WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are introducing bipartisan legislation to support volunteer programs that deliver food to older, more vulnerable Americans. The Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements (DELIVER) Act would help provide meals to more seniors across Maine and America by increasing the charitable mileage tax deduction rate from its current 14 cents per mile to match the standard business rate of 70 cents per mile.

Volunteers who deliver healthy meals to elderly, disabled, frail, or at-risk individuals through programs like Maine’s Meals on Wheels provide a crucial service that allows our nation’s most vulnerable citizens to maintain the choice to continue living independently in the comfort and safety of their own homes. According to Meals on Wheels, there are almost 35,000 Maine seniors who are threatened by hunger. In 2024, Meals on Wheels programs served 1.4 million meals to almost 15,000 seniors through home-delivery and congregate nutrition services.

“Seniors all across Maine rely on warm, nutritious home-delivered meals and the selfless volunteers who deliver them,” said Senator King. “As the cost of making these deliveries continues to rise, we need to ensure our Good Samaritans can give back without making a large dent in their wallet. The bipartisan, bicameral DELIVER Act would increase mileage deductions for volunteers — a small, commonsense step that would have a big impact, allowing these volunteers to continue their important work. I’m deeply grateful for the work of Maine’s meal-delivery services, and want to thank my colleagues for their commitment to supporting those who care for their community.”

“For decades, charitable organizations and faith-based groups have provided meals to seniors in communities across Texas,” said Senator Cornyn. “By removing barriers for folks willing to offer their time and resources to help others, more Texans in need can receive food, and these important charities can grow their network of volunteers." 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.”

“We are thrilled that Sen. King is reintroducing the DELIVER Act,” said Megan Walton, CEO of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging. “For the thousands of Meals on Wheels volunteers across the country, this legislation will provide critical mileage reimbursement at an important time. Older adults are receiving more and more supports at the local level every day, and the DELIVER Act will ensure that we can support those individuals who give back so generously to our communities.”

Representing one of the oldest states in the country, Senator King is consistently working to address the issues facing Maine seniors. Most recently, Senator King introduced the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act, which would save Maine seniors from costly and dangerous falls. In the American Rescue Plan, which passed into law in 2021, King secured $10 billion in broadband funding to help more Maine seniors access life-saving services like telehealth. He also has introduced bipartisan legislation to help improve critical quality-of-life service and programs for American seniors.

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