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Urgent Message for Caregivers – Contact Your Senators
I received the following message Friday evening. I’ve already contacted both my Senators, please contact yours.
March 6, 2009
Dear NFCA Members -
Last week the House passed the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations bill that includes first-time funding of $2.5 million for Lifespan Respite. However, there is significant concern that the bill could be delayed or even derailed in the Senate.
Please contact your Senators immediately (they are considering the bill right now on the floor) and urge them to support the omnibus bill and then mobilize your grassroots to do the same (Message Below). If the omnibus fails a cloture vote in the Senate, Congress will revert to a year-long Continuing Resoution with most disability, health, education and social service programs funded at the FY 2008 level, and NO funding for Lifespan Respite.
All Senators should be contacted (see http://www.senate.gov/ for your Senators’ contact information), but the following Senators are leaning no or undecided and especially need to hear from Omnibus supporters:
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Sen, Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
MESSAGE: I urge you to immediately pass the Fiscal 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill and oppose efforts to pass a continuing resolution for the remainder of the fiscal year.
A continuing resolution would result in drastic cuts to vital programs that are already struggling to address the unmet needs of people with disabilities. A continuing resolution does not permit even minimal growth in program funding to address inflation.
Moreover, long-awaited funding for the Lifespan Respite program would be completely eliminated. This new program was enacted in 2006 to support the nation’s 50 million family caregivers who provide the backbone of long-term care in the US, but it has never been funded. This bill includes a modest $2.5 million for respite to help families avoid or delay much more costly nursing home or foster care placements. In these difficult financial times, it is more important than ever that the federal government expand the safety net that protects people with disabilities and their families from untenable situations.
Please pass the Fiscal 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. Thank you for your consideration.
