Golden Legislation to Help Seniors Engage with Young People Passes House
Bill would help expand programs that offer seniors opportunities to mentor, volunteer, and connect with younger Americans
WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden's (ME-02) bipartisan legislation to build connections between seniors and young people passed the House of Representatives this week. The bill expands an important grant program that provides funds to states and community organizations to build bonds between young people and seniors. The grants would, for example, support programs that offer seniors the chance to mentor young people, help seniors to volunteer for organizations that work with kids, and encourage partnerships between day care centers and senior care centers.
Golden's legislation passed the House as part of the Dignity in Aging Act with unanimous bipartisan support.
"The seniors I meet travelling around Maine are a wealth of knowledge. These folks have entire lifetimes of valuable wisdom and guidance to offer our kids and young adults," said Golden. "This bill would help ensure that their knowledge is handed down and forms the lasting bonds that will keep the next generation of Mainers in the state. We worked across the aisle to pass this bill through the House as part of the Dignity in Aging Act and we'll keep pushing to get it to the president's desk."
The legislation provides federal resources to states and local community organizations - like Area Agencies on Aging and YMCAs - to bring seniors and young people together.
Central Maine's Spectrum Generations, Generations United, and the YMCA of the USA have all expressed their support for Golden's legislation.