Recognizing the contributions of senior volunteers.

Bill: 115-hres-859
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2018-04-27
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Subjects: Aging

Commemorative events and holidays

Corporation for National and Community Service

National and community service

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Latest action: action_date: 2018-04-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-04-27
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Encourages the people of the United States to recognize the contributions of senior volunteers and join in the celebration of National Senior Corps Week.</p> <p> Supports adequately funding and growing the proven Senior Corps programs.</p>

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 859 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 27, 2018 Mr. DeFazio (for himself, Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Deutch , Mr. Carson of Indiana , Mr. Moulton , Mrs. Dingell , Mr. Yarmuth , Ms. Lee , Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico , Ms. Bonamici , Ms. Matsui , Ms. McCollum , Mr. Pocan , Mr. Katko , Mr. Raskin , Ms. Lofgren , Ms. Schakowsky , Ms. Roybal-Allard , Mr. Hastings , Mr. Larson of Connecticut , Mr. Nolan , Mr. MacArthur , Ms. Shea-Porter , Ms. Norton , Mr. McGovern , Ms. Moore , Mr. Pallone , and Ms. Pingree ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Recognizing the contributions of senior volunteers.

Whereas senior volunteers provide much needed services to their communities, neighbors, and friends; Whereas Senior Corps, through the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companions programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to 220,000 Americans aged 55 and above and recruits thousands of additional community volunteers; Whereas for more than five decades, RSVP volunteers, Foster Grandparents, and Senior Companions have played an important role in strengthening communities by contributing their experience, knowledge, and accomplishments to: help their neighbors recover from natural and man-made disasters, provide nutrition services, mentor and tutor schoolchildren, support veterans and military families, and provide respite care to caregivers; Whereas last year, Senior Corps volunteers provided 54,000,000 hours of direct service through more than 25,000 nonprofit, educational, and faith-based community groups nationwide; Whereas structured volunteering by older Americans keeps them active, healthy, and engaged; helps our communities by solving local problems; helps our Nation by saving taxpayer dollars, reducing health care costs, and strengthening our democracy; and helps seniors to live independent and productive lives; Whereas the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have proven to be cost-effective ways to engage Americans age 55 and over in volunteer service that meets pressing community needs; Whereas the United States should expand senior volunteer service opportunities to take advantage of the talents and experiences of the 10,000 baby boomers who are retiring today and will do so every day for the next 20 years; Whereas at a time of mounting social need and growing interest in service by older Americans, the United States has an unprecedented opportunity to harness the talents of 55-plus volunteers to address community challenges; and Whereas the week of April 29 through May 5, 2018, should be designated as National Senior Corps Week : Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) encourages the people of the United States to recognize the contributions of senior volunteers and join in the celebration of National Senior Corps Week; and (2) supports adequately funding the proven programs of the Senior Corps programs and growing them, if possible.