Your Immediate Action is Needed!! Swift Senate Action Needed on Lifespan Respite Care Program Reauthorization (S. 4325)

Given the few legislative days left in this Congress, the National Respite Coalition is urging you to contact your Senators and urge that they bring the Senate Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act (S. 4325) to the floor for a vote as quickly as possible. We need your help this week, but action is especially critical TODAY and TOMORROW, Sept 18 and 19, 2024.

The Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The bill reauthorizes the program for another five years for $50 million ($10 million annually through FY 2029).

At the urging of the National Respite Coalition, the bill also modifies the definition of family caregiver to extend eligibility for services under the Lifespan Respite Care Program to caregiving youth. It is a very simple change, but it represents a significant advancement in policy, as it would be the first time that young caregivers were recognized in federal statute.

More than 5 million children under the age of 18 are providing significant caregiving to their parents or siblings with disabilities or chronic conditions or to their aging grandparents. The Elizabeth Dole Foundation has also helped to shed light on the significant numbers of young children who provide caregiving assistance in military families. This change in the law will finally allow them to receive the respite break they deserve and need, allow them to remain in school, and to become healthy and productive adults.

The House version of the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization bill (HR 6160), introduced by Rep Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) and Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA) passed the House yesterday, Sept 17, under suspension of the rules. The House bill extends the program at current authorization levels through FY 2029, but does not include the change in the definition of family caregiver to extend program eligibility to caregiving youth. While we are grateful for an extension of the program for another five years, we are supporting S. 4325, which is the only version of the bill that extends eligibility for respite care services and supports under the program to young caregivers.

Video of Sen. Collins Remarks at HELP Committee Mark-Up

National Respite Coalition’s Letter of Endorsement for S. 4325

TAKE ACTION

CONTACT your Senators TODAY and urge them to bring S. 4325 to the floor of the Senate immediately for a vote.

• Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Senator’s office. When connected ask for health or disability staff. If you don’t reach them, leave a message!
• Message: Help bring the bipartisan Senate Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization bill (S. 4325) to the Senate floor and then vote for passage. The Lifespan Respite Care Program perfectly aligns with the goals of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, calling for a range of respite options to allow family caregivers to obtain respite services that meet their unique needs. The Senate bill is the only version of the reauthorization bill that covers caregiving youth. Support for caregiving youth can allow them to remain in school, and to become healthy and productive adults.
• Make it Personal. Share your personal respite story about why respite is important to you or why more respite is needed in your state.
• Phone calls or personal visits are best. For contact information or if you prefer to send an email or fax to your Senator, find their contact information here.

Please pick up the phone and call today.
Then circulate this alert to your networks and colleagues.