CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE AUTHORS LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS CARING FOR SENIORS AND VULNERABLE AMERICANS

(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle introduced the Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements (DELIVER) Act—legislation he authored to support volunteer programs, like Meals on Wheels, that deliver food to older, more vulnerable Americans.

“Volunteers in communities across the country dedicate their time and energy to ensuring seniors have regular access to nutritious meals—and this legislation serves as the beginning of a well-deserved ‘thank you’ for their efforts,” said Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25). “I’m proud to be the author of this bipartisan legislation which will reduce the financial burden on our gracious volunteers and allow them to reach even more people in need. I’m grateful to Representative Fitzpatrick and our Senate colleagues for supporting this common-sense legislation, and I look forward to working with them to pass the DELIVER Act into law.”

“Volunteers are at the heart of Meals on Wheels. Their dedication ensures older adults have access to the nutrition, safety checks and social connection they need. Oftentimes volunteers are the only person a senior living alone sees all week,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America. “At a time when Meals on Wheels programs are struggling with rising costs, volunteer shortages and growing waitlists, this legislation is more critical than ever. We must do all we can to remove financial burdens on our volunteers so they can continue their life-saving work.” 

Currently, the tax deduction for the charitable use of a passenger vehicle to deliver meals to homebound individuals stands at just 14 cents per mile—a rate that has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years.

This legislation aims to increase that deduction to the standard business rate, currently set at 70 cents per mile for 2025, ensuring fairness for the millions of Americans who volunteer their time and resources to support our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

In New York State, there are over 4.8 million residents aged 60 and older, with approximately one-quarter—around 1.23 million—living alone. Additionally, nearly 655,000 seniors in the state experience food insecurity, while 630,000 are living at or near the poverty line. Across New York, Meals on Wheels programs deliver more than 18 million meals to nearly 167,000 seniors through home-delivery and congregate nutrition services. Beyond providing nutritious meals, Meals on Wheels volunteers offer vital social interaction, enhancing the well-being of seniors living alone. This legislation would help ease the financial burden on volunteers, enabling them to serve even more seniors in New York and nationwide.

The DELIVER Act is co-lead in the House by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-1) and sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Cornyn (R-TX).

###