D’Amico Fighting Against Massive Cuts to Meals on Wheels Program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is standing with seniors and senior advocates like AARP to oppose Washington politicians’ dangerous cuts to senior Meals on Wheels, which would affect the more than 115,000 elderly residents who depend on the program.

“The cuts to the Meals on Wheels program that President Trump and his extreme Republican allies in Congress have advocated for would be catastrophic to seniors across Illinois,” D’Amico said. “Meals on Wheels helps ensure that seniors are able to continue living independently at home rather than being forced into a nursing home—which would end up costing the state significantly more money in the long-run.”

D’Amico is sponsoring House Resolution 274, which states the Illinois House of Representatives’ opposition to efforts by Washington insiders to cut Meals on Wheels, the Congregate Meals Program, and community block grants which provide funding for senior meal programs.

As Governor Bruce Rauner refuses to do his job and introduce a responsible budget that provides for our state’s most critical services, D’Amico recently voted to defend Meals on Wheels by voting to pass a lifeline budget that would commits special funds currently sitting unused to sustain Meals on Wheels and prevent local seniors from being denied critical care.

“Meals on Wheels and many other senior programs have literally been starved to the bone while the demand for these services is greater than ever before due to aging demographics,” said Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president of AARP. “Without continued investments in these cost-effective programs, taxpayers will end up paying far more to hospitalize or otherwise care for the frail elderly, many of whom are homebound.”