IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 633 

Recognizing the important work of Meals on Wheels America and senior 

nutrition programs throughout the Nation in addressing hunger 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 1, 2016 

Mr. LOEBSACK (for himself, Ms. JENKINS of Kansas, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. 

LOBIONDO, Mr. YOUNG of Iowa, Mr. LEWIS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mrs. 

BUSTOS, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PETERS, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. ESTY, 

Ms. PINGREE, Mr. TAKAI, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. DANNY K. 

DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. LARSEN

of Washington, Mr. BOST, and Mr. DEUTCH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 

Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the important work of Meals on Wheels America 

and senior nutrition programs throughout the Nation 

in addressing hunger and isolation and improving the 

health and quality of life for millions of our Nation’s 

seniors each year. 

Whereas Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest 

organization in the Nation and represents communitybased senior nutrition programs in every State that provide nutritious meals to our most vulnerable Americas; 


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Whereas thousands of meals on wheels programs under the 

Older Americans Act of 1965 (both congregate and 

home-delivered) provide a vital lifeline to millions of men 

and women in cities, suburban areas, and rural communities across America to seniors 60 years of age or older 

who are homebound, struggling with hunger, isolated, or 

otherwise vulnerable and at risk; 

Whereas meals on wheels programs (both congregate and 

home-delivered) provide nutritious meals, friendly visits, 

and wellness and safety checks, to individuals who suffer 

from long-term chronic conditions, as well as those who 

may just need short-term assistance; 

Whereas good nutrition is essential to supporting and promoting health, and the meals provided by meals on 

wheels programs (both congregate and home-delivered) 

through volunteers and staff protect and contribute to 

the overall health and well-being of America’s seniors; 

Whereas meals on wheels programs are proven and effective 

public-private partnerships saving significant taxpayer 

dollars and expenses, often paid through Medicare and 

Medicaid, by reducing falls, avoiding unnecessary trips, 

admissions and readmissions to the hospital, expediting 

recovery from illness, and delaying or preventing institutionalization for seniors in need; 

Whereas meals on wheels programs (both congregate and 

home-delivered) serve this Nation’s over-60 population, 

which is rapidly growing and projected to increase dramatically each year over the next several decades; 

Whereas the demand and need for the meals on wheels programs will continue to increase at an astounding pace; 


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Whereas meals on wheels programs are needed to free vulnerable seniors from hunger and social isolation; 

Whereas, on March 22, 1972, President Richard Nixon 

signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition 

program for seniors 60 years and older; 

Whereas in 2002, Meals on Wheels America established the 

March for Meals campaign to recognize the historic 

month and the importance of the Older Americans Act of 

1965 nutrition programs (both congregate and home-delivered), and to raise awareness about the escalating 

problem of senior hunger and isolation in America; 

Whereas meals on wheels programs across the Nation have 

recruited more than 2,600 Members of Congress, governors, local elected officials, celebrities, and prominent 

community leaders as champions to help raise awareness 

for senior hunger and to participate in March for Meals 

activities; and 

Whereas the 2016 observance of March for Meals provides an 

opportunity to support Meals on Wheels programs that 

deliver vital and critical services by donating food, volunteering services, and raising awareness to reduce senior 

hunger and isolation: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes and honors the important work 

3 of Meals on Wheels America and senior nutrition 

4 programs throughout the Nation in giving voice to 

5 and addressing senior hunger and isolation, and im6 proving the quality of life, for millions of our Na7 tion’s seniors each year; 


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1 (2) recognizes and honors the important role 

2 Meals on Wheels America and senior nutrition pro3 grams’ March for Meals celebrations play in increas4 ing awareness of the growing unmet need for, and 

5 in raising additional non-Federal funds and solic6 iting volunteers to support and assist, these pro7 grams in accomplishing their important missions; 

8 (3) recognizes and honors meals on wheels vol9 unteers as the backbone of the program and that 

10 they deliver not only nutritious meals to seniors and 

11 individuals with disabilities who are at significant 

12 risk of hunger and isolation, but also caring concern 

13 and attention to their welfare; and 

14 (4) encourages Members of Congress to support 

15 their local senior nutrition programs by participating 

16 in their annual March for Meals events and by deliv17 ering meals to homebound seniors and serving them 

18 in a congregate setting in a community within their 

19 district or State throughout the year. 

Æ 


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