
     the health and well-being of older individuals by assisting 
     such individuals in gaining access to nutrition and other 
     disease prevention and health promotion services in order to 
     delay the onset of adverse health conditions resulting from 
     poor nutritional health or sedentary behavior;
       Whereas the OAA Nutrition Program saves significant 
     taxpayer dollars and reduces health care expenditures, often 
     paid through Medicare or Medicaid, by helping to reduce 
     falls, avoid unnecessary trips, admissions, and readmissions 
     to the hospital, expedite recovery from illness, and enable 
     older individuals to live independently for longer;
       Whereas local nutrition programs supported by the OAA 
     Nutrition Program are proven, valuable, and effective public-
     private partnerships that benefit from non-Federal private, 
     corporate, and individual funding and donations to operate 
     their services efficiently and effectively;
       Whereas the population of individuals in the United States 
     who are 60 years of age or older is rapidly growing and 
     projected to increase dramatically each year over the next 
     several decades;
       Whereas, on March 22, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed 
     into law Public Law 92-258, which amended the Older Americans 
     Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for 
     individuals 60 years of age or older; and
       Whereas this 50th anniversary of the OAA Nutrition Program 
     provides an opportunity to celebrate and honor community-
     based organizations that deliver vital and critical services: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and values the important work of local 
     nutrition programs supported by part C of title III of the 
     Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030d-21 et seq.) 
     (referred to in this resolution as the ``OAA Nutrition 
     Program'') nationwide in giving voice to and addressing 
     senior hunger, malnutrition, and isolation, and improving the 
     quality of life of millions of older individuals in the 
     United States each year;
       (2) recognizes and values the important role that local 
     nutrition programs supported by the OAA Nutrition Program and 
     national organizations play in increasing awareness of the 
     growing unmet need for these programs and in raising 
     additional non-Federal funds and soliciting volunteers to 
     support and assist these programs' important missions;
       (3) recognizes and values volunteers as the backbone of the 
     OAA Nutrition Program, noting that they deliver nutritious 
     meals to older individuals who are at significant risk of 
     hunger, malnutrition, and isolation, and provide caring 
     concern and attention to the welfare of program participants; 
     and
       (4) encourages members of Congress to support their local 
     nutrition programs supported by the OAA Nutrition Program by 
     participating in 50th anniversary events, delivering meals to 
     homebound older individuals or serving them in a congregate 
     setting with a program in their district or State, and 
     working to ensure sustained Federal funding for the OAA 
     Nutrition Program.

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