{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413321", "Meals on Wheels in Ocean and Monmouth deliver 600,000 meals to local seniors each year Smith urges robust federal funding for critical nutritional service programs like Meals on Wheels that help millions of American seniors in need", "2024-08-21", "2024", "2024-08", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "In a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) strongly advocated for robust federal funding for programs that provide critical nutritional services for seniors, including Meals on Wheels of Ocean and Monmouth Counties and other effective community-based initiatives that deliver hot meals to seniors in need.\n\n\u201cWith the appropriations process underway, I urge you to ensure that sufficient funding is provided for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C Nutrition Services program\u2014a program that serves as an essential lifeline for millions of our nation\u2019s seniors, including many of my constituents,\u201d Smith wrote in his letter to Cole.\n\n\u201cAcross the nation, this critical funding allows over 260 million meals to be delivered to nearly 2.2 million seniors annually\u2014tens of thousands of whom live in New Jersey,\u201d said Smith. \u201cIn Ocean and Monmouth counties alone, Meals on Wheels delivers 600,000 meals each year to local seniors.\u201d\n\n\u201cNot only has the program delivered proven results in boosting seniors\u2019 nutritional and health outcomes, but it also offers significant support to those who wish to remain safe in their own homes as they continue to age,\u201d Smith said, noting that isolation can often be an issue for older Americans. \u201cThe need for these services is so great that, for many seniors, the meals they receive through this program constitute much of their daily food intake while also offering added socialization.\u201d\n\nSmith noted the effectiveness of the program, citing a recent survey conducted by Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, which delivers over 250,000 meals each year to local seniors. According to the study:\n\n\u00b7 99 percent of program participants feel more confident living independently receiving home delivered meals;\n\n\u00b7 97 percent are satisfied with the quality and variety of the food; and\n\n\u00b7 95 percent say receiving daily home delivered meals makes them feel less lonely.\n\n\u201cThese results speak to the clear impact of this program in helping our nation\u2019s seniors thrive,\u201d said Smith. \u201cStrengthened funding will allow this effective community-based program to continue making a difference for senior health, safety, and relational well-being.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413321"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9356671944260597, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}