Folks, this is one of the most important posts you’ll read since we introduced SB25 back in 2020.
Our Texas group has played a major role in the development of a proposed “Essential Caregivers Act of 2024" anticipated to be introduced to Congress in D.C. in May, 2024. This is great because May is also Older Americans Month!
This bill is a culmination of three years of work from Caregivers for Compromise groups across the country and the final language was very much influenced by Texas and Connecticut as we had work sessions, Zooms, phone calls, in-person meetings, email evaluations, writes and re-writes with the bill authors who Senators: Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX)
House Representatives: Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and John Larson (D-CT).
This bill is BICAMERAL meaning both houses and both parties. There is a Senate bill and a House companion so it is a four corners bill with a very good chance of actually moving forward.
Y’all, I thought it was incredible that Texas HHSC adopted essential caregivers into emergency visitation guidelines after our group introduced the concept to our state.
I thought it was AMAZING that legislators worked with us to develop a statute that exceeded anything any other state was doing for residents in long-term care facilities.
THEN, the amendment to the Constitution of the State of Texas giving long-term care residents in Texas permanent safety from being wholly isolated for “their protection” was more than I could have every hoped for.
Texas stepped up - YOU stepped up and campaigned and called and sacrificed - and our residents are protected.
But this? This is beyond words, beyond hope, and beyond ANYTHING I could have imagined back in 2020 when people ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY said goodbye virtually or not at all, waved at loved ones through windows or those barbaric plexiglass booths, begged their legislators to accept calls, and heard how forced isolation was for our loved ones’ safety.
So, Texas is still taking the lead and we will keep each of you informed on the bill’s introduction but right now, we need to let everyone know what the bill says and how it affects their loved ones.
We are Texas Caregivers for Compromise and not only are we #notgoingaway but we are going to Washington cuz it's not enough to JUST change Texas for residents in long-term care. Not everyone was lucky enough to be born here!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR HERE
READ THE BILL HERE: