2019 -- S 0873

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LC002607

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING THE WEEK OF MAY 12 THROUGH MAY 18, 2019, TO BE "SENIOR

CORPS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Ruggerio, Felag, Cano, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: May 14, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Americans are living longer, achieving more and taking on new roles after

decades of hard work to ensure opportunity for the generations that follow; and

     WHEREAS, Our grateful nation recognizes the contributions of seniors during the month

of May, which has been designated as Older Americans Month; and

     WHEREAS, Older Americans bring a lifetime of skills and experiences that can be

tapped to meet the many challenges facing our nation's communities; and

     WHEREAS, For more than five decades, the three Senior Corps programs – Foster

Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP – have proven to be a highly cost-effective way to

engage Americans age 55 and over in volunteer service that meets pressing community needs;

and

     WHEREAS, Last year in Rhode Island, Foster Grandparents tutored and mentored 1,710

young people, Senior Companions helped 380 seniors live independently, and RSVP volunteers

strengthened the impact of 160 organizations across the state; and

     WHEREAS, Each year Senior Corps provides opportunities for 245,000 older Americans

to serve their communities across the nation at nearly 25,000 unique sites across the country; and

     WHEREAS, Nationally, Senior Corps volunteers last year provided more than 74.6

million hours of service, improving the lives of our most vulnerable citizens, strengthening our

education system, helping seniors live independently in their homes, protecting our environment,

combatting the opioid epidemic, and preventing elder abuse; and

     WHEREAS, At a time of mounting social needs and growing interest in service by older

Americans, our nation has an unprecedented opportunity to harness the talents of 55-plus aged

volunteers to address additional community challenges; and

     WHEREAS, Service by older Americans keeps them active, healthy, and engaged. It

helps our communities by solving local problems; and helps our nation by saving taxpayer

dollars, reducing health care costs, and strengthening our democracy; and

     WHEREAS, Senior Corps volunteers demonstrate commitment, dedication, and

patriotism by making an intensive commitment to service, a commitment that makes a lasting

impact on the individuals and communities they serve; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims the week of May 12 through May 18, 2019, to be "Senior Corps Week" in the

State of Rhode Island; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby urges other officials, organizations, and citizens to

recognize Senior Corps volunteers and programs for their commitment to our communities; and

be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Barbara Stewart, Chief Executive Officer

for National and Community Service.

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LC002607

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