Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I voice my support of the Lifespan Respite Care Act.  For more than 4 years, I have worked to pass a bill that will ease the burden of responsibility on family caregivers. 

An estimated 26 million Americans are currently caring for an adult family member who is chronically ill or disabled. An estimated 18 million children have chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions that place significant demands on their parents. Family caregivers live in all of our communities, and they are often silent heroes, ensuring family stability and helping those who struggle with disease or disability to avoid more costly out-of-home placements.  While voluntary care is personally rewarding, it can result in substantial emotional, physical, and financial strain on the caregiver.  They need to know they are not alone, and they need to know where to turn when their daily burdens become too much for them to bear.  Respite care services relieve caregivers from daily caregiving tasks on a temporary or longer-term basis. 

Many lifespan respite programs are already in place at the state and local levels, providing invaluable services to the families of people with chronic disease or disability.  Yet, in too many situations, caregivers do not know how to find information about available respite care and access these services.  In other cases, respite care is simply unavailable to those who need it.  I originally introduced the Lifespan Respite Care Act in the 107th Congress, working with the National Respite Coalition to craft a bill that would assist states and local organizations in identifying and filling the gaps in their systems.  While I do wish we could have addressed this important issue sooner, I am grateful to Representative Ferguson for his leadership in ensuring this bill came to the House floor.  By passing this legislation and committing to build upon successful existing programs, we can make a powerful statement to so many Americans who are silently struggling.  It is a statement of gratitude for their many hours of work, and a statement of support for when the challenges become too daunting.

I thank the Congressional leadership for their hard work in moving this bill forward.  I urge all my colleagues to vote in favor of the Lifespan Respite Care Act.