Senators’ Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act expandsveteran caregivers’ access to employment assistance and health benefits
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – today introduced the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act to strengthen support for family caregivers of veterans.
The bipartisan legislation requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue providing needed support – including employment assistance and health care – for caregivers once their time as a caregiver is over to help them transition back into the workforce or into retirement.
“Caring for a loved one is a full time job – one that often requires family members to put their entire lives on hold. Our bipartisan bill expands and extends critical services to ensure caregivers remain supported when their time as a caregiver ends,” said Sinema.
“Family caregivers provide an invaluable service to their veteran loved ones, and we can support them by helping them successfully transition back into the workforce or into retirement once their time as a caregiver comes to an end,” said Moran. “This legislation answers a need I have heard about from veterans, caregivers and VA staff in Kansas and will make certain that support for former family caregivers does not abruptly end when the veteran the caregiver is caring for passes away, regains independence or transitions to a higher level of care.”
“So often caregivers are the forgotten heroes yet they provide life-saving care to the veterans they love,” said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), President and CEO of MOAA. “MOAA greatly appreciates Senators Moran and Sinema championing the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act as a tangible way to acknowledge the sacrifices of caregivers enrolled in VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers “We urge Congress to pass this important legislation to study the feasibility of creating successful financial pathways that are greatly needed for caregivers.”
“Quality of Life Foundation’s Wounded Veteran Family Care Program would like to thank Senators Moran and Sinema for sponsoring a bill that will help caregivers secure their financial futures beyond their caregiving years,” said Andrea Sawyer, Advocacy Director for the Quality of Life Foundation’s Wounded Veteran Family Care Program.“The Veteran Caregiver Re-education, Re-employment, and Retirement Bill being introduced by Senators Moran and Sinema allows caregivers support in renewing their professional certifications that lapsed during their caregiving years, incentivizes returnship opportunities with employers who support caregivers in their re-entry into the work world after their caregiving journeys have ended, and studies creating a pathway for caregivers to contribute to personal retirement accounts to secure their financial futures after their caregiving years have ended.”
“Every day The Elizabeth Dole Foundation hears from policymakers, partners, friends, and neighbors asking how they can do more to support military and veteran caregivers—the Hidden Heroes—who love and care for those who served our nation with pride,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.“For decades now, caregivers have been critical to the mission of America’s armed forces, working to improve the lives of millions of servicemen and women, but their contributions are often overlooked. This bill recognizes the essential role caregivers provide in communities across America and represents an important investment in their wellbeing. Provisions in this bill will help deliver employment, financial, and retirement resources to thousands of caregivers who deserve to know their nation stands beside them as they look to the future. We thank Senators Moran and Sinema for their unwavering commitment to these Hidden Heroes.”
Sinema and Moran’s bipartisan bill ensures that, when a veteran sufficiently recovers, needs a higher level of care, or passes away, the individual who has been caring for them receives support as they transition into the next chapter of their lives – whether it’s reentering the workforce, retiring, or continuing professional education.
“Caregivers are hidden heroes who often place their own needs and pursuits behind those of the severely wounded warriors they care for,” said Jose Ramos, vice president of government relations for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). “As caregiving situations change, or if the worst happens and a warrior passes away, we need to ensure that caregivers are supported as they move to the next phase of their lives, whether that means receiving additional education, re-entering the workforce, or deciding to retire. The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act will help ensure caregivers can support themselves, care more effectively for their wounded warrior, and look forward to a strong and empowering future, and WWP is grateful for the leadership of Senator Sinema on this critical issue.”
Specifically, the Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act will:
· Ensure family caregivers enrolled in the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) remain enrolled for up to 180 days following their dismissal from the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, unless they have been dismissed for fraud, abuse, or mistreatment.
· Require VA to reimburse family caregivers up to $1,000 for fees associated with maintaining the caregiver’s professional licensure and allow family caregivers to access VA training modules for the purpose of gaining credit for continuing professional education requirements.
· Require VA, in consultation with the Departments of Defense and Labor, to allow family caregivers access to certain employment assistance programs.
· Require VA to provide assistance returning to the workforce to family caregivers.
· Require VA to provide bereavement counseling and support for former family caregivers when their veteran loved one passes away.
· Study the feasibility and advisability of establishing a returnship program for family caregivers to assist them in reentering the workforce following their time as a caregiver.
· Study barriers and incentives to hiring former family caregivers to work for VA.
· Study the feasibility and advisability of establishing a retirement plan for family caregivers.