[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6579-6580]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

   SENATE RESOLUTION 78--DESIGNATING MAY 2001, AS ``OLDER AMERICANS 
                                MONTH''

  Mr. CRAIG submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 78

       Whereas older Americans are the foundation of our Nation;
       Whereas the freedom and security our Nation now enjoys can 
     be attributed to the service, hard work, and sacrifices of 
     older Americans;
       Whereas older Americans continue making significant 
     contributions to our communities, workplaces, and homes by 
     giving freely of themselves and by sharing their wisdom and 
     experience through civic leadership and mentoring;
       Whereas the older Americans of tomorrow will be more 
     socially, ethnically, and economically diverse than any past 
     generation, which will impact upon our Nation's ideas of 
     work, retirement and leisure, alter our housing and living 
     arrangements, challenge our health care systems, and reshape 
     our economy;
       Whereas the opportunities and challenges that await our 
     Nation require our Nation to continue to commit to the goal 
     of ensuring that older Americans enjoy active, productive, 
     and healthy lives, and do so independently, safely, and with 
     dignity; and
       Whereas it is appropriate for our Nation to continue the 
     tradition of designating the month of May as a time to 
     celebrate the contributions of older Americans and to 
     rededicate our efforts to respect and better serve older 
     Americans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 2001, as ``Older Americans Month'';
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe such 
     month with appropriate ceremonies and activities that promote 
     acknowledgment, gratitude, and respect for older Americans.

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
honoring May as Older Americans' Month.
  I am here today to celebrate May as Older Americans' Month. For 38 
years May has been the official month during which we pay tribute to 
the contributions of our 44 million older Americans. It is during this 
month that we as a nation recognize older Americans for their service, 
hard work and sacrifice that helped assure us the freedom and security 
we now enjoy.
  Not only should we take this time to show our appreciation and 
respect for America's seniors, but also to acknowledge that today's and 
tomorrow's seniors will continue making significant contributions to 
our communities through their wisdom and experience; in the workplace, 
in civic leadership and in our homes.
  We must also recognize that 77 million baby boomers will soon be 
retiring and must begin to address some of the challenges this influx 
will bring. Social Security and Medicare modernization, including the 
option for prescription drugs, must be addressed before this generation 
retires.
  As the new Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I am 
looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that await us as we 
continue our commitment to the goal of ensuring that senior citizens 
enjoy active, productive and healthy lives, and do so independently, 
safely and with dignity. This Committee is celebrating its own 
anniversary this year and I am proud to say that for 40 years, it has 
played a role in studying problems and opportunities related to older 
Americans.
  In addition, this year I believe we have special reason to celebrate. 
Last year, Congress was able to pass the reauthorization of the Older 
Americans' Act. As you all know, this reauthorization was 5 years in 
the coming. I was an original cosponsor of legislation to update and 
amend the Act and strongly supported the legislative goal of making the 
programs and services under the Act more responsive to the needs of 
America's seniors.
  With this reauthorization Congress was able to add an important 
component to the Act. The program authorized $125 million to establish 
a new National Family Caregiver Support Program to provide grants to 
states to provide information and services to family caregivers. 
Because of the importance of this program, the Special Committee on 
Aging will be holding a hearing May 17 to examine its implementation.
  In the tradition of Older Americans' Month, I am introducing a 
resolution in the Senate calling on the people of the United States to 
observe the month of May 2001 as Older Americans' Month and to 
encourage all Americans to promote awareness through ceremonies, 
programs, and other activities that promote acknowledgment, gratitude, 
and respect for American seniors.
  I ask all of you to celebrate with me Older Americans' Month this 
May.

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