[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S2724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. 
        Bennet):
  S. 1028. A bill to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a 
National Family Caregiving Strategy, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
with my colleague from Wisconsin, Senator Baldwin, that would require 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a panel to 
develop a national strategy to recognize and support the more than 
forty million family caregivers in the United States. I am pleased that 
Senators Murkowski and Bennet have joined us as cosponsors.
  The United States' population is aging. Every day, 10,000 baby 
boomers turn 65 years old. Americans 85 and older--our oldest old--are 
the fastest growing segment of our population. This is the population 
that is most at risk of multiple and interacting health problems that 
can lead to disability and the need for round-the-clock care.
  At the very time that our population is aging, birth rates are 
declining. While the need for care and support is increasing, the 
numbers of professional and informal caregivers is shrinking. In the 
future, more people will have to rely on fewer caregivers.
  Families will likely continue to be the most important source of 
support for people with long-term care needs. We must do more to 
support the more than 43 million family caregivers in the United States 
who make remarkable sacrifices to care for their loved ones. While it 
is impossible to put a dollar amount to the value of the devotion, 
time, and services that these caregivers provide, it is estimated that 
in 2013 family caregivers provided $470 billion in uncompensated long-
term care. This figure nearly equals the annual sales of the four 
largest United States tech companies combined.
  Family caregivers provide tremendous value, and they also face many 
challenges. Caregivers experience high levels of stress and have a 
greater incidence of chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, 
and depression. Caregiving can be an isolating experience. Last week, 
the Aging Committee held a hearing highlighting that social isolation 
is a serious risk factor for depression, anxiety, dementia, functional 
decline, and even death.
  The average caregiver is a 49-year-old woman. She is caring for a 69-
year-old relative living with a long-term physical condition. That 
relative is often a parent. She has been providing care for four years 
on average, spending 24.4 hours a week. She may be raising her own 
children and working full time.
  Other caregivers are seniors. One third of family caregivers are age 
65 or older, and even more susceptible to putting their own health at 
risk.
  I am, therefore, introducing legislation with my colleague from 
Wisconsin that would lead to the development of a national strategy to 
recognize and support family caregivers. Titled the Recognize, Assist, 
Include, Support, and Engage, or RAISE Family Caregivers Act, the 
legislation is based on a recommendation of the bipartisan Commission 
on Long Term Care. It is modeled after a law that I co-authored in 2010 
with then-Senator Evan Bayh that created a coordinated strategic 
national plan to combat Alzheimer's disease.
  The RAISE Family Caregivers Act directs the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to establish a National Family Caregiving Project to 
develop and sustain a national strategy to support family caregivers. 
The bill would create a Family Caregiving Advisory Council comprised of 
relevant Federal agencies and non-federal members. It would include 
representatives of family caregivers, older adults with long-term care 
needs, individuals with disabilities, employers, health and social 
service providers, advocates for family caregivers, state and local 
officials, and others with expertise in family caregiving.
  The Advisory Council would be charged with making recommendations to 
the Secretary. The strategy and plan would be updated to reflect new 
developments. The plan would include an initial inventory and 
assessment of federally funded caregiver efforts. It would then 
identify specific actions that government and communities could take to 
support family caregivers.
  The Project would be funded from existing funding appropriated for 
the Department of Health and Human Services. No new funding is 
authorized and it would sunset in five years.
  Family caregivers are an invaluable resource to our aging society. 
Chances are that, sooner or later, we will all either be family 
caregivers or someone who needs one. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act 
will launch a coordinated, national strategic plan that will help us to 
leverage our resources, promote innovation and promising practices, and 
provide our nation's family caregivers with much-needed recognition and 
support. Our bipartisan legislation is widely endorsed by aging and 
disability organizations. I urge all of our colleagues to join as 
cosponsors.
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