On April 25, 2013, Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Bernie Sanders introduced S. 851, the Caregivers Expansion and Improvement Act of 2013.
This bill would expand eligibility for comprehensive benefits and services to family caregivers of all veterans who were severely injured in the line of duty while serving in the armed forces. Currently, only family caregivers of veterans severely injured on or after September 11, 2001, are eligible for these benefits and services such as: caregiver training; support groups, counseling and other support services; a monthly stipend; health coverage through CHAMPVA; respite care; mental health services and counseling related to the caregiver role and burden.
A survey by the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) of caregivers who are caring for veterans from combat eras dating from World War II to the more recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan showed that the overwhelming majority of veteran caregivers are women. Twice as many veterans' caregivers said they have been caregiving for 10 or more years compared to national statistics, three times as many caregivers reported spending 40 hours a week or more providing care compared to the national total, and six out of ten caregivers of veterans surveyed are at least 50 years of age including one in eight who is 65 or older.
Please use the prepared e-mail or draft your own personal e-mail to request that your Senators support this important bill and ask that it be brought to the floor for a vote and enacted as soon as possible.
Thank you for all you do for veterans and their families, and for your active participation in DAV CAN.
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