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• NRC Legislative Action Center: Send a Letter in Support of Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Today!

On October 26, 2011, Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Representative Catherine McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced the Lifespan Respite Reauthorization Act (HR 3266).The Act reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Program at a funding level of $50 million over five years. While new updated findings were added to the newly introduced bill, no substantive changes were made to the original program, which has only been funded since 2009. This reflects comments received by the Administration on Aging regarding the program’s reauthorization to sustain state respite coalition involvement, continue to allow program flexibility, and ensure access to respite services and information for all ages and all disabilities.  To read a summary of these comments, click here. 

Both Rep. Langevin and Rep. McMorris Rodgers cochair the House Disability Caucus.  Rep. Langevin has been a longtime supporter of the program, having sponsored the original bill in 2001. Rep. McMorris Rodgers serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over the bill. If your national, state or local organization would like to endorse the reauthorization legislation, please click here.  

Reps. Langevin and McMorris Rodgers sent a Dear Colleague seeking additional cosponsors.  Please contact your Representatives by calling 202-225-3121 and ask them to cosponsor HR 3266.  For more information, click here.

Officially, the Lifespan Respite Program, along with the Older Americans Act (OAA) Programs, expire on September 30, 2011. While Congress may continue to fund these programs, even after the expiration date, the ideal situation would be for Congress to expedite the reauthorization process. As a small, free-standing program that amends the Public Health Service Act, the Lifespan Respite Program is especially vulnerable to cuts this year as the nation awaits the final recommendations of the “Super Committee.” The committee, created by the law that raised the debt limit in early August, is tasked with proposing at least $1.2 trillion in debt reduction by November 23, which both houses of Congress are required to vote on by December 23. If the committee does not reach agreement of if Congress fails to enact their recommendations, automatic across the board program cuts will occur.

On September 9, 2011, the NRC was invited to provide input on OAA reauthorization at a formal meeting of Republican and Democratic staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which has jurisdiction over both the Older Americans Act and Lifespan Respite. NRC’s oral statement was related to the importance of respite in the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Another statement, signed by 35 national organizations, proposing an expedited reauthorization of Lifespan Respite with no changes to current law, was submitted to staff in writing.  The Senate HELP Committee would like to complete action on the OAA this fall, but little discussion on Lifespan Respite reauthorization has yet taken place. It is in the best interests of the Lifespan Respite Program that it be reauthorized quickly. The Senate could be persuaded to take quick action, but action is unlikely in the House any time soon. The Administration on Aging gathered public comments on Lifespan Respite reauthorization. A summary of the comments made is available for viewing at the AoA site.

For the position statement of the NRC/Lifespan Respite Task Force on Lifespan Respite Reauthorization, click here.

Participate by calling 888-785-9795 on Tuesday, July 26, and telling your members of Congress 3 main reasons repealing the program would be a mistake:

1.   CLASS Helps Americans - The CLASS program provides families with an affordable way to plan for future supports and services. CLASS will allow more Americans the ability to remain in their homes while getting the care they need.

2.   CLASS Saves Money - The Congressional Budget Office said CLASS will reduce the budget deficit by $83 billion over 10 years. The program also saves federal dollars spent on Medicaid by reducing the number of people relying on the program for long-term services and supports.

3.   Americans Support CLASS - A Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard poll found that 76% of Americans support the CLASS Act program.

Our Contact Congress system is also setup to send messages about CLASS to your members of Congress. There is no need to wait until Tuesday to send an e-mail. Our email campaign is already up and running.

Twitter Campaign for CLASS

If you and your organizations are Twitter users, you can tweet the following messages:

• @kaiserfamfound poll found that 76% of Americans favor #CLASS Act
• @WhiteHouse, the #GangofSix proposal to repeal #CLASSact is illogical. CLASS is solvent, helps reduce #Medicaid costs http://bit.ly/nMUiDA

Feel free to author your own tweet, but we ask that you include the #CLASSact hashtag. The coalition supporting CLASS is strong, but your voice makes it stronger. We hope you will encourage your board, your residents and your staff to call, send emails and tweet.

URGENT: Deadline May 20, 2011

Please ask your US House Representative to sign Congressional letter for FY 12 Lifespan Respite Funding

The House of Representatives is on recess next week – May 16 - 20. Many members will be greeting voters at their offices; others will be holding town meetings to hear from constituents. This is a great time to contact them and ask them to sign onto the letter being circulated in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) requesting $50 million for Lifespan Respite in FY 2012.  You can attend a town meeting or make an appointment to speak with them or their staff directly and let them know of your request. Or call 202-225-3121 and ask for the Representative’s office; then ask for the health legislative assistant. Leave a voicemail message if you must.

There is a deadline – Members must sign onto the letter by May 20, 2011.  For more Respite FACTS and Talking Points, See National Respite Coalition

February 19, 2011

President Obama Doubles Funding Request for Lifespan Respite Program

On February 14, 2011, President Obama released his budget proposal for FY 2012.  The new budget includes $10 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program in FY 2012, a $7.5 million increase over current funding levels and double what the President recommended last year. 

In keeping with the efforts of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families to assist families struggling to care for their aging relatives, AoA’s FY 2012 request proposes an additional +$40 million for the National Family Caregiver Support Program (including +$2 million for Native American caregivers) to provide information, assistance, counseling, training, and respite care support to family and informal caregivers; as well as an additional +$48 million for Home and Community-Based Supportive Services such as adult day care, transportation assistance, and minor home modifications that help caregivers to care for their loved ones at home.  For more information on the FY 12 HHS Proposed Budget, see http://www.hhs.gov/about/hhsbudget.html. 

February 11, 2011

Don’t let the US House of Representatives Zero Out Lifespan Respite, cut the National Family Caregiver Support Program, or Seriously Undermine the Safety Net for the Nation’s Most Vulnerable Citizens!

On February 9, 2011, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers announced a list of 70 spending cuts that will be included in an upcoming Continuing Resolution (CR) bill totaling over $74 billion. The proposed cuts include: $210 million from Maternal and Child Health Block Grants; $327 million from Title X Family Planning program; $755 million from the CDC; $758 million from WIC; $1.3 billion from Community Health Centers; and $96 million from Substance Abuse and Mental Health services!  Cuts to Lifespan Respite, the National Family Caregiver Support Program or other programs supporting respite and caregiver supports have not yet been announced, but many more similar proposed cuts are expected when the House takes up consideration of their FY 11 spending bill as early as next week!  In fact, Lifespan Respite could be zeroed out completely!  For more and to take action.....

 January 24, 2011

National Respite Coalition Receives Thank You Letter from Senator Tom Harkin for work on CAPTA Reauthorization

See below for important changes made to Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to strengthen Respite and Crisis Nurseries as important child abuse prevention strategies in the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program (CBCAP)

December 22, 2010 

Congress Will Leave Town without Funding Increases for Lifespan Respite, the National Family Caregiver Support Program, and most other Education, Social Service, and Health Programs

On Dec. 21, the House and Senate passed a temporary Continuing Resolution to keep government programs running until March 4, 2011, after the new Congress convenes, and sent it to the President for his signature.  As the 111^th Congress wound down, none of the dozen separate appropriations bills were enacted in time for the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1.  Instead, Congress passed temporary continuing resolutions to keep government running without any funding increases........for more and to take action, click here.