Update: Following March 16 testimony by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, on March 17, bipartisan Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced a Senate companion bill, The Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act

On February 25, U.S. House Reps. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) introduced the bipartisan Elizabeth Dole Home and Community Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2022 (H.R. 6823) to provide critical investment in caregiver support at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Counties support this legislation, which would provide greater access to resources and services for caregivers and their families as they navigate complex VA systems.

The Elizabeth Dole Act reinvests in caregiver support at the VA, establishes a user-friendly resource center and expands VA Home-Based Community Services nationwide. This legislation provides greater access to resources and helps to determine which services provide optimal support for the caregiver, veteran, and their family, as they navigate a complex web of available assistance.

Among its many provisions, The Elizabeth Dole Act would:

• Improve the transition of caregivers who are ineligible for or were discharged from the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and establish automatic enrollment in the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS)
• Require the development of a standardized assessment tool to help assess the needs of the family and recommend specific Home and Community-Based Services
• Create a digital hub for caregiver resources
• Expand VA Home-Based Community Services and leverage caregiver-inclusive language 
• Commission a VA report with recommendations on how VA might expand mental health services and support for caregivers
• Enhance coordination of the VA with nonprofits and Veteran Service Organizations to address gaps in resources and work collaboratively to support the military caregiving community

Counties are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to increase caregiver support and raise awareness through the Hidden Heroes Cities and Counties Program. We strongly urge Congress to pass this legislation during the 117th Congressional session to ensure additional federal resources are available to this important population.

A one-pager on the Elizabeth Dole Act can be found here. Read NACo’s Letter of Support for the measure here.

Additional Resources

• NACo Blog: U.S. House passes legislation to fund County Veterans Service Officers, address toxic exposure
• NACo Policy Brief: Authorize Resources for County Veteran Service Officers (CVSOs)