PRINTER'S NO. 31
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
44
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY CALTAGIRONE, SAINATO, FREEMAN, READSHAW,
LONGIETTI, YOUNGBLOOD, MURT, PASHINSKI, KORTZ, STRUZZI,
CIRESI AND HILL-EVANS, JANUARY 28, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 28, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to provide all veterans
access to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Caregiver Support Program.
WHEREAS, There are nearly 900,000 veteran residents of this
Commonwealth who have served in the United States Armed Forces,
including approximately 615,000 veterans who served prior to
September 11, 2001; and
WHEREAS, Our veteran population deserves the best available
care and resources, including the ability to receive that care
at home from a loved one with the appropriate training to assist
them with their personal care needs and instrumental activities
of daily living; and
WHEREAS, The role of a caregiver requires dedication,
substantial time and effort to ensure the health and well-being
of our veterans; and
WHEREAS, Such dedication can take an emotional and physical
toll on the caregiver, including the ability for caregivers to
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maintain a separate livelihood; and
WHEREAS, On May 5, 2010, the United States marked the
investment and support needed by family caregivers of post-9/11
veterans by creating the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs Caregiver Support Program; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Caregiver Support Program provides critical support services and
benefits that have a positive impact on a caregiver's ability to
care for a veteran; and
WHEREAS, Current law excludes pre-9/11 veterans from
participating in the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs Caregiver Support Program; and
WHEREAS, According to the RAND Corporation, of the 5.5
million military caregivers in the United States, only 19.6% are
post-9/11 veterans, leaving a large population of caregivers
without assistance; and
WHEREAS, An expansion of the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program would create an
equitable system and access for all service-era veterans; and
WHEREAS, The benefits and services available for the family
caregivers of post-9/11 era veterans should be made available to
veterans of all service eras; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to responsibly grant access to the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program to all
service-era veterans and direct that copies of this resolution
be transmitted to the President of the United States, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to each member of Congress
from Pennsylvania.
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