Dozens of supporters of the Fort Bragg Senior Center showed up on Thursday to write postcards and to call members of Congress to urge them to continue funding the Older Americans Act.
The center relies on the act for approximately $250,000 in annual funding for meals. The amount covers about half the cost of providing 55,000 meals and is funneled through the local Area Agency on Aging.
The Senate voted unanimously to reauthorize the act on December 10, 2024. The act remains pending in the House, however.
Claire Buckley, a board member of the Redwood Coast Senior Center, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "I think that what we are doing today is really empowering to our seniors because it allows them to have a voice and it allows them to participate in helping to address this issue. They're not just bystanders, they're actually part of participating in this process."
Participants wrote postcards to lawmakers advocating for the crucial funding, highlighting the center’s role in supporting local seniors. They also made calls to a list of important Senators and Congressmembers including:
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, SD Suite 511, 202-224-2321
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-NY, SH Suite 322, 202-224-6542
Senator Susan Collins, R-ME, SD Suite 413, 202-224-2523
Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, SH Suite 522, 202-224-6665
Senator Mitch McConnell, R-KY, SR Suite 317, 202-224-2541
Senator Bill Cassidy, R-LA, SD Suite 455, 202-224-5824
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-LA, CHOB Rm 568, 202-225-2777
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-LA, CHOB Room 266, 202-255-3015
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-MN, CHOB, 202-225-2331
Representative Jared Huffman, D-CA, House Rep., District 2, RHOB Rm 2330, 202-225-5161 and 707-962-0935
