Urgent call for Congress to pass veterans care legislation
June 05, 2024 | Veterans Affairs: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation
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In a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around improving care for veterans, particularly through proposed legislation aimed at enhancing support for veteran caregivers. Senators Jon Tester and Jerry Moran introduced a pilot program to provide assisted living care for veterans, emphasizing the critical role state veterans homes can play in addressing the needs of aging veterans and their caregivers.
Meredith Beck, senior policy advisor for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, highlighted the urgent need for the passage of HR 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Beck stressed that veterans and their caregivers are in desperate need of the support outlined in this legislation, which has faced delays and political challenges despite broad bipartisan support.
The meeting also addressed ongoing concerns regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program for comprehensive assistance for family caregivers. Beck noted that many caregivers face uncertainty due to regulatory changes and called for Congress to consider grandfathering existing caregivers to provide stability and support. She praised the VA's efforts to increase access to respite services and mental health support but urged for broader access to these services for all caregivers.
Additionally, the discussion included the introduction of the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, which aims to ensure that every VA medical center offers the veteran-directed program, allowing veterans to hire their own home health aides. This legislation seeks to address the challenges faced by caregivers like Mary Ward, who struggled to enroll her husband in the program despite its availability in other areas.
The meeting underscored the pressing need for legislative action to support veterans and their caregivers, with calls for Congress to prioritize the passage of HR 8371 to alleviate the ongoing struggles faced by this community. As the meeting concluded, the urgency for comprehensive solutions to the caregiving crisis was evident, with participants expressing hope for swift legislative progress.
Meredith Beck, senior policy advisor for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, highlighted the urgent need for the passage of HR 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. Beck stressed that veterans and their caregivers are in desperate need of the support outlined in this legislation, which has faced delays and political challenges despite broad bipartisan support.
The meeting also addressed ongoing concerns regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program for comprehensive assistance for family caregivers. Beck noted that many caregivers face uncertainty due to regulatory changes and called for Congress to consider grandfathering existing caregivers to provide stability and support. She praised the VA's efforts to increase access to respite services and mental health support but urged for broader access to these services for all caregivers.
Additionally, the discussion included the introduction of the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, which aims to ensure that every VA medical center offers the veteran-directed program, allowing veterans to hire their own home health aides. This legislation seeks to address the challenges faced by caregivers like Mary Ward, who struggled to enroll her husband in the program despite its availability in other areas.
The meeting underscored the pressing need for legislative action to support veterans and their caregivers, with calls for Congress to prioritize the passage of HR 8371 to alleviate the ongoing struggles faced by this community. As the meeting concluded, the urgency for comprehensive solutions to the caregiving crisis was evident, with participants expressing hope for swift legislative progress.
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