S.Con.Res. 44 — Engrossed in Senate

114th CONGRESS 2d Session S. CON. RES. 44 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Whereas military caregivers are nameless, courageous, giving individuals whose determination and sacrifices are rarely acknowledged and little-known outside of the military community; Whereas a military caregiver provides support and medical care to a member of the uniformed services or veteran who suffers from a physical, mental, or emotional wound or injury; Whereas military caregivers can include a father, mother, spouse, sibling, family member, loved one, or close friend of an injured member of the uniformed services or veteran; Whereas since the first armed conflict of the United States, injured veterans have been cared for by family members and loved ones after returning home from combat; Whereas since the Revolutionary War, military caregivers in the United States have tended to injured veterans as the veterans have recovered from seen and unseen wounds from combat operations; Whereas military caregivers have shown time and time again, regardless of the conflict, that caring for those who return home is a part of the character of the United States; Whereas many of the members of the uniformed services and veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom— (1) suffered wounds or injuries; and (2) require assistance from a caregiver to complete either activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and feeding, or instrumental activities such as transportation, meal preparation, and health management; Whereas according to a study of military caregivers conducted by the RAND Corporation, more than 1,000,000 individuals serve as caregivers to veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom; Whereas the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 124 Stat. 1130) facilitated a new program for access to health insurance, mental health services, caregiver training, and respite care by family caregivers of veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom; Whereas the adoration, loyalty, and longevity of military caregivers— (1) endures through the hardships of extended hospital stays, multiple surgeries, and lifetimes of care; and (2) helps create a fresh start that is hopeful even during difficult times; Whereas the sunflower is a flower that symbolizes adoration, loyalty, and longevity; and Whereas there is no more appropriate representation of the devotion and determination to overcome obstacles shown every day by military caregivers than the sunflower: Now, therefore, be it That Congress— (1) honors military caregivers for service and sacrifice to the United States; (2) encourages the people of the United States— (A) to show support to military families; and (B) to recognize the sacrifices endured by those families in service to the United States; and (3) recognizes the sunflower as the flower for military caregivers. Passed the Senate July 11, 2016.Secretary