Olympia Snowe: “I thank Senator Enzi for the opportunity to speak today on this critical piece of legislation, as well as to commend the…”

“I thank Senator Enzi for the opportunity to speak today on this critical piece of legislation, as well as to commend the Senator from New York, Senator Clinton, for her advocacy and leadership on this most critical issue which is paramount to millions of families across this country, and to Senator Warner, who has also been a leading advocate and champion of this legislation. I certainly want to commend them both for making sure this legislation is coming to the forefront of the Congress in the final days and which, ultimately, will lead to its passage. I, also, want to express my commendations to the sponsor in the House of Representatives, Congressman Mike Ferguson, because this is clearly a very critical issue. He understands firsthand, personally, from his own family circumstances, how important care giving and respite services are for caregivers and how it is so essential and vital to our Nation's families. I know how important this is. In fact, I introduced the first legislation recognizing National Family Caregivers Week back in 1986. It is more than 20 years that I have been involved in such endeavors. There is no question--and it has been irrefutable across this country-- about the necessity of providing more support to those who provide support to families, to ailing family members. The fact is the need is more than $300 billion a year. We, also, know that it takes a tremendous toll on families to provide that care day in and day out.”