(Washington, D.C.) – Leaders of the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee sent a bi-partisan, bi-cameral letter to President Barack Obama yesterday calling on him to ensure that eligibility for a law Congress passed to support veterans caregivers is not limited and that the law is implemented in a timely manner. In the letter, the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Congressional Committees that oversee the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) expressed their frustration over VA and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delays in moving forward with caregivers support, and with additional criteria that will severely limit the ability for some family caregivers to access the benefit. Specifically, the Congressional leaders asked the President to direct OMB to “ensure that the regulations or other elements of the program’s implementation comply with the specific eligibility criteria that are set out in the law.”

“It’s simply unacceptable that the VA would limit a program Congress designed to support family members of veterans who have left behind careers, lives, and responsibilities to see that their loved one can recover at home,” said Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Patty Murray. “We are calling on the President to make sure that the will of Congress and the needs of these veterans are not being ignored.  Caring for our veterans is part of the cost of war.  This program is part of the cost of war.”

“When he signed the Caregiver Law, President Obama stood with wounded veterans and caregivers in promising that they’d be getting the help they needed,” said House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller. “We’re now calling on him to fulfill that pledge and direct his administration to hear the will of Congress, veterans, and caregivers to get this program right.”

“This legislation was originally designed to provide a path forward for caregivers who are already sacrificing their own aspirations in order to make the lives of severely wounded veterans easier to bear,” said Senator Richard Burr, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “I urge the President to work with VA to get this bill right so that caregivers in dire need of assistance can receive the benefits promised to them,”

“VA’s continued delay in the implementation of such a vital program is inexcusable.  Many of these caregivers have wiped out their savings, have had to forego their own health care coverage and have given up their careers in order to care for their loved one,” said Rep. Bob Filner Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Last year, Congress saw fit to extend critical benefits to the Caregivers of our nation’s veterans and we will not stand idly by as VA prolongs the process.  Too much time has passed already.”

The full text of the letter follows:

March 8, 2011

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

                We are writing regarding the family caregivers assistance program established in Public Law 111-163, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, which you signed into law on May 5, 2010.  To date, implementation of this program is significantly behind the schedule mandated in law.  The statutory deadline for the full implementation of this program was January 30, 2011.  Our concerns were raised with you about this previously, and after conversations with members of your senior staff, we understand that you are directing your Administration to get this program back on track such that services should commence early this summer.

                We ask that you direct the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Office of Management and Budget to implement the necessary interim-final regulations for this program within 60 days of the date of this letter.  We also ask that you direct OMB to ensure that the regulations and other elements of the program’s implementation comply with the specific eligibility criteria that are set out in the law.  VA’s reluctance to work with Congress and veterans advocates has led to a situation where caregivers remain unclear if they will receive the support Congress intended for them.

Further delay of this program hurts veterans and caregivers in need of these critical benefits and services.  Further, limiting eligibility to arbitrary and stringent criteria, contrary to the intent of the law, creates undue hardship for veterans and family caregivers meant to be helped by the new program.  Instruction and training in the provision of care, respite, technical assistance, counseling, and a living stipend for those who are forced to leave their jobs or work fewer hours to provide care to their loved ones are all being withheld as some in VA attempt to stymie this program.  VA and OMB need your leadership to implement this program. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
                                                                               
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee                                                                                                                                                    
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL 1st), Chairman, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Ranking Member, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA 51st), Ranking Member, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee      

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March 9, 2011