[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 58 (Thursday, April 25, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SANDERS:
  S. 851. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend to 
all veterans with a serious service-connected injury eligibility to 
participate in the family caregiver services program; to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I am proud to introduce the Caregivers Expansion and 
Improvement Act of 2013, which will address the important needs of 
veterans' caregivers.
  For generations, as the men and women of our armed forces returned 
home with serious injuries sustained overseas, their wives, husbands, 
parents and other family members stepped in to care for them. These 
family members have often provided this care at significant personal 
sacrifice. These caregivers' dedication to caring for the needs of 
their injured veterans has often resulted in lost professional 
opportunities and reduction in income.
  Under the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 
2010, important services and benefits were made available to seriously 
injured post-9/11 veterans and their families. These changes improved 
the lives of caregivers by giving them the support they need which, in 
turn, improved the lives of veterans. These services and benefits for 
caregivers include a tax-free monthly stipend, travel expenses, health 
insurance, mental health services and counseling, caregiver training 
and respite care for caregivers of seriously injured post-9/11 
veterans. However, these services were not made available to pre-9/11 
veterans with equally serious injuries and whose caregivers were in 
equal need of support.
  Many caregivers of pre-9/11 veterans have been caring for injured 
veterans for years with no support from the federal government. It is 
time to provide equal benefits to veterans and their family members 
from all eras. My legislation does just that.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting equal treatment of the 
caregivers of our Nation's veterans and cosponsor my legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 851

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Caregivers Expansion and 
     Improvement Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION TO ALL VETERANS WITH A SERIOUS SERVICE-
                   CONNECTED DISABILITY OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
                   PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM.

       Section 1720G(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``on or after September 11, 2001''.
                                 ______