IC 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 44 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 12, 2016 

Referred to the Committee on Armed Services 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the sunflower as the flower for military 

caregivers. 

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; 


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SCON 44 RFH 

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 


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(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 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) honors military caregivers for service and 

4 sacrifice to the United States; 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United 

6 States— 

7 (A) to show support to military families; 

8 and 

9 (B) to recognize the sacrifices endured by 

10 those families in service to the United States; 

11 and 

12 (3) recognizes the sunflower as the flower for 

13 military caregivers. 

Passed the Senate July 11, 2016. 

Attest: JULIE E. ADAMS, 

Secretary. 


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