Shelley Berkley: “As a cochairman of the Older Americans Caucus, I rise tonight in support of the gentleman from Rhode Island's (Mr.…”

“As a cochairman of the Older Americans Caucus, I rise tonight in support of the gentleman from Rhode Island's (Mr. Kennedy) motion to instruct the conferees of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill to provide full funding for vital seniors' nutrition programs. Over the next 5 years, the number of Americans eligible to take part in programs under the Older Americans Act will rise by 25 percent as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age. As the number of seniors in the United States grows, it is vitally important that nutrition programs are fully funded. In my home State of Nevada, over 20,000 seniors are served millions of meals annually at the senior centers, schools, and in their own homes. In just the past 5 years, the Meals on Wheels program in southern Nevada, which has the Nation's fastest growing seniors population, has grown from serving 350 homebound clients to over 1,000 today.”