Elizabeth Dole

I ask you again, members of the Committee, and all of you here today to give your full support to the military caregivers serving our Nation.

Thank you Chairman Collins, Ranking Member Casey, and members of the committee for calling today's hearing.

I think our earlier RAND research also pointed this out, that many of them do not see themselves as a caregiver.

I established the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in 2012 to raise awareness and support for these hidden heroes.

Hidden Heroes Cities, the idea is we now have 100 cities, and we continue to grow these.

Chairman Collins, I owe you special thanks for your support of key legislation and the Hidden Heroes Caucus.

RAND's experts concluded that the most important factor to a wounded warrior's recovery or improvement was a well-supported caregiver.

We are finding out that there are more connections between certain diseases and military service, such as ALS, than we ever realized.

They are not acknowledged for what they are doing, and they are receiving very, very little in the way of services.

It is a very unfair situation. We need the legislation we are focused on today so that as soon as possible we can begin to meet the very unique needs of the pre-9/11 servicemembers and their caregivers.

Their strength was incredible. Yet, I could see they were carrying an emotional weight almost too heavy to bear.

Most Americans have no idea what is going on in military homes today.