Urge your U.S. House Member to Sign Congressional Dear Colleague Letter for FY 2022 Lifespan Respite Funding

Representatives Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) are circulating a Dear Colleague letter to all Members in the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to sign onto a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $14.2 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program in the FY 2022 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations bill. This amount reflect the President’s budget request to double Lifespan Respite funding in FY 2022.

The National Respite Coalition is asking for your help this week in making sure your U.S. House Member signs onto this letter!!!  The deadline for Members to sign on is now Monday, April 26!

The President released his FY 2022 “skinny” budget for discretionary programs that has lots of good news for family caregivers, including a recommended doubling of funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Program. The budget also proposes $551 million for home and community-based services, and additional funding for many other critical services for individuals with disabilities, older adults and their caregivers.

The Administration’s budget proposal builds on significant investments already provided in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for home and community based services, and in the proposed American Jobs Plan. The American Jobs Plan proposal includes $400 billion for the care economy, including support for home and community-based services for older adults and people with disabilities through an extension of the Money Follows the Person Program and by improving working conditions, higher wages, and more benefits for home care workers. See Policy, ARCH Quick News Update, April 2021 for more information.

Please contact your House Members TODAY and throughout the week and urge them to support this request. See NRC Alert and please circulate it widely. 

YOUR STATE LIFESPAN RESPITE PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

When you reach out to your Congressional Member, share your state’s Lifespan Respite program’s accomplishments from the NEW ARCH report, In Support of Caregivers: Key Accomplishments of Lifespan Respite Grantees

NEXT STEPS

The vaccine rollout is brining hope for the future, but as the COVID-10 pandemic continues, it is important to educate Members of Congress about the need to support the nation’s family caregivers who are, more than ever, serving as the linchpin of the nation’s long-term services and supports system. While respite may look different during the pandemic, it may be the only contact and support a family caregiver has during these challenging and socially isolating times. It is important to note that the LRCP did not receive any emergency supplemental funding for COVID-19.

TAKE ACTION:

1. CALL your Representative at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support the President’s budget request to double funding for the Lifespan Respite Care Program in the FY 2022 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations bill.
2. There are also lots of ways to connect virtually! Use this link for more contact information, including email addresses.
3. For talking points and to share this important message, circulate this  National Respite Coalition Alert to your networks!