III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 550 

Recognizing the value of the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program in 

addressing hunger, malnutrition, food insecurity, and social or geographic 

isolation and improving the health and quality of life for millions of 

older individuals in the United States each year. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 17, 2022 

Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the value of the Older Americans Act Nutrition 

Program in addressing hunger, malnutrition, food insecurity, and social or geographic isolation and improving 

the health and quality of life for millions of older individuals in the United States each year. 

Whereas thousands of local nutrition programs supported by 

part C of title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 

(42 U.S.C. 3030d–21 et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘OAA Nutrition Program’’), both congregate and home-delivered programs, provide a vital lifeline to millions of individuals 60 years of age or older in 

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bound and socially or geographically isolated, and struggling with hunger, food insecurity, or malnutrition; 

Whereas local nutrition programs supported by the OAA Nutrition Program provide nutritious meals, socialization, 

friendly visits, and wellness and safety checks through 

volunteers and staff to individuals who may suffer from 

long-term chronic conditions, as well as to those who live 

in the community and have the greatest social or economic need; 

Whereas the official purposes of the OAA Nutrition Program 

are to reduce hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, 

to promote socialization of older individuals, and to promote the health and well-being of older individuals by assisting such individuals in gaining access to nutrition and 

other disease prevention and health promotion services in 

order to delay the onset of adverse health conditions resulting from poor nutritional health or sedentary behavior; 

Whereas the OAA Nutrition Program saves significant taxpayer dollars and reduces health care expenditures, often 

paid through Medicare or Medicaid, by helping to reduce 

falls, avoid unnecessary trips, admissions, and readmissions to the hospital, expedite recovery from illness, and 

enable older individuals to live independently for longer; 

Whereas local nutrition programs supported by the OAA Nutrition Program are proven, valuable, and effective public-private partnerships that benefit from non-Federal 

private, corporate, and individual funding and donations 

to operate their services efficiently and effectively; 

Whereas the population of individuals in the United States 

who are 60 years of age or older is rapidly growing and 


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projected to increase dramatically each year over the next 

several decades; 

Whereas, on March 22, 1972, President Richard Nixon 

signed into law Public Law 92–258, which amended the 

Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national 

nutrition program for individuals 60 years of age or 

older; and 

Whereas this 50th anniversary of the OAA Nutrition Program provides an opportunity to celebrate and honor 

community-based organizations that deliver vital and critical services: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes and values the important work of 

3 local nutrition programs supported by part C of title 

4 III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

5 3030d–21 et seq.) (referred to in this resolution as 

6 the ‘‘OAA Nutrition Program’’) nationwide in giving 

7 voice to and addressing senior hunger, malnutrition, 

8 and isolation, and improving the quality of life of 

9 millions of older individuals in the United States 

10 each year; 

11 (2) recognizes and values the important role 

12 that local nutrition programs supported by the OAA 

13 Nutrition Program and national organizations play 

14 in increasing awareness of the growing unmet need 

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1 Federal funds and soliciting volunteers to support 

2 and assist these programs’ important missions; 

3 (3) recognizes and values volunteers as the 

4 backbone of the OAA Nutrition Program, noting 

5 that they deliver nutritious meals to older individ6 uals who are at significant risk of hunger, malnutri7 tion, and isolation, and provide caring concern and 

8 attention to the welfare of program participants; and 

9 (4) encourages members of Congress to support 

10 their local nutrition programs supported by the OAA 

11 Nutrition Program by participating in 50th anniver12 sary events, delivering meals to homebound older in13 dividuals or serving them in a congregate setting 

14 with a program in their district or State, and work15 ing to ensure sustained Federal funding for the 

16 OAA Nutrition Program. 

Æ 


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