The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RECOGNIZING VERMONT MEALS ON WHEELS” mentioning Bernard Sanders was published in the Senate section on pages S1811-S1812 on March 25.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING VERMONT MEALS ON WHEELS
Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary work of Vermont's Meals on Wheels Programs.
Each March, we celebrate March for Meals to draw attention to the incredible work of Meals on Wheel throughout the country, including in my home State of Vermont. All across our State, hundreds of volunteers regularly deliver freshly cooked, nutritious meals to thousands of older people in their homes, many of whom otherwise might not have enough to eat. These volunteers play a critically important role in helping ensure that older Vermonters have access to adequate nutrition. In and of itself, that is no small matter.
In a typical year, Meals on Wheels volunteers do so much more than delivering meals. These volunteers provide critical social interaction for the people they visit, which goes a long way to combat the effects of isolation that many Vermonters face, especially in rural areas. Without this social interaction, seniors are more likely to have feelings of loneliness and depression, which puts them at higher risk for dementia, chronic disease, falls, and hospitalization. Their regular visits serve another purpose as well. The volunteers know each person they visit and recognize immediately if something does not seem right. It is no exaggeration to say that volunteers have literally saved Vermonters' lives by following up when no one answers the door, taking the time to discover that someone had fallen and been injured.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers--both new and existing--
stepped up to deliver over 1 million meals to over 7,500 Vermonters. This represents a 30-percent increase in the number of meals and almost a 20-percent increase in the number of people receiving meals through this vital Federal program. At a time when so many Vermonters struggled with the dual hardship of loneliness and hunger cause by the COVID-19 pandemic, Meals on Wheels served as a critical lifeline.
In addition to the many Meals on Wheels volunteers throughout Vermont, I also want to recognize and thank the caring and dedicated professionals who run Vermont's Meals on Wheel Programs. From the chefs who prepare the nutritious meals with skill and care, to the program staff who ensure that everything runs smoothly, these Vermonters are the backbone of what makes Meals on Wheels the success that it is. In March, when so much of our State shut down due to the pandemic, these dedicated people immediately pivoted to expand Meals on Wheels and ensure that any older Vermonter who wanted a meal could get one. This was particularly important for all those who had previously relied on congregate meal programs, which were unsafe during the pandemic.
Together, every single Meals on Wheels volunteer and staff person forms an indispensable link in our social safety net and has my sincere appreciation for their remarkable work. As more and more Vermonters are now vaccinated and the State begins a careful reopening, following the science and ensuring the safety of all our people, I look forward to a day when I and my Vermont staff can once again visit the Meals on Wheels Program and meet the volunteers and recipients in person.
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