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ADVOCACY AGENDA

ADVOCACY AGENDA

    A VOICE FOR THE NEEDS OF OLDER AMERICANS

    Meals on Wheels America is engaged in ongoing advocacy to help local Meals on Wheels programs meet the needs of their communities. To that end, we build support on Capitol Hill and in the Administration to advance funding and policies that strengthen home-delivered and group setting (congregate) meal programs, the volunteers who make them happen and the seniors they serve.

    We’re a voice for local programs on Capitol Hill, to ensure that local communities can serve a growing number of older adults and provide the support that enables them to live more nourished lives with independence and dignity.

     

    THIS YEAR, WE'RE CALLING ON CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO:

    1. Increase funding and support for senior nutrition programs. 

    • Provide adequate funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) in FY 2024, including a minimum of $1,284,385,000 for Title III-C to address increasing demand for nutrition services and higher operating costs. Funding for home-delivered and congregate meals and the Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) is essential for Meals on Wheels programs, especially with and estimated 86% of low-income, food insecure older adults not receiving the meals for which they may be eligible. 
    • Protect other federal funding sources supporting local Meals on Wheels programs in FY 2024, including Social Services, Community Services and Community Development Block Grants, and Medicare and Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS).
    • Enhance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).
    • Improve charitable giving and volunteer tax incentives to generate more resources and expand program capacity.

    2. Strengthen and secure nutrition access for older adults. 

    • Maintain 100% funding transfer authority between OAA Title III-C home-delivered and congregate nutrition services, as allowed during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. 
    • Modernize OAA regulations and guidance to support local senior nutrition programs, including those regarding meal delivery methods, such as grab-and-go, and other service innovations. 
    • Reauthorize the Farm Bill to address senior hunger and malnutrition, including protecting SNAP, improving benefits coordination, broadening access for homebound individuals and enhancing interagency collaboration.

    3. Advance food as medicine interventions. 

    • Establish home-delivered meals as a fully reimbursable benefit through fee-for-service Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.
    • Implement medically tailored meal pilots and initiatives that utilize community-based senior nutrition programs.

    Meals on Wheels America 2023 Advocacy Agenda

    FIND YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVES AND YOUR U.S. SENATORS

    STRENGTHEN YOUR
    ADVOCACY EFFORTS

    As a Meals on Wheels America Member, you have a range of tools and resources available to you to help engage in and strengthen your own national, state and local advocacy activities.
    JOIN TODAY

    SPEAK OUT WITH US

    Tell Congress to fund and protect the nutrition programs that enable our senior neighbors to remain healthy and independent in their own homes. Contact your elected leaders today to share your Meals on Wheels story and encourage friends and family to do the same.
    Take Action

    HOW WE’RE TAKING ACTION EVERY DAY

    Here are some of the ways we’re advocating for Meals on Wheels programs and the seniors they serve on Capitol Hill:

    • Testifying before Congress
    • Meeting with Members of Congress and their staffs
    • Initiating Congressional letters of support for funding and policies that support Meals on Wheels programs
    • Submitting written testimony to key Congressional Committees
    • Providing oral statements at Congressional staff briefings 
    • Sending letters to Members of Congress
    • Signing onto national coalition letters
    • Engaging Members of Congress through social media
    • Assisting Members of Congress with connections to local programs to visit and/or deliver meals
    • Undertaking research to help make the case for greater investment in nutritious meals for seniors and how our network is a part of the health care solution 
    • Responding and reaching out to national press and media outlets
    • Collaborating with national organizations and coalitions to strengthen our collective efforts and voice

    THE MEALS ON WHEELS MOVEMENT STARTS WITH YOU

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