[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21817]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 AMERICA'S CAREGIVERS--EVERYDAY HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 6, 2001

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, in the 2 months since September 11, 
Americans have discovered that the age of heroes is not past. We have 
rediscovered that heroes do not live in movies or on the pages of 
novels, but in the everyday reality of our military units, our police 
stations, fire departments, and post offices. And we have discovered 
that, unlike our enemies, American heroes make their sacrifices in the 
cause of life, not death.
  It is only right, then, that during this season of thanksgiving, when 
history demands that we give particular thanks for the many blessings 
that have been bestowed on us as individuals and as a Nation, we give 
special recognition to another group of everyday heroes; America's 
caregivers.
  The generous support provided by caregivers to those who need help if 
they are to remain in their homes and communities is a reflection of 
American family and community life at its best. Thanks to the efforts 
of these everyday heroes, Americans with disabilities and a growing 
number of elderly Americans are able to stay in familiar surroundings 
and to maintain their dignity and independence. Caregivers share not 
only their time, but also their resources, spending some $2 billion a 
month of their own assets for groceries, medicine, and other aid. 
Surely, their extraordinary generosity and compassion fits our 
definition of heroism.
  A care recipient is a person who may be ill, elderly, or disabled or 
otherwise needs assistance with the tasks associated with daily living. 
A 1999 study prepared by the National Alliance for Caregivers reported 
that 23 percent of American adults regard themselves as family 
caregivers of individuals aged 50 and older. In addition, the report 
notes that one in five care recipients live in the caregiver's home.
  But the efforts of our caregivers are not limited to caring for the 
elderly or disabled. The challenges of 21st Century society have 
created a new category of caregiving in America. Many older relatives 
now take care of children whose parents are not able to care for their 
children themselves. These generous seniors, who in many cases had 
already raised their own children and were looking forward to 
retirement, have embraced the challenges of parenting a new generation 
of young people. Their everyday heroism gives millions of our most 
vulnerable youth the opportunity to grow up in stable, loving homes, 
nurtured in America's traditional values.
  America's caregivers--everyday heroes among us--deserve our lasting 
gratitude and respect. Today, it is my honor, and pleasure, to 
recognize the many contributions that America's caregivers make to the 
quality of our national life. Thank you, and may God bless America.

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