08-R070

2008 -- S 2150

Enacted 02/27/08

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO INTRODUCE AND ADOPT LEGISLATION ON ELDER CARE

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Goodwin, Perry, Gibbs, and Paiva-Weed

Date Introduced: January 31, 2008

     WHEREAS, Just over 10 million Americans, or nearly one-third of the elderly

population, need some type of in-home long-term care; and

     WHEREAS, Of the nearly 9 million elderly people living at home, the majority have

modest financial resources, lack private long-term care insurance, and thus rely on help from

family caregivers who are predominantly women; and

      WHEREAS, The burdens on workingwomen will intensify with the aging of baby

boomers, and as women continue to delay childbearing and increase their labor force

participation a greater number of them will find themselves “sandwiched” between the

competing demands of work, raising their own children, and caring for their elderly family

members; and

      WHEREAS, Workingwomen pay a price for informal elder caregiving. Over half of all

adult caregivers work full-time and many must take time out of the work force, cut back on their

hours, and lose a significant amount of lifetime wages and pension wealth due to caring for

elderly family members; and

      WHEREAS, The United States Senate Joint Economic Committee held a hearing on

elder care in May, 2007 to discuss this issue, its growing impact on families, and what federal

laws and proposed legislation exists to address it; and

      WHEREAS, Workingwomen are at the heart of the long-term care system. They need

Business and Professional Women/USA’s (BPW/USA) advocacy and support to address their

physical, emotional and financial challenges; now, therefore be it

      RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby joins the BPW/USA in supporting legislation to address the issue of elder care; and be it

further

      RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests the United States Congress to introduce and adopt legislation on

elder care that includes provisions that assist in the role workingwomen play as caregivers for

their elderly family members; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional delegation and

the President of the United States.

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LC01082

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