119-hres465

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 465 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 465

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress 
should enact the Older Americans Bill of Rights to establish that older 
 Americans should have the right to live with dignity and with 
 independence.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 June 3, 2025

 Ms. Schakowsky (for herself, Ms. Matsui, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Pressley, 
 Mr. Doggett, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Evans of 
 Pennsylvania, Mr. Frost, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, 
Mr. Keating, Mr. Lynch, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Meng, Ms. Norton, Ms. Sewell, 
Mr. Takano, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Vargas, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Kaptur, 
 Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. McClellan, Ms. 
 Chu, Mr. Khanna, and Mr. Nadler) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in 
addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
 the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress 
should enact the Older Americans Bill of Rights to establish that older 
 Americans should have the right to live with dignity and with 
 independence.

Whereas the percentage of the United States population that is 65 years of age 
 and older, including the percentage of aging veterans, is rapidly 
 expanding, with 10,000 Americans turning age 65 every day;
Whereas Federal policies are needed that promote economic well-being and quality 
 of life for older Americans across many different communities, 
 recognizing race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, 
 cultural diversity, and the growing inequality between poor and wealthy 
 families;
Whereas Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act of 1965 
 provide critical resources to aging Americans and their families but 
 should be expanded and improved to meet growing needs;
Whereas prescription drug prices in the United States are more than 4 times 
 higher on average than in other peer nations, a burden that 
 disproportionately falls on older Americans, as almost 90 percent of 
 adults 65 or older take a prescription drug;
Whereas aging Americans deserve a dignified, secure, and independent retirement, 
 but nearly half of all Americans 55 and older have no retirement 
 benefits or savings;
Whereas aging women (the majority of those over 65) live longer on average, are 
 more likely to live in poverty, earn lower Social Security benefits, and 
 are less likely to have pensions because of paycheck disparities, time 
 spent out of the workforce for family caregiving responsibilities, and a 
 greater chance of having worked low-wage jobs;
Whereas older Americans in rural, low-income, minority, Indian country, and 
 other underserved communities may be especially vulnerable because of a 
 lack of access to needed and affordable services that allow them to 
 remain in their communities, including adequate transportation, 
 functioning technology, and protected voting rights;
Whereas 5,900,00 older Americans lived in poverty in 2022; 6,900,000 seniors 
 aged 60 and older Americans were food insecure in 2022; 138,000 older 
 Americans over the age of 55 experienced homelessness in 2023, and more 
 than 1 in 3 Americans between 50-80 years are socially isolated;
Whereas many older Americans are living longer, working longer, and enjoying 
 healthier, more active lifestyles than past generations, while others 
 are facing shorter lifespans and increased physical, mental, and 
 psychological challenges;
Whereas age-friendly movements are gaining momentum across the country in 
 communities, health systems, and public health initiatives but are not 
 yet fully aligned and coordinated to ensure maximum results;
Whereas 70 percent of those reaching age 65 will require long-term services and 
 supports and will need to rely on family, friends, or paid caregivers;
Whereas by 2035 it is estimated that 1 in 3 households will be headed by someone 
 aged 65 or older, but many older Americans face challenges in obtaining 
 or keeping affordable, safe, and accessible housing;
Whereas nearly 6,000,000 children live in grandparent-headed households, and 
 almost 3,000,000 are being raised by their grandparents;
Whereas approximately 75 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who need a hearing 
 aid do not have one; 70 percent of beneficiaries who have trouble eating 
 because of their teeth did not go to the dentist in the past year; and 
 43 percent of beneficiaries who have trouble seeing did not have an eye 
 exam in the past year;
Whereas older Americans are increasingly the victims of fraud, scams, 
 exploitation, identity theft, and even physical and financial abuse, 
 that threaten their dignity, security, and health; and
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately burdened older Americans, 
 resulting in over 850,000 deaths as of May 2023, millions of cases, and 
 increased distress in adults aged 65 and older, especially those in 
 congregate living facilities: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the Congress should enact the Older Americans Bill of Rights to 
establish that older Americans should have the right to live with 
dignity and with independence, including the right to--

    (1) high-quality and affordable health care and long-term 
 services and supports through--
        (A) guaranteed access to equitable, comprehensive, 
 geographically available, timely, safe, and dignified 
 health care;
        (B) preserved, improved, and expanded Medicare and 
 Medicaid benefits;
            (C) lower prescription drug prices and increased 
 drug price transparency;
            (D) mechanisms to allow aging in place, including 
 support for family and nonfamily caregivers, and 
 expansion of the direct care workforce;
        (E) protection against neglect, abandonment, and 
 domestic abuse;
        (F) culturally and linguistically competent health 
 care and social services;
        (G) health-promoting public health policies and 
 programs;
        (H) higher standards for skilled nursing 
 facilities;
            (I) increased access to palliative care; and
        (J) increased access to nutritional service;

    (2) financial and retirement security for themselves and 
 their families, through--
        (A) preserved, improved, and expanded Social 
 Security benefits;
        (B) protection for pensions as earned benefits;
            (C) assistance in establishing retirement savings;
            (D) protection against financial exploitation, 
 abuse, scams, and digital identity theft; and
        (E) job training, volunteer opportunities, and 
 enforcement of age discrimination in employment 
 prohibitions;

    (3) full participation in and contribution to their 
 communities, through--
        (A) accessible and affordable housing and 
 transportation;
        (B) equitable access to technology, including 
 expanded broadband speed, affordability, and 
 accessibility;
            (C) social networking and other opportunities for 
 digital engagement;
            (D) the right to vote and improved polling location 
 accessibility; and
        (E) culturally and linguistically competent and 
 comprehensive home and community-based services.
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