Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee passed the Elizabeth Dole Home- and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act, a comprehensive bill to improve VA programs for aging veterans authored by Brownley.
“I am so pleased that my bill, the Elizabeth Dole Act, has passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee with strong, bipartisan support,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “This important legislation will make the necessary and systematic improvements needed to ensure aging and disabled veterans and their caregivers receive the care and support they have earned to thrive.
“The silver tsunami of aging veterans is approaching and for most, institutional care is unwanted and unnecessary. Research also shows aging veterans’ health outcomes are better when they have the choice to stay home. My bill directly addresses the need for improved home care by expanding existing home- and community-based services so that we can delay, if not prevent, a veteran from needing institutional care.
“In addition to expanding existing home- and community-based programs at VA, this legislation will raise the cap on how much VA can pay for the cost of home care. This small but highly impactful change will serve our most vulnerable veterans with ALS or serious spinal cord injuries.
“When we support veterans staying in their homes, it means families can stay together, caregivers have the support they need, and veterans remain connected to their communities.
“I am committed to continue working with my colleagues to ensure that the bill makes its way to President Biden’s desk, so that our nation’s veterans can have access to the care they need to age in comfort and with dignity. Our veterans deserve no less.”
The Elizabeth Dole Home- and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act passed the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously on July 26, 2023. To view the full committee markup of H.R. 542, including Congresswoman Brownley’s remarks, click here.
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Issues: 118th Congress, Veterans' Affairs