On the recordMay 22, 2014
Mr. President, May is Older Americans Month, and I am pleased to submit a resolution recognizing the importance of our seniors with my colleagues, Senators Collins and Sanders. As of 2012, there were more than 43 million Americans aged 65 and older. By 2060, Americans in this age group are projected to be as many as 92 million, or over 1 in 5 U.S. residents. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy recognized the first Older Americans Month. By continuing to observe the month of May as Older Americans Month, we remind ourselves not only of our duty to provide for the needs of this population, but also of their ongoing contributions to our communities and to our country. As chairman of the Senate Aging Committee and the senior Senator from Florida, the State with the largest 65-and-older population in the Nation, I have heard many stories of the enduring contributions made by the aging population. For example, during an Aging Committee hearing earlier this year, we learned that the fastest growth of new entrepreneurs is among Americans ages 55 to 64. For example, Conchy Bretos, from my home State of Florida, leveraged a lifetime of work experience to begin a second career by starting a new business. Not only does her business contribute to the economy and provide a valuable service to seniors in public housing, but it also provides a cost- savings to taxpayers.…





