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[Pages S3292-S3293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 241--DESIGNATING MAY 2019 AS ``OLDER AMERICANS
MONTH''
Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Burr, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr.
Rubio, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Ms. Warren, Mr.
Braun, Mr. Jones, Mr. Hawley, Ms. Rosen, Ms. McSally, Ms. Sinema, and
Mr. Scott of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 241
Whereas President John F. Kennedy first designated May as
``Senior Citizens Month'' in 1963;
Whereas, in 1963, only approximately 17,000,000 individuals
living in the United States were age 65 or older,
approximately \1/3\ of those individuals lived in poverty,
and few programs existed to meet the needs of older
individuals in the United States;
Whereas, in 2018, there were more than 52,431,193
individuals age 65 or older in the United States, and those
individuals accounted for 16 percent of the total population
of the United States;
Whereas approximately 10,000 individuals in the United
States turn age 65 each day;
Whereas, in 2019, more than 9,056,000 veterans of the Armed
Forces are age 65 or older;
Whereas older individuals in the United States rely on
Federal programs, such as programs under the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) (including the Medicare program
under title XVIII of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and
the Medicaid program under title XIX of that Act (42 U.S.C.
1396 et seq.)), for financial security and high-quality
affordable health care;
Whereas the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3001 et
seq.) provides--
(1) supportive services to help individuals in the United
States who are age 60 or older maintain maximum independence
in the homes and communities of those individuals; and
(2) funding for programs, including nutrition services,
transportation, and care management, to assist more than
11,000,000 older individuals in the United States each year;
Whereas, compared to older individuals in the United States
in past generations, older
[[Page S3293]]
individuals in the United States in 2019 are working longer,
living longer, and enjoying healthier, more active, and more
independent lifestyles;
Whereas, in 2018, an estimated 5,976,000 individuals in the
United States age 65 or older continued to work as full-time,
year-round employees;
Whereas older individuals in the United States play an
important role in society by continuing to contribute their
experience, knowledge, wisdom, and accomplishments;
Whereas older individuals in the United States play vital
roles in their communities and remain involved in volunteer
work, the arts, cultural activities, and activities relating
to mentorship and civic engagement; and
Whereas a society that recognizes the success of older
individuals and continues to enhance the access of older
individuals to quality and affordable health care will--
(1) encourage the ongoing participation and heightened
independence of those individuals; and
(2) ensure the continued safety and well-being of those
individuals: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates May 2019 as ``Older Americans Month''; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States to provide
opportunities for older individuals to continue to flourish
by--
(A) emphasizing the importance and leadership of older
individuals through public recognition of the ongoing
achievements of the older individuals;
(B) presenting opportunities for older individuals to share
their wisdom, experience, and skills with younger
generations; and
(C) recognizing older individuals as valuable assets in
strengthening communities across the United States.
____________________
