Presidential Documents

67247

Federal Register

Vol. 65, No. 217

Wednesday, November 8, 2000

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7370 of November 5, 2000

National Family Caregivers Month, 2000

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the family caregivers among us—

the generous, compassionate individuals who daily face the challenge of

caring for loved ones who are frail, chronically ill, or living with disabilities

that restrict their independence. These everyday heroes, living quietly among

us in families and communities across the country, are the major source

of long-term care in America. By providing billions of dollars’ worth of

caregiving services each year, they dramatically reduce the demands on

our Nation’s health care system and make an extraordinary contribution

to the quality of life of their loved ones.

Caregivers often pay an emotional and physical price as well as a financial

one. Few enjoy any free time because they must juggle the demands of

home and work while meeting the special needs of the individuals in

their care. Many do not have the support of other family members or

friends and consequently experience depression, a sense of isolation, and

the stress of knowing they must carry out their important duties alone.

Studies have indicated that such caregiver stress can have a physical consequence, contributing to a higher mortality rate among elderly caregivers

who themselves have a history of chronic illness.

But caregivers should not have to face their challenges alone, and my Administration has worked hard to ensure that they will not have to do so.

I am pleased that the Congress has finally passed the Older Americans

Act Amendments of 2000, which will strengthen and improve the services

available to senior citizens in every State, from home-delivered meals to

transportation services to legal assistance. This legislation also includes authorization for our new National Family Caregiver Support Program, which

will provide quality respite care and other support services to hundreds

of thousands of families who are struggling to care for loved ones.

The Long-Term Care Security Act that I signed into law in September

authorizes the Office of Personnel Management to negotiate with private

insurers to offer more affordable, high-quality, long-term care insurance policies to Federal employees, retirees, and their families. This initiative will

help some 13 million Americans better prepare for the future and ease

the fear of having to deplete their life savings to care for a loved one.

We must also help families who need long-term care assistance right now.

I continue to call on the Congress to provide a $3,000 tax credit for the

millions of Americans with long-term care needs and the families who

care for them. Passage of a new, voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit

would also go a long way toward easing the financial burden on family

caregivers.

Caregiving touches us all, either within our own families or within our

communities. As we observe National Family Caregivers Month, let us thank

the millions of devoted men and women across our Nation who enable

our loved ones who are frail, chronically ill, or living with disabilities

to live in dignity in the warmth and familiarity of home.

67248 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 217 / Wednesday, November 8, 2000 / Presidential Documents

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution

and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2000 as National

Family Caregivers Month. I call upon all Americans to acknowledge and

honor the contributions of caregivers to the quality of our national life.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of

November, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence

[FR Doc. 00–28884

Filed 11–7–00; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

œ–