III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 712 

Designating May 2024 as ‘‘Older Americans Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 23, 2024 

Mr. KELLY (for himself, Mr. BRAUN, Ms. WARREN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. 

SCOTT of Florida, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. 

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

considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating May 2024 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 2023, there were more than 59,248,361 individuals who were 65 years of age or older living in the 

United States and those individuals accounted for 17.7 

percent of the total population of the United States; 

Whereas approximately 11,216 individuals in the United 

States turn 65 years of age each day; 


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•SRES 712 ATS 

Whereas, in 2023, more than 8,402,856 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 older individuals in 

the United States maintain maximum independence in 

the homes and communities of those individuals; and 

(2) funding for programs that promote social connection and improve the health and wellbeing of older individuals, including nutrition services, transportation, and 

care management, which 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; 

Whereas, in 2023, an estimated 6,774,000 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 volunVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:02 May 24, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR712.ATS SR712

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•SRES 712 ATS 

teer work, the arts, cultural activities, and activities relating to mentorship and civic engagement; 

Whereas more than 143,000 older individuals serve as 

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the Foster Grandparent Program, 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 2024 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; 


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•SRES 712 ATS 

1 (B) presenting opportunities for older indi2 viduals to share their wisdom, experience, and 

3 skills with younger generations; and 

4 (C) recognizing older individuals as valu5 able assets in strengthening communities across 

6 the United States. 

Æ 


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