Transcripts For CSPAN2 Elizabeth Dole Testifies On Needs Of

Transcripts For CSPAN2 Elizabeth Dole Testifies On Needs Of Military Caregivers 20170831

[inaudible conversations] this hearing will come to order. Good afternoon. I welcome all of you, veterans, caregivers and advocates, especially my former colleague, senator Elizabeth Dole, who is an extraordinary advocate for military caregivers. Our military families, heroes and plain clothing are serving in American Cities and communities every single day. The effects of military Service Often do not end with a tour of duty. For many veterans and their families, the journey sometimes extends for a lifetime. For some with both visible and invisible scars from a transition home is not easy. Recovery two can take decades. Along the way, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and other family members and friends step in to serve. Today we will focus on those who care for americans veterans. In the United States, there are fivepoint is million military caregivers. These family members and loved ones provide care on a constant and routine basis to our veterans. They are often vital in assisting veterans to make the transition all the way home. Military caregivers improve recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration are wounded, injured and disabled veterans. The number of military caregivers has been on the rise has veterans from iraq and afghanistan return home. Approximately 20 of military caregivers today are caring for a post9 11 werent. The needs and experiences to post9 11 veterans differ from those of pre9 11 veterans. While veterans from past conflicts and wars are aging and facing agerelated conditions, including alzheimers and cardiovascular diseases, post9 11 veterans tend to be younger and face higher rates of ptsd, depression, Substance Abuse and dramatic brain injury. Today, we will learn more about the innate needs of military caregivers and what we can do to better support them. We will also unveil a rand report commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole foundation called improving support for americas Hidden Heroes. This report is a Research Blueprint for the future that offers a vision to advance our understanding of caregiver needs. Our military caregivers like all caregivers make many personal and Financial Sacrifices to ensure their loved ones had the care they need. They may have to miss work, turn down promotions or even leave the workforce altogether, creating what is at times an enormous financial strain for families. This toll affects the National Economy as a whole. The lawson product david e. With post9 11 caregivers, consternation of approximately 6 billion per year. Ive introduced Bipartisan Legislation that would utter serve caregivers, including our military families. The rays Family Caregivers act would require the department of health and Human Services to develop a National Strategy to recognize and support more than 40 million Family Caregivers. This bill, which i introduced by senator tammy baldwin, has passed the Health Committee and i look forward to seeing it signed into law one day as a result of the advocacy of many who are here. In addition, the bipartisan military and veteran Caregiver Services improvement not would expand eligibility for the Va Caregiver Program to veterans of all generations, and not just the post9 11 generation. This is a program that helps veterans who were wounded, ill or injured fine supporting resources to those who have taken on the caregiver role for them in the lifespan respite care reauthorization act would authorize 15 million per year over the next five years to allow fulltime caregivers to take a temporary break from their responsibilities. This respite care is crucial. It protects the Health Care Coverage increases the need for longterm care and allows individuals who remain need care, to remain in the comfort of their own homes. Despite their enormous sacrifice, military caregivers typically do not receive awards and admiration that American Veterans deservedly do. We must never forget our military caregivers who are all so true heroes. Americas military caregivers enable veterans living with visible and invisible injuries to recover, and remain involved with communities and enjoy fuller lives. We should do all that we can to support them. I am now pleased to turn to her Ranking Member, senator casey, for his opening remarks. Thank you Committee Chairman collins. Appreciate you calling this hearing. I want to thank you in so many others today. What you think of solar former colleague, senator dole for your tireless work on behalf of military caregivers. Many of the brave men and women who have served our country in the armed forces returned home, bearing the marks of that service. Joining us today are some of those who serve are usually so america can remain the land of the free. To paraphrase of my father once said, quote, we pray for military families and their loved ones around the globe, but we also pray for ourselves that we may be worthy of their valor. To thank you for your service to our country. In order to better serve you holding this hearing today to recognize not only our veterans, but the Hidden Heroes of the military, the estimated 5. 5 million military caregivers across the country. Military caregivers in many different foreign spouses, family, friends, neighbors and of course fellow veterans among them. The majority, roughly 60 of those caregivers are women. We will also hear from our witnesses have a hearing for a web one in understanding a hearing for a loved one can be stressful physically, emotionally and financially. We made progress in helping our caregivers other witnesses will tell us, we have more to do. We must strengthen the supports currently available and help more caregivers who need access to these supporters of other soldiers in vietnam or afghanistan, theyre caregiver should receive the same benefits and support of the va. Thats why im a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Legislation which support Services Available to caregivers. Ensuring veterans and their families risk the the care they need is also while i will continue to fight against efforts to decimate medicaid report released by the Congressional Research service, explains manuel veterans are eligible for medical care from the va. Many veterans cannot access these services, for example, because they dont have a va facility nearby. Sometimes family members dont qualify for va services. That is another coverage options. Medicaid provides health care to 900,000 900,000 working age veterans. 340,000 of whom game coverage following recent action by some states to ask the medicaid and 660,000 veterans spouses coverage as well. These families who serve our country and for millions more, childrens come individuals from the medicaid must be protected. Since it covers those 900,000 veterans in over 660,000 spouses, proposals to cut medicaid substantially change health care should be the subject of hearings. I look forward to hearing today from our witnesses on additional steps congress can take to better support our nations military caregivers and their families. Thank you. Thank you, senator casey. This appears to be North Carolina day, but for the committee is always pennsylvania state, but we are very fortunate that both senators from North Carolina serve on the committee and one of our chief witnesses, plus some of our veterans in caregivers are from North Carolina. So i would like to give senator byrd, senator tillis the opportunity to welcome those hear from your home states. Thank you, chairman collins and Ranking Member casey for holding this important hearing on military caregivers. I particularly thank you are allowing senator tillis and myself the opportunity to share the pleasure of introducing the fine North Carolina witness says we are here to testify and represent here today. Military caregivers is an extremely important issue nationally and certainly in North Carolina were veterans make up 10 of our population. We have to Power Couples fighting for veterans represented here today and for my half of the introductions i want to welcome my former colleague in the United States senate and good friend, Elizabeth Dole, back to the senate. Senator dole has distinguished Public Record of Public Service in and out of government that many no hear from leading the department of transportation to serving as secretary of labor, to serving as president of the american red cross, senator dole has been there with grace and diligence. What i want to this alert here today what i want to subvert her for today is just the latest chapter of first or a Public Service in the veterans advocacy. Not only has she stood by the side of certain army captain who also knows his way around the senate halls, but shes also been a relentless advocate through the Elizabeth Dole foundation of all of our nations veterans. Bob and Elizabeth Dole, whether in the halls of the United States senate or walter reid, continue to serve our nation and speak up on behalf of companies of veterans and their caregivers. Im glad that our committee will be hearing from them today and learning the important lesson about where we still need to improve. A thank you, senator dole for the grace and steadfast attention you bring to any issue you topple and they know that your Senate Family as well as our military Caregiving Community will be well served by hearing your voice today. I now turn to my friend and colleague to make additional introductions. Thank you, senator. Its great to see you here. I appreciate you in this advocacy with whom ive had many discussions about. Enjoy the kickoff and i look forward to continuing to provide support. Chairman collins, i have the distinct privilege to introduce two other constituents, mary and tom ward. I met mary and tom ward on a few different occasions now and from time to time a pet dog. They wouldnt let me do it today. They travel here and i have to say its a real testament to their commitment to the issue of caregiving not only for themselves, but for everyone else and appreciate your leadership and not to see and we love it every time you come up and visit. 1972 to 1975. 1993 you were about 13 years in your marriage when tom contract did encephalitis and after signs of cognitive difficulties surfaced. In 2010, tom was diagnosed with als. Als is a progressive disease that veterans develop an rates higher than the general population. Variable share her story is the caregiver for her husband come including challenges serving as a caregivers to continuing to remain employed and actually advocate on behalf of all caregivers. Madam chair, and please to have been here today and i look forward to their testimony. It will also tell you, tom and mary, im on the Veterans Affairs committee which is made at the same time right now and im going to step out of this committee because you all know the work we do there is directly related to this issue. Also coming up my commitment on the Senate Armed Services that we are trying to get this right from the time someone is in active service until the time they moved their way through. Thank you for being here today. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you very much. Although senator dole has already been introduced, i do want to add a few comments about the work she has done about the founder of the Elizabeth Dole foundation and military caregivers. Through the foundation, senator dole has shed light on the immense challenges a saner nations fivepoint i million military caregivers and shes really worked across the aisle. She actually brought nancy pelosi and me together to write an oped in support of a bill, not that that is not shocking, but around here these days, that kind of bipartisan collaboration can be rare indeed. That shows to me the work that senator dole has done to create a community of military caregivers through which they can connect, share advice, stories and advocate for more support. I want to play now that senator dole is this just as a volunteer and a thinker leadership has been extraordinary. I am familiar with the dole Caregiver Fellowship Program and had an individual from the state of maine participate in that and i just want to thank you for your service and i look forward to hearing your testimony. On the same panel, we will hear from someone whom i staff was all excited about meeting and matt is right in phillipe. As many of you know, ryan is an actor, director and writer and more important from todays youth, he is also an ambassador of the Elizabeth Dole foundations Hidden Heroes campaign, which helps connect military caregivers to Critical Resources and connect them with other caregivers. Ryan, thank you for supporting our Hidden Heroes to care for her veteran heroes each and every day. Senator dole, please proceed. Thank you so much. Thank you chairman collins come Ranking Member casey and members of the committee for calling todays hearing. By doing so, the committee demonstrates its military veteran caregivers. Chairman collins, i owe you a special thanks for your strong support of key legislation and a hit here as conference you are cochairing. You are sending a very powerful signal that our nations leaders must stand with the military caregivers. Thank you so very much. This is not my first time testifying before the Senate Committee on aging. Recently i came across testimony i gave on june 29, 1978, 39 years ago when i was a member of the federal trade commission. Like each of you, and once got up there is a member of this committee. To be honest with the many issues before the senate, i did not know at the time the benefit they are giving to our nation and a huge personal toll is taking. That all changed in 2011 when my husband bob was hospitalized at walter reid. I became friends with spouses, and has come a sitting bedside selflessly looking at their wounded ill or injured veteran. Their strength was incredible. Yet i can see they were carried an emotional plate almost too heavy to bear as they reeled over their loved ones injuries, they were being asked to make extremely difficult situation and they were wrestling with the fact he might serving in his new role for the rest of their lives. Just as heartbreaking are the stories of pre9 11 caregivers whove been supporting their loved ones for years without any acknowledgment, struggling to care for the latent effects of undiagnosed posttraumatic stress, agent orange, a decadesold dramatic brain injuries now causing early onset dementia. These caregivers are just as terrifying, just as isolated, just as important to their veterans. When they applied for the va caregiver when they are told the timing of their service does not qualify them for support. An incredible 5. 5 million americans caregivers are served in each of your states right now, dressing and bathing and feeding our veterans performing athome injections, managing medications, staying for emotional triggers. Its a 24 hour job. They are superiors and we begin by the Rand Corporation to undertake the First Comprehensive nationwide evidencebased research of the military caregivers. Rent experts concluded the most important factor to Wounded Warriors recovery or improvement was a well supported caregiver. This statement could have been the headline of the report but it was so shattered by more alarming findings, the Research Uncovered high instances of isolation. Physical ailments, unemployment, death, legal challenges and much, much more. They are clearly suffering under the circumstances. There is an argument with 14 billion as an unpaid voluntary force. Last september, the Elizabeth Dole foundation launched 10 years of Multifaceted Campaign featuring the first of its kind website full of carefully vetted resources for caregivers to connect with one another. We announced Hidden Heroes cities, galvanizing to caregivers in their midst in the local resource is to support them. Im proud to say weve recruited 100 cities today from augusta to pittsburgh, charlotte to las vegas. Our campaign is chaired by Actor Tom Hanks and the goodlooking guy sitting next to me, ryan phillipe is a Hidden Heroes ambassador. Ryan is an awardwinning actor and star of u. S. A. Network where he plays the role military veteran bob lee swagger. More significantly, ryan has close family ties to t

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