Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, on May 19, 2017 designating the month of May as “Older Americans Month.”
The resolution recognizes the success of older Americans and the important role they have in our society.
“Older Americans enrich our society and are an integral part of our families as well as our communities,” said Collins. “Every day, millions of seniors draw on their wisdom, experience, and skills to give back in countless ways. This resolution recognizes seniors’ many contributions that benefit and strengthen our country and calls on all Americans to support policies that encourage older individuals’ ongoing leadership and participation.”
“Today’s older Americans fought our wars, worked in our factories, taught our kids, and built the great American middle class,” Casey said. “In celebration of that service, I am pleased that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution that recognizes older individuals as valuable leaders in strengthening communities across the United States.”
More than 47.8 million people over the age of 65 live in the United States, accounting for 14.9 percent of the total population. Approximately 20 percent of Americans 65 and older are veterans of the Armed Forces.
The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), all members of the Senate Aging Committee.
