[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2190-S2192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs.
Gillibrand, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Brown, and Mr.
Blumenthal):
S. 994. A bill to establish a National and Community Service
Administration to carry out the national and volunteer service
programs, to expand participation in such programs, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today is National Service Recognition Day,
when we take a moment to honor AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members for
the many contributions they make
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in communities across the nation. As Americans, we take inspiration
from those who have answered the call to serve, whether in defense of
our Nation abroad or to strengthen our communities at home. The
willingness to serve a purpose greater than ourselves is a hallmark of
our Nation and those who commit themselves to the betterment of our
country deserve and have earned our support. That is why this year, on
National Service Recognition Day, I am joining Senators Coons and
Duckworth and Congressman Larson and other colleagues in introducing
the America's Call to Improving Opportunities Now (ACTION) for National
Service Act of 2019. Our legislation calls for a great expansion of the
number of service opportunities and an increased investment in those
who serve.
Since 1994, over one million individuals have served through the
AmeriCorps program. Annually, roughly 220,000 seniors over the age of
55 volunteer through the Senior Corps programs. These individuals have
addressed critical community needs in education, economic development,
health, and many other areas. They are among the teams of first
responders when disaster strikes. Unfortunately, we have not created
the capacity to support all Americans who want to serve.
The question of service is vital to our Nation. I was proud to have
joined my friend and colleague, the late Senator John McCain, in laying
out a vision and plan to support and encourage service--military,
national and public--by establishing the National Commission on
Military, National, and Public Service. After meeting with communities
across the country, the Commission submitted its interim report, which
highlighted that Americans value service and are interested in pursuing
transformative efforts to involve many more Americans in service. Yet,
the Commission also reported that there are many barriers to service,
particularly financial ones. Furthermore, there is a lack of awareness
about existing programs and opportunities.
The ACTION for National Service Act will honor our national value of
service, while addressing the barriers that limit citizens'
opportunities to serve. Our legislation will set us on a path to one
million national service positions within ten years. It will increase
the educational award so that an individual completing two full years
of service will earn the equivalent of four years of the average in-
state tuition at a public institution. Those who are willing to serve
should not have to carry a heavy burden of student loan debt to achieve
their educational goals. The ACTION for National Service Act will also
ease other financial barriers to service, increasing the living
allowance and eliminating the tax liability for the education awards
and living stipends. The bill calls for a robust outreach campaign,
requiring that all eligible individuals be notified of their options to
serve. Finally, the ACTION for National Service Act calls for elevating
the Corporation for National and Community Service to a cabinet-level
agency and establishes a National Service Foundation to leverage
private sector resources to support national service activities.
Mr. President, it is time we reinvigorate the social contract between
America and its citizenry. Americans have a deep tradition of national
service, starting with the dedicated men and women of our armed forces
and including all those who have served in AmeriCorps, Senior Corps,
and the Peace Corps. However, as more Americans wish to serve, it is
important that they be given the opportunity to do so. Just as critical
is investing in the education and professional development of those who
have sacrificed and given so much to our Nation. Developing the talents
of our most committed citizens pays life-long dividends. Our investment
in the GI Bill not only honors our service members, but also enriches
our Nation. Similarly, the education awards for those who have served
through our national programs have economic impacts beyond the
individuals who earn them. That is the new deal that the ACTION for
National Service Act offers.
All AmeriCorps members take a pledge to get things done for
Americans, to make communities safer, smarter and healthier, and to
bring us together. I'd like to thank Senators Coons, Duckworth,
Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Blumenthal, Brown, Baldwin, and Blumenthal for
signing on as original cosponsors and urge our colleagues to join us in
pledging to ensure that all who want to answer the call to serve can do
so by cosponsoring the ACTION for National Service Act and working for
its passage.
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By Ms. COLLINS:
S. 995. A bill to amend title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act
to reauthorize the program under such title relating to lifespan
respite care; 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, to reauthorize the
Lifespan Respite Care Program. Respite care provides full-time
caregivers with the much-needed opportunity to take a temporary break
from their responsibilities caring for aging or disabled loved ones.
Every day, an estimated 43 million family caregivers attend to loved
ones who are experiencing chronic, disabling health conditions. While
many of these individuals care for an older adult, almost one-third of
caregivers attend to persons under the age of 50. Caregivers help their
loved ones remain at home, often delaying the need for nursing home or
foster care placements. The value of their efforts is tremendous,
amounting to more than $470 billion in uncompensated care.
This compassionate task, however, can take a toll. Caregivers
experience higher mortality rates and are more likely to acquire acute
and chronic health conditions. Respite care, which provides temporary
relief to caregivers from their ongoing responsibilities, helps to
reduce mental stress and physical health issues they may experience,
keeping caregivers healthy and families intact. Yet, almost 80 percent
of America's caregivers have never received any respite services.
As a senator representing the State with the oldest median age in our
Nation and as Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, the well-being of
our seniors and their caregivers is among my top priorities. Since the
Lifespan Respite Care Act was enacted in 2006, 37 States and the
District of Columbia have received grants to increase the availability
and quality of respite services. Still, the need for respite care
continues to increase and outpace available resources.
When I ask family caregivers about their greatest needs, the number
one that I hear is respite. The Maine Department of Health and Human
Services recognized this urgent need in a report released in December
2018 on children's behavioral health services. The report recommended
expanding access to respite care services for families. One Maine
mother shared, ``Respite has helped our family because we have been
able to take other children to doctors appointments without everyone
having to go. My husband and I have been able to have a little time
away. I have been able to attend to my own mental health needs.'' From
families caring for children with disabilities to those caring for
older adults, the need for respite care today continues to grow.
Our legislation will help to close the resource gap experienced by
our nation's caregivers. Specifically, the Lifespan Respite Care Act
will authorize robust funding for this program over the five years,
through 2024, to assist states in establishing or enhancing statewide
Lifespan Respite systems. It would authorize $20 million for fiscal
year 2020, with funding increasing by $10 million annually, in order to
reach $60 million for fiscal year 2024. This bill is widely supported
by leading caregiver and respite organizations, including the ARCH
National Respite Network and Resource Center, the American
Psychological Association, the Arc, and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
Mr. President, I ask to include letters from these supporting
organizations in the Record.
Mr. President, there is a large gap between caregivers who need
respite services and those who receive it. Our legislation would
provide the necessary resources to state respite agencies to ensure
that more caregivers have access to the respite services they need. I
urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this important
bipartisan legislation, the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act
of 2019.
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April 1, 2019.
Hon. Susan Collins,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Hon. Tammy Baldwin,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Hon. Jim Langevin,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Hon. Cathy McMorris Rodgers,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Collins, Senator Baldwin, Representative
Langevin and Representative McMorris Rodgers: We, the
undersigned national organizations representing all ages and
disabilities, are writing to offer our fervent support for
and endorsement of the Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization
Act to reauthorize the Lifespan Respite Care Program at $200
million over five years. We also want to thank you for your
leadership in supporting the nation's family caregivers.
Every day, millions of American families are faced with
unexpected illness, disease, or disability. A soldier is
injured in war, a spouse develops multiple sclerosis or
Alzheimer's disease, or a child is diagnosed with a
developmental or physical disability or chronic illness.
These are but a few examples of events that can forever
change an individual's and family's trajectory.
While each situation is unique, the one thing that they
often have in common is the incredible value of family
caregivers. Forty-three million family caregivers provide a
vast majority of our nation's long-term care, permitting
individuals of all ages to remain in their communities and
avoid or delay nursing home or foster care placements. AARP
has estimated that in 2013, family caregivers provided $470
billion in uncompensated care to adults, a staggering
statistic that exceeds federal and state spending on Medicaid
health services and long-term services and supports that same
year.
While the benefits of family caregiving are plentiful,
caregiving can take its toll--with older spousal family
caregivers experiencing higher mortality rates, rates of
acute and chronic conditions, and depression than
noncaregivers. Respite--short-term care that offers
individuals or family members temporary relief from the daily
routine and stress of providing care--is a critical component
to bolstering family stability and maintaining family
caregiver health and well-being. Respite is a frequently
requested support service among family caregivers, but 85% of
family caregivers of adults receive no respite and the
percentage is similar for parents caring for their children
with special needs. Not surprisingly, high burden family
caregivers (defined as those who assist their loved one with
personal care such as getting dressed or bathing) cite lack
of respite as one of their top three concerns.
To help provide family caregivers the support they need,
the Lifespan Respite Care Program was enacted in 2006 with
strong bipartisan support. The program provides competitive
grants to states to establish or enhance statewide Lifespan
Respite systems that maximize existing resources and help
ensure that quality respite is available and accessible to
all family caregivers. With more than half of care recipients
under age 75 and more than one-third under age 50, Lifespan
Respite rightly recognizes caregiving as a lifespan issue and
serves families regardless of age or disability.
Though the program has been drastically underfunded since
its inception, thirty-seven states and the District of
Columbia have received grants and are engaged in impressive
work such as identifying and coordinating respite services
available through various state agencies, including veterans
caregiver services; helping unserved families pay for respite
through participant-directed voucher programs or mini-grants
to community and faith-based agencies; building respite
capacity by recruiting and training respite workers and
volunteers; and raising awareness about respite through
public education campaigns. Originally authorized through
Fiscal Year 2011, enactment of the Lifespan Respite Care
Reauthorization Act is necessary to continue this excellent
momentum, better coordinate and supply respite care to our
nation's 43 million family caregivers through statewide
Lifespan Respite programs and ensure that states are able to
sustain the great work they have begun and still allow new
states to receive a grant.
We thank you for your commitment to individuals living with
disabilities, older individuals in need of assistance and
support, and the loved ones who care for them and we look
forward to continuing to work with you as the bill moves
forward. If you would like more information, please contact
Jill Kagan.
Sincerely,
AARP; Alzheimer's Association; Alzheimer's Foundation of
America; Alzheimer's Impact Movement; American Association of
Caregiving Youth; American Association on Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD); American Dance Therapy
Association; American Music Therapy Association; The Arc of
the United States; Association of University Centers on
Disabilities (AUCD); Autism Society of America; Brain Injury
Association of America; Caregiver Action Network; Caring
Across Generations; Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation;
Easterseals.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation; Epilepsy Foundation; Family
Caregiver Alliance, National Center on Caregiving; Family
Voices; Generations United; The Jewish Federations of North
America; Justice in Aging; LeadingAge; Lupus Foundation of
America; The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research; National Alliance for Caregiving; National Alliance
of Children's Trusts and Prevention Funds; National
Association for Home Care and Hospice; National Association
of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); National Association of
Councils on Developmental Disabilities; National Association
of Social Workers (NASW).
National Association of State Directors of Developmental
Disabilities Services; National Association of State Head
Injury Administrators; National Association of States United
for Aging and Disabilities; National Down Syndrome Congress;
National Down Syndrome Society; National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organization; National Military Family
Association; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; National
Respite Coalition; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Program to
Improve Eldercare, Altarum; Rosalynn Carter Institute for
Caregiving; Sibling Leadership Network; TASH; United Spinal
Association; Well Spouse Association.
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