Senator Murray Statement on Implementation of Her VA Caregivers Expansion

Murray Has Overseen Implementation of the Caregivers Program Since Its Inception; Secured Expansion in 2018

Murray: “Today, the Caregivers Program is taking a big step forward toward filling those cracks and helping people caring for their loved ones, but our work is not done yet”

ICYMI: Following Push from Senator Murray, VA Announces Extension of Caregivers Program for Legacy Participants – MORE HERE

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released the following statement on the rollout of the VA’s expansion of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (“Caregivers Program”) to veterans of all eras. Senator Murray wrote the legislation expanding the program in 2018 in the VA MISSION Act and continues to push back against efforts to curtail eligibility for the program. She has also called for VA to revise its unnecessarily restrictive criteria to ensure it aligns with Congressional intent so that veterans and their families can access the critical services and care they have earned.

“This will make a huge difference for veterans and caregivers across Washington state and the country. I wrote this bill because too many veterans and their caregivers were falling through the cracks and veterans were not getting the care they needed. Today, the Caregivers Program is taking a big step forward toward filling those cracks and helping people caring for their loved ones, but our work is not done yet,” said Senator Murray.

“From the time I oversaw the implementation of the Caregivers Program as chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I have been fighting to bring the program more in line with Congressional intent and hold the VA accountable where implementation has come up short. I’m going to keep fighting until every veteran and caregiver who needs support can get it.”

Senator Murray is a longtime champion for strengthening federal investments in caring for veterans, and as former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Murray oversaw the initial implementation of the Caregiver Support Program starting in 2011 and since then has worked diligently to expand it and has been following its implementation closely. She has also secured billions of dollars to support caregivers through the appropriations process. Senator Murray first introduced the Military and Veterans Caregiver Services Improvement Act in 2014 to expand eligibility for the Caregivers Program to veterans who served prior to September 11, 2001 and add child care services (or a stipend to cover such services), financial planning services, and legal services. Senator Murray has sent multiple letters to the VA calling for reforms to the Caregivers Program and urging the VA to dedicate enough resources to the program.

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