WASHINGTON, March 23, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The
Elizabeth Dole Foundation released the following statement today on
the passage and signing of the omnibus spending bill:
"Those of us who care deeply about military and veteran
caregivers – the 5.5 million Americans who provide care to service
members and veterans from all eras of war – have a good reason to
celebrate the omnibus spending bill that President Trump signed
into law this afternoon. We are pleased to report that nearly
$840 million has been allocated
towards the VA Caregiver Program, including the Program of
Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). This
represents a more than 40 percent increase from what had been
requested by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and more than
$100 million more than what had been
appropriated in FY 2017. Congress and members of the veteran
community were concerned that the VA's request was an inadequate
reflection of the program's true needs, and we are pleased that
Congress took action.
The PCAFC ensures that veteran caregivers have a necessary
lifeline as they balance work, family, and caregiving obligations,
which are known to take a drastic toll on their health and
financial wellbeing. We would like to especially thank members of
the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans
Affairs, and particularly Senator Patty
Murray (D-WA), who was a driving force behind this increase,
for their continued support for caregivers.
While the omnibus legislation did not go far enough by expanding
the PCAFC to pre-9/11 caregivers, something we encourage Congress
to address before the end of the year, we are pleased to see that
the current program will continue unabated, welcome news to all of
us who know all too well that a well-supported caregiver is the
single most important factor in a wounded warrior's recovery."
SOURCE Elizabeth Dole Foundation