[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 45 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S3206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. MIKULSKI (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Bond, Mrs. 
        Clinton, and Ms. Collins):
  S. 897. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide 
more help to Alzheimer's disease caregivers; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am pleased to join in cosponsoring the 
Alzheimer's Family Assistance Act of 2007 introduced by my colleague, 
Senator Mikulski.
  As much as we all would like to think that we will remain healthy and 
strong throughout our lifetimes, many of us will need long-term care. 
The cost of that care, whether provided in a nursing home, assisted 
living facility, or in one's own home with the assistance of health 
aides, can quickly add up. That is why we should do everything we can 
to make people aware of long-term care insurance and to ensure that 
policies are affordable.
  We need to encourage people to include long-term care insurance in 
their planning, especially when people are younger and premiums would 
be lower. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, DRA, made good progress in 
that regard by expanding State long-term care partnership programs. In 
addition, the DRA established an information clearinghouse to help 
individuals learn about long-term care insurance options in their 
states.
  We also need to encourage older individuals to purchase long-term 
care insurance. By establishing a deduction for long-term care 
insurance premiums, this legislation will help accomplish that goal. In 
order to qualify for the deduction, the policy must include several 
important consumer protections recommended by the National Association 
of Insurance Commissioners, NAIC. The DRA incorporated the same 
protections plus some additional NAIC consumer protections into the 
State long-term care partnership policies. As this bill moves forward, 
I look forward to working with Senator Mikulski to ensure consistency 
in the application of these consumer protections to long-term care 
policies. Specifically, I hope we can expand the consumer protections 
in this bill so they are in line with those included in the DRA.
  Finally, this legislation recognizes that individuals and their 
caregivers may need assistance in paying for medical supplies, nursing 
care, and other long-term care expenses. The tax credit called for in 
the bill, which increases from $1,000 to $3,000 in 2011 and beyond, 
will help defray these costs.
  Mr. President, I have long supported the policies included in this 
legislation and commend my colleague for her work on this important 
issue.
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