[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 993 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 993
Recognizing the value of the Older Americans Act of 1965 nutrition
program in addressing hunger, malnutrition, and isolation, and
improving the health and quality of life for millions of our Nation's
seniors each year.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 18, 2022
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Katko, Ms.
Dean, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Bass, Ms. Norton, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Bishop of
Georgia, Mr. Rush, Ms. Kaptur, Mrs. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Correa, Ms.
Garcia of Texas, Ms. Adams, Mr. Thompson of California, Ms. Schakowsky,
Ms. Stevens, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Cohen, Miss Gonzalez-Colon, Mr.
Garamendi, Ms. Wild, Mr. Bera, Mr. Sires, Mr. Cicilline, Mr.
O'Halleran, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Mr. Bacon, Ms.
Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Malinowski, Ms. Wilson of Florida,
Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Spanberger, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr.
Blumenauer, Mr. Takano, Mr. Delgado, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Barragan, Mrs.
Dingell, Ms. Jacobs of California, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms.
Roybal-Allard, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Payne, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Pascrell, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Grijalva)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the value of the Older Americans Act of 1965 nutrition
program in addressing hunger, malnutrition, and isolation, and
improving the health and quality of life for millions of our Nation's
seniors each year.
Whereas, on March 22, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law Public Law
92-258, which amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) and
established a national nutrition program for individuals 60 years and
older;
Whereas thousands of local senior nutrition programs, both congregate and home-
delivered, are funded through the OAA nutrition program;
Whereas these programs provide a vital lifeline to millions of older adults and
individuals with disabilities in communities across the United States
who may be homebound and isolated, struggling with hunger and
malnutrition;
Whereas local OAA nutrition programs provide nutritious meals, socialization,
friendly visits, and wellness and safety checks through volunteers and
staff to individuals who suffer from long-term chronic conditions, as
well as to those who may need short-term assistance;
Whereas the official purposes of the OAA nutrition program are to--
(1) reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition;
(2) promote socialization of older individuals; and
(3) promote the health and well-being of older individuals by assisting
such individuals to gain access to nutrition and other disease prevention
and health promotion services that can delay the onset of adverse health
conditions resulting from poor nutritional health or sedentary behavior;
Whereas the OAA nutrition program reduces other costs to taxpayers, primarily
lowering Medicare and Medicaid expenditures by helping to--
(1) prevent falls;
(2) avoid unnecessary hospital transports, admissions, and
readmissions;
(3) expedite recovery from illness; and
(4) delay or prevent institutionalization;
Whereas local OAA nutrition programs are proven, valuable, and effective public-
private partnerships that leverage private, corporate, and individual
donations and other non-Federal funding sources to operate their
services efficiently and successfully;
Whereas the over-60 population of the United States is rapidly growing and
projected to increase significantly every year for the next several
decades, causing a similar increase in the need and demand for local OAA
nutrition program services; and
Whereas this 50th anniversary of the OAA nutrition program provides an
opportunity to celebrate and honor community-based organizations that
deliver these vital and critical services: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes and values the important work of local Older
Americans Act of 1965 (OAA) nutrition programs nationwide in
giving voice to millions of our Nation's seniors each year,
improving their quality of life and addressing senior hunger,
malnutrition, and isolation;
(2) recognizes and values the important role that local OAA
nutrition programs 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 the important
missions of these programs;
(3) recognizes and values volunteers as the backbone of the
OAA nutrition program, noting that they deliver nutritious
meals to seniors and individuals with disabilities 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
OAA nutrition programs by--
(A) participating in 50th anniversary events;
(B) delivering meals to homebound seniors or
serving them in a congregate setting with a program in
their district or State; and
(C) working to secure sustained Federal funding for
the OAA nutrition program that will allow local
providers to keep pace with increased program costs and
demand.
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