Widespread Support Voiced for Aging and Nutrition Services
Arlington, VA – April 17, 2023 – Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander today issued the following statement in response to a Dear Colleague letter championed by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) urging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to increase funding for the Older Americans Act in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024:
Meals on Wheels America commends the 42 Senators who sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee leadership urging that programs authorized under the Older Americans Act (OAA) receive $4.63 billion in FY 2024 – a doubling of funding. The letter was led by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and a staunch champion of the OAA. We thank him and his colleagues in the Senate who are calling for increased investment in the nutrition and home- and community-based services funded by this legislation.
For more than five decades, the OAA and its programs have served as vital lifelines for millions of adults aged 60 and older, as well as their families and caregivers. Programs authorized under the OAA provide access to services that help make it possible for older adults to maintain their health, independence and dignity as they age – including home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation and caregiver support, among others.
More than 80% of Meals on Wheels participants report that the services they receive improve their health, help them feel more secure and allow them to live independently. However, nearly all local programs are facing challenges in providing nutritious meals to older adults in need, such as rising food costs, fluctuating gas prices, labor and volunteer shortages and continuing supply chain issues.
The requested funding put forth in this letter reflects the reality that local programs are facing today and calls attention to the need for a substantial investment in the OAA. We greatly appreciate the Senators’ acknowledgment of the critical nature of these services, and we are committed to working with Congress throughout the remainder of the FY 2024 appropriations process to secure this necessary funding and strengthen all programs under the OAA for generations to come.
Read the Dear Colleague letter here.
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ABOUT MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. This network serves virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America’s seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. Through funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
Press Contact:
Jenny Young
Meals on Wheels America
571-339-1603
press@mealsonwheelsamerica.org