Caregivers And Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today for those veterans who can't. I rise today for the catastrophically injured veterans who have to battle their injuries and their rising health care costs. I rise today for those caregivers who dedicate their lives to supporting our wounded warriors and our military families. I rise today to support S. 1963 and the two provisions in the bill that I was proud to author.

The first provision, H.R. 1335, would relieve the burden of costly copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans who receive medical or nursing home care from the VA. This was the first piece of legislation that I introduced when I came to Congress because I knew that there are men and women who have served honorably that need our help. These are brave men and women who have sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have every day. These are men and women who struggle through their routines in life that we take for granted, and they should not have to struggle to make their copays.

Passing this measure into law would be a great way to show our support for our wounded warriors and to show that we are truly dedicated to making their lives better.

However, it is not just our injured veterans who need our help. Every day in districts across the country caregivers provide essential services to our veterans. When my stepson, Jay, was injured in Afghanistan and recuperating at Walter Reed, I spoke to so many of these families who just began their second battle, the battle to rehabilitate. That is why I worked to include in this bill H.R. 2898, the Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act, to provide support services to those taking care of our wounded warriors. Just as it is our duty to care for a disabled soldier, passing this provision would help care for those who work tirelessly every day to look after our injured veterans.

I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring those who have sacrificed for us by supporting this legislation.

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