As a co-sponsor of the One Away Campaign for elder economic security, Goodwill Industries International is calling on Congress to protect and strengthen the Older Americans Act (OAA). Goodwill and the co-sponsors of the One Away Campaign recognize that today's older workers have a great need for programs funded by the OAA, as the unemployment rate for seniors has reached record high levels, with one in three older Americans currently economically insecure.

Passed in 1965, OAA is the major national vehicle for the organization and delivery of social services to seniors, including authorization of the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) -- the only federal program designed to prepare older workers for the modern labor market. Through SCSEP, Goodwill matches older workers with nonprofits or public agencies that can provide on-the-job training opportunities, then assists them with transitioning into regular employment. Since 2006, Goodwill has served more than 6,000 seniors through SCSEP, helping more than 1,600 find unsubsidized employment.