III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 234 

Designating May 2023 as ‘‘Older Americans Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 1, 2023 

Mr. KELLY (for himself, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mr. 

VANCE, Mr. RICKETTS, Ms. WARREN, Mr. FETTERMAN, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. RUBIO) submitted the following resolution; which 

was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 2023 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 2022, there were more than 57,794,852 individuals who were 65 years of age or older living in the 

United States and those individuals accounted for 17.3 

percent of the total population of the United States; 

Whereas, during the COVID–19 pandemic— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 234 ATS 

(1) more than 853,670 individuals in the United 

States who were 65 years of age or older have died due 

to COVID–19; and 

(2) more than 200,000 residents and workers in 

long-term care facilities, including more than 168,000 in 

nursing homes, have succumbed to the virus; 

Whereas approximately 11,224 individuals in the United 

States turn 65 years of age each day; 

Whereas, in 2022, more than 8,543,000 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 10,000,000 older individuals in the United States 

each year; 

Whereas, as local aging network leaders, Area Agencies on 

Aging are critical partners in the healthy aging continuum; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 234 ATS 

Whereas, in 2022, an estimated 6,779,000 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; 

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; 

Whereas more than 140,000 older individuals serve as 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion Program, and the Retired and 

Senior Volunteer Program, helping communities by mentoring and tutoring children, providing independent living 

support and companionship to other older adults, addressing food insecurity, and more; 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 2023 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— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 234 ATS 

1 (A) emphasizing the importance and lead2 ership of older individuals through public rec3 ognition of the ongoing achievements of older 

4 individuals; 

5 (B) presenting opportunities for older indi6 viduals to share their wisdom, experience, and 

7 skills with younger generations; and 

8 (C) recognizing older individuals as valu9 able assets in strengthening communities across 

10 the United States. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS