UPDATE: New Veteran Caregiver Benefits Signed Into Law
Dear Friend, I am proud to announce that a landmark veteran caregiver bill passed by Congress this April has been signed into law. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act will provide support services to family and other caregivers of all veterans, including assistance for caregivers living with severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The act will create two distinct caregiver programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs, one for caregivers of all veterans and one specifically designed for those supporting Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
Caregivers are defined as family members of veterans or non-family members who live with a veteran. Training, education, counseling, mental health services, lodging, financial assistance and subsistence payments for accompanying veterans on medical care visits will be provided to qualifying caregivers as a result of this legislation. It is important that we help the men and women in our troops, those who stand by them, as well as our veterans. These caregiver benefits are vitally needed and well-deserved.
We would not have been able to do this without the support of a broad coalition of veterans groups including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Wounded Warriors Project and the National Military Family Association. Once established by the Department of Veteran Affairs, these caregiver benefit programs will no doubt assist our military and veteran families across the country.
As always, you are welcome to visit my website at www.cuellar.house.gov/welcome where you can find information on the latest news from Congress and throughout our Congressional District. Sincerely, Henry Cuellar, Ph. D U.S. Congressman District 28 Texas |
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