Obama signs veteran caregiver relief act

With an American Legion official standing behind him May 5, President Barack Obama signed into law the long-awaited Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act. As its name implies, the act calls for the government to provide health benefits, training, respite care and, in some cases, monetary stipends for individuals who provide at-home care for severely ill and disabled veterans.

"This is a big step in the right direction," National Commander Clarence Hill said. "Finally, the sacrifices made by the families and caregivers of our wounded warriors are being recognized and, more importantly, their needs are beginning to be met."

Many of The American Legion's top legislative priorities have been included in the congressionally popular Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, including improvements for women's services at VA health-care facilities, better support for caregivers of disabled veterans, expanded mental-health services and more funding to help reduce homelessness among veterans.

As it stands, the benefits of the new act apply primarily, though not exclusively, to veterans and caregivers of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) - the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. According to a House Veterans Affairs Committee press release, the act does require the Department of Veterans Affairs "...to provide hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for certain Vietnam-era veterans exposed to herbicide, and Gulf-War era veterans who have insufficient medical evidence to establish a service-connected disability," but contains little else specific to veterans of the pre-9/11 era other than to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to "...submit a one-time report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding the program to cover veterans who have a serious injury incurred or aggravated before September 11, 2001."

"The American Legion has urged and will continue to press congressional leaders to expand this very important but incomplete legislation to benefit all seriously injured and ill veterans and their caregivers," Hill said. "Our nation must not forget them."

The estimated cost of implementing all current provisions of the act is $1.7 billion over the next five years. Observers say future funding will be the biggest obstacle to expansion of its benefits.

Robert Madden, assistant director for the Legion's Economic Division, attended the signing. To view the signing, click here.