[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8873-8874]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to S. Res. 171, which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 171) designating June 15, 2013, 
     ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, today I rise in recognition of June 15 as 
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This Saturday will be the eighth 
commemoration since the day was first established in 2006. By observing 
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we are joining organizations around 
the world to raise awareness and support existing efforts to combat the 
serious problem of elder abuse in all forms.
  Every year, millions of older Americans are abused, neglected, or 
exploited, with an estimated 84 percent of these cases going 
unreported. This problem is particularly relevant for my constituents 
in the great State of Florida, which has the highest proportion of 
individuals over age 65 in the United States. As chairman of the 
Special Committee on Aging, I will shine a spotlight on this issue and 
work with my colleagues to eradicate and hold accountable those that 
would take advantage of our seniors.
  I am proud of the State of Florida's leadership to raise awareness 
about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. For example, the Seminole County 
Triad--a collaborative of local law enforcement, public safety, and 
senior organizations in Seminole County, FL--will host its eighth 
annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day symposium. The focus this year 
will be on Alzheimer's, an area the Aging Committee has and will 
continue to work on as this session of Congress continues.
  The University of Miami Health System Center on Aging will host a 
webcast on financial exploitation and its impact on the health of older 
adults. This webcast, along with similar informational events being 
held throughout our country and the world, provide essential 
information for professionals who work with seniors.
  Our 11 area agencies on aging are on the frontlines of helping older 
Floridians. They share a common information and referral system, making 
access to services faster and more efficient. By calling 1-800-96-
ELDER, individuals receive advice and information on a range of issues, 
including health care, housing, nutrition, abuse prevention, and other 
social programs. One of these agencies, Elder Options, recently moved 
to a new location in Gainesville, allowing them to better provide vital 
services to seniors living in 16 different counties in the mid-Florida 
region.
  Florida is also home to the Elder Rights Center of Excellence at the

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Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Area Agency on Aging. Led by director Mary 
Jones, the Elder Rights Center conducted 24 trainings for over 670 
different professions, provided over 3,100 hours of service, and 
assisted over 4,400 senior crime victims last year in Palm Beach 
County. It also has a staffer dedicated to working solely on financial 
abuse.
  I am proud of these events, and all those events that will be held 
this year that aim to protect our seniors from harm. World Elder Abuse 
Awareness Day is not only a time to recognize and support these efforts 
but also to critically examine what further steps can be taken. As 
Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, I will continue to 
work on eradicating elder abuse as one of many issues that are critical 
to ensure the health and economic security of older Americans.
  In honor of the many advocates working tirelessly to combat elder 
abuse throughout the United States and the world, I am pleased to 
recognize June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. 171) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I apologize to everyone for having to wait. 
We were trying to get some things cleared, and it didn't work.

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