I want to make sure your attendance at this hearing is of value to you. The purpose of today's hearing is to evaluate part of a long-term care proposal made earlier this year by President Clinton. We are pleased to have Secretary Shalala hear today to present the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Senator Breaux and I look forward to promoting this measure in the Senate with a bill that we will introduce later today. With millions of baby boomers set to retire in the near future, it is crucial to begin preparing today for what will be dramatically increased long-term care needs.
Family caregivers face a chronic shortage of resources.
Roughly 22 million Americans provide this sustenance and critical care to our nation's long-term care apparatus. Yet, in a sense, they themselves are malnourished. The goal of today's hearing is to examine the viability of a comprehensive, multifaceted support system in each state. This resource network would parallel other Title III Act programs. It would start with federal funding allocated to states on a population-based formula.