If I can, Mr. Chairman, point out that one of the other problems that we have in this country is not only just low wages--and wages, in many cases, going down--but many people with college degrees, picking up on Ms. Smith's point, are…

real unemployment in America is close to 14 percent. It is even higher for young people, people of color, et cetera.

a concern that many people have with regard to the current immigration bill on the floor right now is that the bill proposes to bring in hundreds of thousands of entry-level employees.

I worry that if we carry this, 'Well, kids don't do this. Kids don't get their hands dirty.' Nothing wrong with being a plumber or a carpenter. The last I heard, they make good wages. It is a dignified job.

What do you think when we have 14 percent real unemployment in America? That may not be the case in your town.

But Dunkin' Donuts, do you think, cannot attract young American kids? Do you think they need people from all over the world?

What we are in agreement about is in terms of real dollars, the Older Americans Act has been significantly underfunded for many years, and then you have sequestration adding insult to injury.

In my view, if a nation is to be judged by how it cares for the weakest, the most vulnerable people amongst us, the United States would not get particularly high marks.

I think, as Ms. Altman was saying, it's an illusion that every senior in America is doing just fine, and we know that the rates of poverty are high and getting higher.

Overall, your bill represents a critical opportunity to stand up for seniors and let them know that Congress has their back.

Thank you sincerely for the opportunity to testify before the subcommittee.

The economic vulnerability of people as they age is not new.

Thank you, Mr. Bedlin.

I have been criticized for actually suggesting that we should see a significant increase in funding.

Let's pass this Older Americans Act Reauthorization bill.

I happen to believe that if 100 million people are watching this discussion that we're having today with this panel, there would be overwhelming support for this program and significantly increasing funding for this program.

Half of all seniors are unable to afford even basic living expenses or are living right on the edge.

Wage insurance, not savings, is what's needed to prepare for the loss of wages as a result of old age.

When we're not adequately funding this program, we're wasting money.

Should we turn our backs on the people who raised us, the people who fought in wars, and allow them to suffer?

NANASP supports your bill and we have enjoyed working with your fine staff.

We understand--and this is terribly important as well in this debate--real funding, counting inflation and counting population growth, is significantly less than it was in the 1990s.

let me congratulate the Gang of 8 for their assiduous work on this immigration bill, as well as Senator Pat Leahy, the chairman of the committee, for doing a lot of good work. There is much in this bill I support. I support the pathway to…

It makes a lot more sense to provide adequate nutrition to frail seniors than to spend money on preventable hospital costs.

the impact of the sequester on seniors is real, and it must be stopped.