House passes Collins-authored bill to set national family caregivers strategy

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved its version of a bipartisan proposal originally introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) that would establish a national family caregivers support strategy.

The House on Dec. 18 passed the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act, H.R. 3759, which was introduced Sept. 13 by U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS).

Sen. Collins on May 3 introduced the Senate bill, S. 1028, with Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), which passed that body by unanimous consent on Sept. 26.

“I am delighted that the House has now passed our bipartisan legislation, which will develop a coordinated strategic plan to leverage our resources, promote best practices, and expand services and training available to caregivers,” Collins said on Dec. 19 following the House vote.

“I look forward to our bill becoming law,” she added.

The legislation would direct the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and sustain a strategy recognizing and supporting the more than 40 million family caregivers in the United States.
Additionally, the Family Caregiving Advisory Council would be established under the bill with members representing older citizens, persons with disabilities, care givers, paraprofessionals, veterans, and others.

Republicans who cosponsored H.R. 3759 include U.S. Reps. Don Bacon of Nebraska; Mike Bishop of Michigan; Diane Black of Tennessee; Ryan Costello, Patrick Meehan and Glenn ‘G.T.’ Thompson of Pennsylvania; Carlos Curbelo of Florida; Rodney Davis and Darin LaHood of Illinois; Dan Donovan and John Katko of New York; Tom Emmer of Minnesota; Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey; Lynn Jenkins of Kansas; Bruce Poliquin of Maine; and Jim Renacci and Steve Stivers of Ohio.

AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Arc are among the more than 60 organizations that have endorsed the bill.