[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6990-6991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND SENIOR HUNGER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the contributions of our 
seniors during Older Americans Month this month, I rise to draw 
attention to an issue that often goes overlooked in our communities, 
and that is the terrible problem of hunger among aging adults.
  Food insecurity among seniors has doubled since 2001, and is expected 
to increase significantly as the baby boomer generation ages. Today, 
food insecurity impacts 5 million seniors across the country, forcing 
them to make impossible decisions between food, medical care, home 
heating, and other necessities.
  We know that hunger is a health issue, and that is especially true 
among seniors over the age of 60. Research from Feeding America 
suggests that, compared to their food-secure neighbors, seniors 
suffering from hunger are 60 percent more likely to experience 
depression, 53 percent more likely to report a heart attack, 52 percent 
more likely to develop asthma, and 40 percent more likely to report an 
experience of congestive heart failure.
  Baby boomers spend twice as much on health care as young adults do. 
Ensuring seniors have access to nutritious food is vitally important. 
We know that seniors have unique nutritional needs, and I am pleased to 
see scientists collaborating to create nutritional guidance for 
seniors.
  Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on 
Aging at Tufts University, with support from the AARP Foundation, 
recently unveiled an updated MyPlate for Older Adults graphic to help 
seniors visualize what foods cover the nutritional needs that make up a 
healthy plate for adults their age. The new icon also encourages them 
to follow healthy eating patterns.
  I was pleased to join scientists from Tufts as well as 
representatives of AARP last week at a briefing on Capitol Hill to 
unveil the new MyPlate icon and educate congressional staff on the 
importance of senior nutrition.

[[Page 6991]]

  But if we want to ensure seniors have access to nutritious foods, we 
must also ensure that they have the ability to afford fruits, 
vegetables, and other healthy options. One critical step we can take 
toward the goal of ending senior hunger is closing what is referred to 
as the ``senior SNAP gap.''
  While millions of our parents, grandparents, teachers, and friends 
are facing hunger, only a fraction of low-income seniors eligible for 
food assistance through SNAP are accessing the benefits, presumably 
because of the stigma associated with assistance, or because seniors 
are unaware they qualify for benefits.

                              {time}  1015

  Many seniors also suffer from limited mobility or may have issues 
completing benefit applications, which can be complex and very time-
consuming. In fact, seniors are more likely than any other age group to 
be eligible for SNAP, but they are not enrolled to receive the 
benefits.
  That is why I am pleased to see so many advocacy organizations using 
Older Americans Month to call attention to the issue of senior hunger. 
Through their hashtag Solve Senior Hunger campaign, Feeding America and 
other antihunger and -aging organizations across the country are 
reaching out to seniors and their loved ones to raise awareness and 
ensure that those seniors who are eligible to receive SNAP benefits are 
connected to the appropriate resources.
  We should do all we can to help solve senior hunger by talking to our 
family members and friends about senior hunger and by partnering with 
leaders in our communities who work to improve access to nutritious 
food for senior populations.
  During my years in Congress, I have had the opportunity to visit food 
banks and other organizations in my district that are working to end 
hunger among seniors. Last year I had the privilege of spending a day 
with a Meals on Wheels program that is based in Northampton, 
Massachusetts, which is part of my congressional district. I helped to 
prepare and deliver meals and had the opportunity to speak with seniors 
who were served through this incredible program.
  Members of Congress have an important role in ensuring our Nation's 
seniors don't go hungry. I encourage all of my colleagues to spend time 
with similar programs in their districts.
  Congress must adequately fund programs like Meals on Wheels, which 
provides nutritious food to seniors, and reject harmful cuts to SNAP, 
which will disproportionately harm the most vulnerable among us: 
children, seniors, and the disabled.
  That hunger is still a big problem in America, the richest country in 
the history of the world, and it should make us all ashamed. But, in 
working together, we have the power to end hunger now, especially among 
our senior population. Let's act now.

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