On the recordApril 22, 2010
as chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am proud to urge our colleagues to support S. 1963, the proposed ``Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010,'' as amended. This bill reflects a compromise agreement between the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives on health care and related provisions for veterans and their caregivers. The House passed this bill, by a vote of 419-0, on April 21, 2009. When this bill was passed by the Senate on November 19, 2009, it would have greatly expanded assistance for veterans and family members. The bill in its current form, after being reconciled with legislation in the other body, provides even more robust services, but is also significantly less expensive than when this legislation was originally approved unanimously by the Senate. The centerpiece of this bill is a new program of caregiver assistance for our most seriously wounded veterans. The Committee has heard over and over about family members who quit their jobs, go through their savings, and lose their health insurance as they stay home to care for their wounded family members from the current conflicts.
