THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HENNESSEY, ADOLPH, BAKER, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BOYD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, BURNS, CAUSER, CIVERA, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DELOZIER, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HELM, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MUNDY, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUIGLEY, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, ROCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TRUE, TURZAI, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATSON, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 3, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 3, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing the month of May 2009 as "Older Pennsylvanians

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, May has traditionally been recognized as "Older

Americans Month" in the United States, a month set aside both to

consider the special and continuing needs of our older citizens

and to alert them to the existence of services and benefits

available to them; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health and Human Services'

Administration on Aging has announced that the theme for "Older

Americans Month 2009" is "Living Today for a Better Tomorrow";

and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to recognize that older citizens

possess a wealth of experience, talent and wisdom and a

willingness to share them; and

WHEREAS, Older citizens highly value their freedom and

independence and want to remain in their homes and communities

as active and contributing citizens; and

WHEREAS, Over the next ten years, the largest demographic

change will be a 50% increase in the number of individuals 85

years of age and older, thereby prompting increasing demand for

health care and long-term care services; and

WHEREAS, In past years during the month of May, groups such

as the AARP and the Pennsylvania Council on Aging have provided

programs designed to educate the general public about the

special housing, health care and income security needs of the

2.4 million Pennsylvanians who are 60 years of age or older; and 

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to inform older citizens of the

wide variety of programs and services available to them,

including, but not limited to, PACE and PACENET, the Property

Tax and Rent Rebate Program, the fixed route and shared-ride

transportation programs and the numerous programs and services

provided through the network of 52 local area agencies on aging;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the

month of May 2009 as "Older Pennsylvanians Month" in

Pennsylvania.