[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          OLDER AMERICANS ACT

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on July 14, the Older Americans Act 
turned 50 years old. My constituent Patricia, from Chicago, is one of 
millions who rely on the Older Americans Act. And here is what she 
wrote to me:
  ``I suffer from three chronic illnesses. Meals on Wheels allows me to 
have nutritious meals despite a difficult medicine regime . . . while 
not as active as I used to be it allows me dignity in these difficult 
days . . . it allows me to volunteer both through my church and the 
park district and give back to the community the gifts and knowledge 
accumulated through my lifetime . . . I teach crochet in the park 
district and to youngsters as well as tutor science and math in my 
church . . . enriching the lives of many . . . it's what I can do and 
these programs help me do it. . . .''
  Let's celebrate the Older Americans Act by passing a strong 
reauthorization bill for millions of people like Patricia.

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