III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 597 

Designating May 2020 as ‘‘Older Americans Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2020 

Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. JONES, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. BURR, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, 

Mr. RUBIO, Ms. WARREN, Mr. HAWLEY, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. BRAUN, Ms. 

ROSEN, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, and Mr. GRASSLEY) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 2020 as ‘‘Older Americans Month’’. 

Whereas President John F. Kennedy first designated May as 

‘‘Senior Citizens Month’’ in 1963; 

Whereas, in 1963, only approximately 17,778,000 individuals 

living in the United States were 65 years of age 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 2019, there were more than 55,030,278 individuals who were 65 years of age or older in the United 

States, and those individuals accounted for 16.7 percent 

of the total population of the United States; 


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•SRES 597 ATS 

Whereas approximately 10,000 individuals in the United 

States turn 65 years of age each day; 

Whereas, in 2019, more than 9,056,000 veterans of the 

Armed Forces were 65 years of age 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 60 years of age 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 10,798,199 older individuals in the United 

States each year; 

Whereas, compared to older individuals in the United States 

in past generations, older individuals in the United States 

in 2020 are working longer, living longer, and enjoying 

healthier, more active, and more independent lifestyles; 

Whereas, in 2019, an estimated 6,422,000 individuals in the 

United States who were 65 years of age 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; 


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•SRES 597 ATS 

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 older individuals; and 

(2) ensure the continued safety and well-being of 

older individuals: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates May 2020 as ‘‘Older Americans 

3 Month’’; and 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to provide opportunities for older individuals to con6 tinue to flourish by— 

7 (A) emphasizing the importance and lead8 ership of older individuals through public rec9 ognition of the ongoing achievements of older 

10 individuals; 

11 (B) presenting opportunities for older indi12 viduals to share their wisdom, experience, and 

13 skills with younger generations; and 

14 (C) recognizing older individuals as valu15 able assets in strengthening communities across 

16 the United States. 

Æ 


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