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National UpdateLifespan Respite Act Legislative Update (HR 3248, S. 1283) Working collaboratively with its state respite coalitions, the NRC held two very successful and inspirational Mini State Lifespan Respite Summits in AL and NJ in the last few months. In Alabama, the AL Lifespan Respite Network worked with the NRC to pull together Network partners from AARP, Early Childhood, AL Children’s Trust Fund and other state agencies and state wide organizations, family caregivers, and friends in the State Legislature to hold the summit across the street from the State Capitol in Montgomery. The AL Network not only increased its visibility statewide, but garnered some new found support from state legislators. At the federal level, three more Congressmen from the AL Congressional delegation signed on in support of the Lifespan Respite Care Act in response to the summit. In NJ, the Epilepsy Foundation of NJ and the NJ Family Support Coalition, responded to a request from Rep. Ferguson, our House champion for the Lifespan Respite bill, to hold a Lifespan respite summit in his district in NJ. Rep. Ferguson joined me as a keynote speaker and organizations and family members came from across the state to participate. As a result, Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey, Inc., Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, and Caregivers Coalition of Morris County, NJ, signed on to endorse the Lifespan Respite Care Act and pledged to help get more NJ legislators on the bill. The director of the new Caregiver Initiative at Johnson and Johnson Company based in New Jersey was also in attendance and expressed great interest in the legislation and the work of the National Respite Coalition. Bill Status in Congress: House and Senate Committee staff are having discussions right now on ways to move the Lifespan Respite Care Bill forward. But they need our help now more than ever to shore up support to ensure that negotiations are ongoing and have asked us to triple the current number of House and Senate cosponsors. Even if you recently made contact with your federal legislators, we need you to keep the pressure on. Now is the time to make an appointment. If you haven’t done this yet, we need you to follow through if you want to see the bill passed in this election year. House and Senate members will be home again for the Memorial District work period from May 26 – June 5. Contact your Representatives and Senators and urge support for the Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248, S 1283). If they are already cosponsors, make sure to thank them and ask them to champion the bill with Committee Chairmen. Click here for list of current House cosponsors Click here for list of current Senate cosponsors ACTION: Feel free to use or edit the message below. Face to face meetings in the district offices are by far the most effective. Don’t forget the Memorial Day Recess is coming up May 26 – June 5!! Phone calls to the Health Legislative Assistants here in DC. Call 202-225-3121 are effective also. Call and ask for the Members office. For your legislators contact information and/or to send an email message, type in your zip code in the red, white and blue “Contact Congress box” on the NRC web page and cut and paste the message below: Dear : At a time when we are especially constrained by serious budget considerations, we should note the savings inherent in supporting cost-effective services such as respite. By delaying placement in a nursing facility for even one individual with Alzheimer’s or other serious chronic conditions for just a few months, thousands of dollars of Medicaid savings alone could potentially be realized. Respite, however, is in short supply or inaccessible for all age groups. In our own state of , respite is desperately needed for all family caregivers. [Fill in any need or outcome data you may have or personalize it to your own family’s needs] The Lifespan Respite Care Act is based on model Lifespan Respite Systems in Oregon, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. These systems provide easy access to an array of affordable, quality respite services; ensure flexibility to meet diverse needs; and assist with locating, training, and paying respite providers. We know Lifespan Respite Systems work. Cosponsor the bill today.
National Respite Conference |