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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 594 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 594

  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 Nations 
                           seniors each year.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2023

Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Stevens, Mr. 
   Costa, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Wilson of 
   Florida, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Ms. Wasserman 
Schultz, Mr. Allred, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Ms. Norton, Ms. Tokuda, 
     Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. 
Fitzpatrick, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Morelle, Ms. Davids of Kansas, and Ms. 
 Adams) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 Nations 
                           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; and
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: 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) delivering meals to homebound seniors or 
                serving them in a congregate setting with a program in 
                their district or State; and
                    (B) 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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