“Investing in the OAA Nutrition Program saves the federal government billions of dollars in healthcare and long-term care expenses.”
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Health Subcommittee, led a bipartisan letter with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) urging the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to include emergency supplemental funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program in the FY 2026 government funding bill.
The lawmakers highlight that funding has not kept up with rising demand, resulting in growing waitlists that leave seniors without the preventive nutrition and support they need to stay healthy and independent. The OAA Nutrition Program provides congregate and home-delivered meals with wellness checks that help prevent malnutrition, reduce isolation and identify health concerns early for seniors living independently.
“Strong nutrition and regular wellness checks are essential to helping seniors stay healthy and independent,” said Buchanan. “The Older Americans Act Nutritional Program delivers that support every day, preventing avoidable health problems and reducing the need for costly care. Representing one of the oldest districts in the country, I’m committed to fighting for our seniors and ensuring these resources remain available so they can stay safe, supported and healthy at home.”
“The Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs provide seniors with meals and socialization opportunities that are important for healthy aging,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I'm grateful that Congress recently passed funding for some essential nutrition programs, but there is still unmet need. With this bipartisan effort we can help millions of seniors across the country get the vital nutrition they need.”
“Investing in the OAA Nutrition Program saves the federal government billions of dollars in healthcare and long-term care expenses,” write the lawmakers in the letter. “The cost of one year of meals for an individual is financially equivalent to one day in the hospital or ten days in a nursing home, which demonstrates the importance of investing in preventive measures like nutrition services to decrease reactionary and expensive care.”
The letter received support from Meals on Wheels America and the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP):
“The crisis of senior hunger and isolation has deepened in recent years due to inadequate federal funding, growing demand from America's rapidly aging population, and high costs for food, fuel and program operations. This situation has been further compounded by the government shutdown’s lasting impact and recent policy changes that limit access to basic needs assistance for many vulnerable older adults. With each dollar stretching less far, Meals on Wheels providers have been forced to provide fewer meals, moments of social connection, safety and wellness checks, and referrals to supportive services to fewer seniors, resulting in longer waits for the many already on waitlists. Already under strain, providers are being asked to do even more with less, and vulnerable seniors are paying the price. Meals on Wheels America and our network of thousands of community-based providers are grateful to Congressman Vern Buchanan and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici for their leadership in calling for a much-needed boost to the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program to help address the affordability crisis and end the wait faced by far too many of our nation’s vulnerable seniors,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America.
“NANASP commends Representatives Buchanan and Bonamici for recognizing the reality that an emergency confronts the Older Americans Act nutrition programs. Older adults in greatest economic or social need are the victims if funds are not sufficient for our programs to provide daily meals. Underfunding has been a chronic problem for these programs even though they provide a powerful return on investment both economically and in maintaining health for those it serves. It is time for Congress to act,” said Bob Blancato, Executive Director of NANASP.
Read the full letter here or below.
Dear Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member DeLauro:
As you finalize the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bill for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, we urge you to provide emergency supplemental funding for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program. Funding has not kept pace with rising demand, resulting in growing waitlists nationwide. Part of the Administration on Aging (AoA) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and authorized under Title III-C of the OAA, this crucial program provides grants to states to support nutrition services for seniors.
The OAA Nutrition Title III-C Program includes support for both Congregate and Home-Delivered meals. Congregate meals are provided in senior centers, faith-based facilities, restaurants, and other convenient community locations; home-delivered meals provide a meal and a wellness check at home. Both protect seniors against malnutrition, provide socialization opportunities, and provide timely intervention when health concerns arise for seniors aging in place. Undernourishment in seniors can lead to shorter life expectancy, premature institutionalization, higher disease rates, and extended hospital stays.
Furthermore, these programs offer nutritious meals that adhere to the current Dietary Guidelines and reduce the use of health care services, prevent nursing home admissions, and generate substantial health care cost savings to taxpayers. By being welcomed into seniors’ homes, providing a space where seniors can go for nourishment and connection, and forming personal relationships, community-based providers are able to observe changes to physical and mental health conditions, identify risks before they become problems, address problems before they become health issues, and avert health issues before they become catastrophic and costly. This can mean the difference between independent living at home and a transition to a costly long-term care facility.
Although the OAA Nutrition Program served 2.2 million older adults in FY21, an estimated 2.5 million low-income, food insecure older adults in need are not receiving OAA Nutrition Program services. Unfortunately, funding has not increased to keep pace with rising demand and higher costs, so providers are not able to serve all in need. Meals on Wheels America, which works on behalf of the network of thousands of community-based senior nutrition providers, reports that one in three Meals on Wheels programs keeps a waitlist, where the average wait is four months with some seniors waiting more than two years. These growing waitlists reflect the combined pressures of America’s rapidly aging population, higher costs for food, fuel, and staffing and volunteer shortages. The crisis of senior hunger and isolation has been further compounded by delays in reimbursement payments because of staff reductions at ACL and the government shutdown.
Investing in the OAA Nutrition Program saves the federal government billions of dollars in healthcare and long-term care expenses. The cost of one year of meals for an individual is financially equivalent to one day in the hospital or ten days in a nursing home, which demonstrates the importance of investing in preventive measures like nutrition services to decrease reactionary and expensive care. For these reasons, we respectfully request the inclusion of emergency supplemental funding for OAA Title III-C in either the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill or a separate long-term funding bill.
Thank you for your consideration of this request and we look forward to working with you to provide America’s older adults with the nutritional support they need to stay healthy.
Sincerely,
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