Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act of 2025 Signed Into Law

Thank Congress for Supporting Family Caregivers

The U.S. House passed and the President signed a package of spending bills Tuesday to end the partial government shutdown.

We are excited to report that the bill includes the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act that extends the program through FY 2030. As importantly, it clarifies the definition of eligible family caregiver to include young caregivers under the age of 18. This change sets a new precedent in federal statute and affirms that caregiving knows no age—and that all caregivers deserve support. Many thanks to the bill’s champions, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and to Rep. Nicholas A. Langworthy (R-NY) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI), for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to strengthening our nation’s caregiving infrastructure.

Critical caregiver programs also received funding increases. Thanks to your advocacy, the Lifespan Respite Care Program will receive $11 million in FY 2026—a $1 million increase over FY 2025. While modest, this increase reflects continued bipartisan support for respite care and family caregivers.

The bill also includes funding increases for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, the Native American Caregiver Support Program, and the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.

These gains were hard-won, and they matter—especially as millions of family caregivers and the people they support face potential losses in Medicaid home- and community-based services.

The National Respite Coalition is deeply grateful to the National Respite Network, State Respite and Caregiving Coalitions, national partners, and friends who reached out to their Representatives and Senators to make this possible during these challenging times.

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TAKE ACTION NOW

Please thank your Members of Congress for reauthorizing the Lifespan Respite Care Program and for supporting family caregiver programs in the FY 2026 funding bill. 📞 Call 202-225-3121

Please pass the good news onto your networks and thank them for their untiring support for family caregivers.