Urgent Legislative Alert Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248, S 1283)
July, 2005
The Lifespan Respite Care Act authorizes competitive grants to states to make quality respite available and accessible to family caregivers, regardless of age or disability. The bill allows grantees to identify, coordinate and build on federal, state and local respite resources and funding streams, and would help support, expand and streamline planned and emergency respite, provider recruitment and training, and caregiver training.
Status: The Lifespan Respite Care Act was introduced by Reps. Ferguson (R-NJ), Langevin (D-RI), Terry (R-NE), Norwood (R-GA), Wilson (R-NM), and Brown (D-RI), and is pending in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The Senate bill was introduced by Senators Warner (R-VA) and Clinton (D-NY) and currently has an additional 20 cosponsors equally divided between the parties. The bill is pending in the Senate Health, Education and Pensions Committee. In the past Congress, the earlier version of the bill passed the Senate in April 2003 under unanimous consent, and had 135 cosponsors from both parties in the House.
ACTION
- House Action: Face-to-face visits with legislators are very effective. So is a phone call. It’s so easy! Call 202-225-3121 or 224-3121 for the Capitol Switchboard and ask for your Member’s or Senator's office or contact the District Office. You can also fax or e-mail. For your legislator’s contact information and to send a prepared message, visit the Lifespan Respite Task Force.
Message for Legislators: Please cosponsor the Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248, S 1283). The bill authorizes competitive grants to states to make quality respite available and accessible to family caregivers, regardless of age, disability, or family situation. Respite, the most frequently requested family support service among the more than 50 million family caregivers nationwide, provides family caregivers with relief necessary to maintain their own health, bolster family stability, keep marriages intact, and avoid or delay much more costly nursing home or foster care placements. Respite, however, is in short supply or inaccessible for all age groups.
In our own state of _________________, respite is desperately needed for all family caregivers. [Fill in any need or outcome data you may have or personalize it to your own family's needs]
The Lifespan Respite Care Act is based on model Lifespan Respite Systems in Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Michigan recently enacted state Lifespan Respite legislation. These systems provide easy access to an array of affordable, quality respite services; ensure flexibility to meet diverse needs; and assist with locating, training, and paying respite providers. We know Lifespan Respite Systems work.
To cosponsor in the House, please contact Tom Fussaro in Rep. Michael Ferguson's (R-NJ) office or Amy Judge in Rep. Langevin's (D-RI) office. In the Senate, please contact Chris Yianilos in Senator Warner's (R-VA) office or Diane Elmore in Senator Clinton's (D_NY) office.
To Join the ARCH National Respite Network and keep up to date on the bill and NRC activities, please email Mike Mathers, ARCH, Chapel Hill Training-Outreach Project, Inc. For more information on the legislation, please contact Jill Kagan, ARCH National Respite Coalition at 703-256-9578. Visit National Respite Coalition website.
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