Kathy Castor: “I thank my colleague, Mr. Courtney, for yielding the time and for his advocacy on behalf of America's families. I rise…”

“I thank my colleague, Mr. Courtney, for yielding the time and for his advocacy on behalf of America's families. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3759, the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, and I want to thank my good friend and colleague Congressman Gregg Harper for being my partner in this endeavor to bring more attention to the struggle of so many families across the country for more balance, more support, when they must take care of a sick family member or a friend. I would also like to thank Senator Susan Collins and Senator Tammy Baldwin, who have been tireless champions for caregivers and their families. Family caregiving has become the new normal in healthcare here in America because it is oftentimes astronomically expensive to hire a caregiver or to get a little respite. Some do, but for many families, the better decision is a tough one, oftentimes, to make a very significant personal sacrifice: quit your job or go part-time while they devote themselves to their loved one. All too often, caregivers are the only support system for their child with special needs or an aging family member, and they have little to no support for themselves. Many of America's veterans stay integrated in communities because of the sacrifices of their family members to make sure that they get out and about and get to their appointments and get the care and interaction that they need.…”