Barbara Mikulski: “my amendment would give a tax credit up to $5,000 to family caregivers. My amendment would help a family dealing with…”

“my amendment would give a tax credit up to $5,000 to family caregivers. My amendment would help a family dealing with juvenile diabetes, a spouse taking care of someone with Alzheimer's, a parent taking care of an adult son with Down's syndrome. My tax credit would pay for prescription drugs, home health care, durable medical equipment--things that give help to those families practicing self-help. These families face a tremendous financial and emotional burden. Families will deal with their own emotional burden, but I believe America should step up and help them with their financial burden as they deal with caregiving in the United States of America. Mr. President, 125 million Americans have chronic conditions; 18 million of those are children. Family caregivers are often stretched to the limit, often working two jobs. This amendment costs $35 billion. We can afford it and we ought to do it.”