Vets groups urge speed on caregiver benefits
A group of 19 military, veterans and medical organizations are urging Congress to quickly work out differences on legislation that would provide new benefits to caregivers of severely disabled veterans, saying families are waiting for the desperately needed help.“We stand ready to assist you in moving this vital legislation,” the groups said in a collective Dec. 9 letter that comes as House and Senate leaders are planning their schedules for the final days of the 2009 legislative session.“Strong caregiver assistance legislation this year will help our wounded warriors achieve maximum possible rehabilitation with dignity,” the letter says.Congressional aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the staffs of the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees are trying to work out differences between the Senate’s Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Services Act and the House’s Caregivers Assistance and Resource Enhancement Act. But they would not make any promises that a compromise could be reached this year.“We are working on a benefits bill and would like to get it passed this year,” said a Senate aide. “But you never know how things will turn out.”There is strong bipartisan support in Congress for the basic elements of a caregiver benefit plan that would include training in how to take care of a bedridden veteran, allowing the veteran…
More:
Vets groups urge speed on caregiver benefits
Related posts: