[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17331-17332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       CARE FOR ALL VETERANS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as we look forward to 
celebrating Veterans Day on November 11, let me just thank every man 
and woman serving in our military and every veteran for your service to 
our country. You represent and reflect the very best in our country's 
values and ideals.
  This month, we also celebrate National Family Caregiver Month. 
Caregivers play a vital role, providing care and a sense of comfort and 
peace at trying times for Americans all over our country.
  While we recognize all caregivers, I rise today to specifically speak 
about individuals who dedicate their livelihood, love, and support to 
improving our veterans' quality of life.
  Caregivers of veterans assist with personal care needs and support 
their daily activities, including mental and physical therapies, 
managing of finances, transportation, and other essential duties.
  In 2010, Congress passed the Caregivers and Veterans Health Services 
Act, marking the needed investment in supporting the family caregivers 
of our veterans by creating the VA Caregiver Support program. This law, 
while beneficial, limits eligibility of the program to post-9/11 
veterans only.
  I believe we should not limit the care of a veteran based on their 
period of service, but instead make the program accessible to veterans 
of all service areas, particularly our elderly veterans and their 
caregivers who presently do not have the benefit. In an effort to open 
the program to all veterans, I joined Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty to 
introduce the CARE for All Veterans Act, H.R. 2894.
  Earlier this year, I attended a town hall at the Southeastern 
Veterans' Center in Spring City, Chester County, where a Vietnam war 
veteran asked me why his caregiver could not have access to the support 
provided by the VA Caregiver Support program.
  I want to thank that veteran for raising this issue. On behalf of the 
estimated 214,000 pre-9/11 veterans in Pennsylvania, including 11,000 
in my district alone, and veterans all across this country, I 
introduced the CARE for All Veterans Act with Congresswoman Esty. This 
legislation is a meaningful step to ensure our veterans receive the 
quality of care they need in the comfort of their own home from their 
loved one.
  H.R. 2894 responsibly grows the program to create an equitable system 
for our Nation's veterans and provide additional assistance to primary 
family caregivers of eligible pre-9/11 veterans.
  A coalition of veterans groups support the CARE for All Veterans Act, 
including the American Legion, Military Officers Association of 
America, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of 
America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and VetsFirst.
  I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and, when the 
time comes, support this legislation on the House floor. Our focus must 
obviously be on making sure our veterans receive the care and services 
need. That means ensuring their loved ones and caregivers have the 
proper training, support services, travel expenses, health care, and 
respite care to provide the best in-home care for veterans. All 
caregivers, no matter the age of the veteran they serve, should have 
access to the VA Caregiver Support program.
  During a month when we recognize Veterans Day, we must also take a 
moment to recognize those who play an instrumental role in the life of 
a veteran: their caregivers. By passing this bill, we could make a big 
difference for the veteran and their caregiver.
  I am grateful to my constituents for bringing this need to my 
attention, and I call upon my colleagues to join me in this effort in 
supporting H.R. 2894.

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