Disabled Veterans, Caregivers Must Not Be Left Behind

[allan]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 10, 2009

Disabled Veterans, Caregivers Must Not Be Left Behind

As Veterans Day approaches, the Disabled American Veterans is urging lawmakers to take prompt, decisive action to approve vital legislation that is being held up by a lone Republican Senator. "As the nation honors the service and sacrifice our nation's brave defenders, it is unconscionable that the arbitrary actions of one Senator is preventing consideration of a measure to improve health care to women veterans and provide vital support to family members caring for severely injured veterans," said DAV National Commander Roberto Barrera. The DAV is urging the Senate leadership to take every action necessary to bring the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S. 1963) to the floor for immediate consideration. The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee has previously approved veterans caregiver and health care legislation with unanimous bipartisan votes. Currently, women make up approximately 15 percent of the active force, are serving in all branches of the military and are eligible for assignment in most military occupational specialties except for direct combat roles. The increase in the number of women serving in the military significantly impacts the services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has been ill-prepared to meet the full range of needs for female patients. The types of injuries suffered by our servicemembers in the global war on extremism and tyranny are in many cases so severe that family members put their lives on hold to care for their loved ones. These family caregivers often face devastating financial and emotional hardships as they help their wounded sons, daughters, husbands and wives. Unfortunately, they do not receive sufficient support services or financial assistance from the government. Approval of S. 1963 would provide an array of vitally needed support services for family caregivers, such as respite care, financial compensation, vocational counseling, basic health care, relationship, marriage and family counseling and mental health care. "Our government has an obligation to provide the support and services that are essential to caregivers while they provide for our disabled veterans, both men and women. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act should be voted on and passed without further delay," said Commander Barrera. The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation's disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization's Web site, www.dav.org.

[carlie]

http://www1.va.gov/vso/index.cfm?template=...&Org_ID=384

Support Legislation for Family Caregivers

The Family Caregiver Legislation that Wounded Warrior Project has been strongly advocating for has been merged into a larger Veterans Health Care Bill. This larger bill is now referred to as Senate Bill 1963 (S.1963), the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009.

Please continue to call and email your Senators asking that they support S.1963. Our most severely wounded warriors and their caregivers need your help today!

Click here to take action immediately on Senate Bill 1963!

In Wounded Warrior Project’s ongoing efforts to push for enactment of Senate Bill 801 (now part of S.1963), the Caregivers and Veterans Support Act of 2009, WWP joined with 20 other Veterans and Military Service Organizations on a letter sent to every Senator urging them to support this vitally needed legislation.

You can download a copy of the letter here.

Family Stories

Eric Edmundson

U.S. Army Sergeant Eric Edmundson was injured in 2005 by an Improvised Explosive Device in Iraq. As a result of a severe Traumatic Brain Injury, he suffers from paraplegia and cannot speak.

The Edmundsons and families like them are drastically altering their lives to keep their sons and daughters out of nursing homes. They are leaving jobs and losing income, insurance and other benefits. They must often deplete savings to serve as family caregivers. Families are being stretched to the breaking point and they need our help now.

We urge you to call on Congress to quickly pass Senate Bill 1963, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009, and its strong family caregiver provisions. Contact your Senators asking them to pass this critical legislation. Our most severely wounded warriors and their family caregivers need your help.

Caregiver Videos

News from WWP

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT URGES THE SENATE TO SUPPORT CRUCIAL FAMILY CAREGIVER LEGISLATION

[Pete53]

Just another attempt to divide Veterans

[Jamesb]

A great resource for caregivers of veterans is at www.veterancaregiver.com. You can also post on their forums and chat as well.