[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 100 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18--RECOGNIZING THE DAISY AS THE FLOWER 
                        FOR MILITARY CAREGIVERS

  Mr. BURR (for himself, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs:

                            S. Con. Res. 18

       Whereas military caregivers are nameless, courageous, 
     giving individuals whose determination and sacrifices are 
     rarely acknowledged and little-known outside of the military 
     community;
       Whereas a military caregiver provides medical care to a 
     member of the uniformed services or veteran who suffers from 
     a physical, mental, or emotional wound or injury;
       Whereas a military caregiver is a father, mother, spouse, 
     sibling, family member, or loved one of an injured member of 
     the uniformed services or veteran;
       Whereas since the first armed conflict of the United 
     States, injured veterans have been cared for by family 
     members and loved ones after returning home from combat;
       Whereas since the Revolutionary War, military caregivers in 
     the United States have tended to injured veterans as the 
     veterans have recovered from seen and unseen wounds from 
     combat operations;
       Whereas military caregivers have shown time and time again, 
     regardless of the conflict, that caring for those who return 
     home is a part of the character of the United States;
       Whereas many of the members of the uniformed services and 
     veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or 
     Operation Iraqi Freedom--
       (1) suffered wounds or injuries; and
       (2) require assistance from a caregiver to complete either 
     activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and 
     feeding, or instrumental activities such as transportation, 
     meal preparation, and health management;
       Whereas, according to a study of military caregivers 
     conducted by the RAND Corporation, as many as 1,000,000 
     spouses, parents, and children of veterans have served or are 
     currently serving as caregivers to veterans who served in 
     Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom;
       Whereas section 1672 of the National Defense Authorization 
     Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (10 U.S.C. 1071 note; 122 Stat. 481) 
     introduced an expansion of medical care available to family 
     caregivers;
       Whereas the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services 
     Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-163; 124 Stat. 1130) facilitated 
     a new program for access to health insurance, mental health 
     services, caregiver training, and respite care by family 
     caregivers of veterans who served in Operation Enduring 
     Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom;
       Whereas the love and loyalty of military caregivers--
       (1) endures through the hardships of extended hospital 
     stays, multiple surgeries, and lifetimes of care; and
       (2) helps create a fresh start that is hopeful even during 
     difficult times;
       Whereas the daisy is a flower that symbolizes both--
       (1) loyalty to love; and
       (2) new beginnings; and
       Whereas there is no more appropriate representation of the 
     devotion and determination to overcome obstacles shown every 
     day by military caregivers than the daisy: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) honors military caregivers for service and sacrifice to 
     the United States;
       (2) encourages the people of the United States--
       (A) to show support to military families; and
       (B) to recognize the sacrifices endured by those families 
     in service to the United States; and
       (3) recognizes the daisy as the flower for military 
     caregivers.

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