[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4947]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 44--RECOGNIZING THE SUNFLOWER AS THE 
                     FLOWER FOR MILITARY CAREGIVERS

  Mr. BURR (for himself, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 44

       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 support and medical 
     care to a member of the uniformed services or veteran who 
     suffers from a physical, mental, or emotional wound or 
     injury;
       Whereas military caregivers can include a father, mother, 
     spouse, sibling, family member, loved one, or close friend 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, more than 1,000,000 
     individuals serve as caregivers to veterans who served in 
     Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom;
       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 adoration, loyalty, and longevity 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 sunflower is a flower that symbolizes 
     adoration, loyalty, and longevity; and
       Whereas there is no more appropriate representation of the 
     devotion and determination to overcome obstacles shown every 
     day by military caregivers than the sunflower: 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 sunflower as the flower for military 
     caregivers.

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