Julia Brownley: “I thank Ranking Member Takano for his partnership and his efforts to bring this important bill for our Nation's disabled…”

“I thank Ranking Member Takano for his partnership and his efforts to bring this important bill for our Nation's disabled and aging veterans and their caregivers to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, Representative Bergman's and my bill, H.R. 542, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act. I am so proud to have authored this legislation, which delivers the largest set of reforms to the VA's long-term care programs in decades. The bill will significantly expand access to the programs disabled and aging veterans need to live their lives at home and with their families. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide access to all home- and community-based services, such as home health aides, home-based primary care, home skilled nursing, and respite care for caregivers to all veterans who need them. Currently, elderly and disabled veterans only have access to these programs if their VA medical centers choose to offer them. My bill would also require VA to improve care coordination between the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and VA's other home-based programs. If a veteran does not meet the enrollment criteria for the comprehensive caregiver program, VA would be required to proactively assist the veteran and their caregiver in enrolling in other home-based programs and ensure there is a warm handoff for those who do not qualify for the comprehensive caregiver program.…”