[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15162-15163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVERS AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, November is National Family Caregivers 
Awareness Month, a time to honor the work of over 65 million family 
members who sacrifice every day to care for their loved ones with 
special needs.
  Whether they have a father with Alzheimer's or a mother with 
Parkinson's disease or a child with autism, these caregivers provide 
approximately 80 percent of the long-term care for the chronically ill. 
Unfortunately, this 24-hour-a-day commitment can take a toll on the 
caregiver's emotional, physical, and financial well-being.
  Respite care provides a temporary break for family members engaged in

[[Page 15163]]

the full-time task of caregiving. In fact, it is the most frequently 
requested support service, yet nearly 90 percent of caregivers still go 
without needed assistance. That's why I've introduced the Lifespan 
Respite Care Reauthorization Act, and will continue to advocate for its 
passage and funding.
  Mr. Speaker, family caregivers are our Nation's silent heroes, and 
they deserve our recognition and support not just in November but every 
day of the year. To all of them, I say a heartfelt ``thank you.''

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