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Lifespan Respite Care Act Passed by the Senate

From: ALSA http://www.alsa.org/policy

The United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate have passed the Lifespan Respite Care Act (HR 3248). The House passed the legislation on Wednesday, while the Senate passed the bill late yesterday afternoon. President Bush is expected to sign the Lifespan Respite Care Act into law as early as next week.

This is a tremendous victory for people with ALS and their families. The bill authorizes $289 million over five years for respite care programs across the country and will help people with ALS and their families access much needed respite services. Importantly, because the funding is provided to the states, ALSA Chapters may be eligible for state respite care grants that become available as a result of the increased funding.

The ALS Association has strongly supported the Lifespan Respite Care Act since it was first introduced in Congress more than four years ago by Reps. Michael Ferguson (R-NJ) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and John Warner (R-VA). The bill has been a focus of our efforts at National ALS Advocacy Day and was the subject of a breakout session at the advocacy conference in 2005. In addition to Advocacy Day, ALSA has helped promote the legislation as an active member of the National Respite Coalition, via the Advocacy Action Center of our website and at Walk to D’feet events held across the country. In fact, ALSA advocates and Chapters sent thousands of letters to Members of Congress urging them to pass this vital legislation. It is clear that those efforts have made a difference!

Thank you to everyone for their hard work in support of the Lifespan Respite Care Act over the past several years. This is another victory for people with ALS and their families. If you have any questions or would like additional information about the Lifespan Respite Care Act, please contact Patrick Fritz at pfritz@alsa-national.org or toll free at 1-877-444-ALSA.

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, Capital Office 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 900, South Bldg., Washington, DC 20004 (202) 638-6997 * Toll-free: 1-877-444-ALSA * Fax: (202) 638-6316 http://www.alsa.org/policy
 

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