Meals on Wheels America Issues Statement on Advancement of Mary Lazare

Meals on Wheels America President and Chief Executive Officer Ellie Hollander today issued this statement in response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s advancement of Mary Lazare as the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging for the Administration for Community Living (ACL): 

ARLINGTON, Va., October 1, 2026 – We at Meals on Wheels America are pleased to see the Senate HELP Committee’s advancement of the nomination of Mary Lazare to serve as the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging for the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Mary has been a highly valued partner and resource to the Meals on Wheels network throughout her tenure at ACL, both during the first Trump Administration and in her acting capacity with the current Trump Administration. Meals on Wheels America looks forward to her confirmation by the full Senate and continuing to work together to advance the health, well-being and independence of older Americans and to increase needed support for the community-based organizations that serve them.  

We are grateful for the Senate HELP Committee’s strong backing for Lazare’s nomination. Accordingly, we urge the full Senate to swiftly finalize her confirmation and to prioritize the needs of seniors in budget and policy decisions going forward. We look forward to continuing our work alongside Lazare and the rest of the ACL staff to empower local community programs to improve the health and quality of life of the seniors they serve so that no one is left hungry or isolated. 

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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting approximately 5,000 community-based providers across the country dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a trusted volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. Through public awareness, funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers local providers to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. At a time when demand for Meals on Wheels services is growing, and many seniors are left waiting, Meals on Wheels America is dedicated to helping End the Wait®  and ensuring every senior who needs Meals on Wheels gets it. For more information, or to locate a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit mealsonwheelsamerica.org. You can also find Meals on Wheels America on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok and X.