[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21906]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE NURSING HOME EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 2008

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Nursing Home 
Emergency Assistance Act. This act makes private, for-profit nursing 
homes eligible for the same federal aid as is currently available to 
public nursing homes. Under current federal law, only public nursing 
homes may receive federal disaster assistance. However, hurricanes, 
tornadoes, and earthquakes do not distinguish between private and 
public, or for-profit and not-for-profit, nursing homes.
  As I have recently seen in my district, all nursing homes face unique 
challenges coping with natural disasters and their aftermaths. It is 
not fair to the taxpayers who work in, reside in, or have entrusted the 
care of their loved ones to, a private nursing home that private 
nursing homes are denied the same federal aid available to their public 
counterparts. Madame Speaker, the Nursing Home Emergency Assistance Act 
ensures all residents of nursing homes can benefit from federal 
disaster aid. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

                          ____________________