Political Quotes

“I would just conclude and suggest that last year there was a cut in this program. We are trying to restore half of the cut to the weakest and most vulnerable people in this country. It is the right thing to do. It is a bipartisan effort. I urge the Members to support it. The elderly nutrition programs funded in this bill, which include Meals on Wheels and congregate meals are excellent examples of good government and common sense, as well as Federal-State-local and public-private partnerships. This is exactly the sort of senior citizen program we should be funding. Therefore, I am delighted to be joined by Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Ney, Mrs. Thurman, Mr. Fox, and many more of our colleagues in offering a compromise amendment to increase funding for these programs by $5 million, making up half of the $10 million cut made last year. Across America today, about 6 million hot Meals on Wheels have been served to senior citizens who do not have the capacity to leave their homes, and another 6 million hot meals have been served to lower-income senior citizens at senior centers and other community locations through the congregate program. This program is terribly important to millions of Americans. For many recipients of Meals on Wheels, the driver who delivers their meals may be their only visitor, their only contact with the world, in a given day.”