McBath, Katko, Vela Introduce Bipartisan and Bicameral Legislation to Help Provide Seniors with Meals and Care

Press Release

Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) has introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to support home-based meal delivery programs. The Helping Our Most Elderly (HOME) Meals Act has been endorsed by Meals on Wheels and is co-led by Reps. Filemon Vela (D-TX), John Katko (R-NY) in the House, and Senator Joe Manchin (R-WV) in the Senate.

"The American senior population is expected to double in the next few decades. Today, many live alone, take multiple daily medications, and find themselves stretching their savings far longer than they expected," said McBath. "Providing our nation's seniors with the food and attention they need is critical, and this program will help ensure our seniors feel healthy, loved, and cared for."

The bill would establish a competitive grant program to repair, replace, and customize home-based meal delivery vehicles that provide nutritious meals to seniors who are ill or otherwise homebound. In addition to providing a nutritious meal to seniors, these programs provide regular social visits, safety, and wellness checks, as well as connections to other services in the community.

"I am proud to introduce legislation that will provide nutrition assistance to seniors in my district," said Vela. "This deadly pandemic has greatly impacted seniors in our community and across the country. This legislation would enable seniors to have greater access to home-based meal programs, and help curtail hunger and food insecurity for some of our most vulnerable communities."

"I am pleased my colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced the HOME Meals Act today. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is vital to ensuring our seniors are taken care of and receive the home based nutrition they need. This system also provides seniors with social interaction, which many older Americans and West Virginians lack," said Manchin. "The COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on our nursing homes and other care facilities, but we must also look to our seniors who live at home independently who still need our help and care. I look forward to working with my bipartisan colleagues to pass this legislation in both chambers to send this to the President's desk for signature so we can upgrade and repair our delivery vehicles to better help West Virginians and Americans across our nation receive the nutrition and care they need."

This bill is particularly timely given the global COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when seniors have been disproportionately impacted by the virus and restricted in their ability to travel to the grocery store. This grant program would significantly alleviate older Americans' barriers to nutrition and reduce their risk of contracting the virus due to limited food access.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the more than 750,000 people that live in Georgia's Sixth District, nearly 100,000 are 65 years old or older. With the country's senior population expected to double by the year 2060, the number of seniors facing hunger and isolation is also expected to rise. This reality, coupled with the recent hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic, presents an important opportunity to provide seniors with the health and nutrition they need.

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