Steven Holt: “I rise in support of providing the social and nutritional support that older Americans need, and in support of the…”

“I rise in support of providing the social and nutritional support that older Americans need, and in support of the Seniors Independence Act of 2006. Since originally enacted in 1965, the Older Americans Act has been an important vehicle by which senior citizens in need have received nutritional support, community service employment, pension counseling services, protections against neglect and abuse, and many other services. Nutrition services through Title III of the Older Americans Act, such as the ``Meals on Wheels'' program, are essential in helping senior citizens who cannot prepare their own food to still have access to convenient and nutritious meals. The program serves those most in need, such as the aged, the less affluent, those who live alone, and members of minority groups. I was pleased that I was able to amend the Seniors Independence Act during markup to stop the Department of Labor from using an unfair calculation of income to determine eligibility for Title V seniors community service employment programs (SCSEP). In January 2005, the Department of Labor issued a ``Training and Employment Guidance Letter'' that unilaterally changed the eligibility criteria for Title V.…”