[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1010-S1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CORONAVIRUS

  Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I wanted to speak in particular terms 
about the American Rescue Plan and in particular about the provision of 
home- and community-based services. We know that when we speak of these 
kinds of services, we are talking about services that benefit seniors 
across the country as well as Americans with disabilities. We are also 
concerned as well for the heroic frontline workers who provide those 
services, most of whom--virtually all of whom have been underpaid and, 
frankly, underappreciated for far too long.
  Let me start with the provision of these home- and community-based 
services in terms of the people who are benefiting from these services. 
Right now, about 4 million Americans receive home care and home health 
services in their own homes or apartments. Receiving these services at 
home reduces the likelihood that that older American will be infected 
by the virus.
  Serving and supporting older adults and people with disabilities 
reduces pressure on nursing homes and other congregate settings. We 
know that these kind of services, the home- and community-based 
services, make sure that seniors and people with disabilities have a 
chance to continue to live where they want to live, as opposed to 
living in a congregate setting. In many cases, that means they will 
have more contact with their families, reducing the loneliness and 
social isolation that can be damaging to their mental health. So this 
American Rescue Plan includes temporary Federal funding to States to 
increase Medicaid home- and community-based services.
  If the bill were to pass, an additional $9.3 billion would be made 
available to States to ensure that workers who provide these services 
have the protection and resources they need to provide the care and to 
provide the services.
  More than 200 organizations from around the country wrote to Congress 
in support of these new dollars. For months, SEIU, one of the great 
unions in America representing workers--healthcare workers; the 
disability community, as well; advocates for older adults like AARP and 
others--have rallied around the need for this funding.
  This funding can be used to increase wages for direct-service 
providers, the workers. It can be used to secure additional personal 
protective equipment and testing supplies for workers and those that 
they support. Home- and community-based funds can also be used to help 
people transition from congregate settings back to their homes. It can 
also be used to provide services for the 800,000 Americans waiting for 
this kind of help.
  For example, Ira Hall from Westmoreland County, PA, just right in the 
southwestern corner of our State, next to Pittsburgh, in that county, 
Ira will continue to receive services, and he will receive that service 
from his direct service worker, Ray Williams. I was able to visit both 
of these individuals last May during a virtual home visit.
  Home- and community-based services make it possible for Ira, who has 
a developmental disability, to live in his own apartment. Ray, who is 
his direct service worker, helps Ira plan his day and helps him 
throughout his workday and helps him find the resources he needs to 
meet his goals.
  During the pandemic, Ray's support made it possible for Ira to remain 
in his home and to be safe from contracting the virus. The services Ray 
provides also helps Ira maintain his physical and mental health. We 
know that the American Rescue Plan makes it possible for services like 
those Ira receives and Ray provides. It will also mean the agencies 
providing these services will continue to operate and provide essential 
home- and community-based services throughout the public health crisis.
  Passage of the bill would be a down payment on securing strong and 
comprehensive home- and community-based services infrastructure, but it 
is only a down payment. This pandemic has revealed a fragile home care 
and home health system. These funds

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should be the first step in creating home- and community-based services 
infrastructure that can serve seniors and all people with disabilities 
who want to live in their own homes and remain in their communities 
with their families, friends, and neighbors.
  With the passage of this American Rescue Plan, we will be able to 
address the immediate pandemic needs of older adults, as well as people 
with disabilities. Let's work to ensure this first step starts to 
create the path to a robust, comprehensive home care and home health 
network in every State for every senior and every American with a 
disability.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The junior Senator from Ohio

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