I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2535 
To amend title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the 
program under such title relating to lifespan respite care. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2017 
Mr. LANGEVIN (for himself and Mr. HARPER) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend title XXIX of the Public Health Service Act 
to reauthorize the program under such title relating to 
lifespan respite care. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lifespan Respite Care 
Reauthorization Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) There are an estimated 43,000,000 family 
caregivers nationwide that provide care for loved 
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ones with chronic, disabling health conditions across 
the lifespan. 
(2) The economic value of uncompensated fam-
ily caregiving to the United States economy was esti-
mated at $470,000,000,000 in 2013, more than 
total Medicaid spending of $449,000,000,000, in-
cluding both Federal and State contributions for 
medical and long-term care in the same year. 
(3) While caring for the aging population re-
mains a growing concern, more than half of care re-
cipients are under age 75, and almost one-third are 
under age 50. 
(4) Respite provides temporary relief to care-
givers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for 
individuals of all ages with special needs. 
(5) Respite care is one of the most commonly 
requested caregiver support services. 
(6) Respite has been shown to provide family 
caregivers with the relief necessary to maintain their 
own health, balance work and family, bolster family 
stability, keep marriages intact, and avoid or delay 
more costly nursing home or foster care placements. 
(7) Delaying nursing home, institutional, or fos-
ter care placement of just one individual for several 
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months can save Medicaid, child welfare, or other 
government programs tens of thousands of dollars. 
(8) The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 was 
originally enacted to improve the delivery and qual-
ity of respite care services available to families 
across all age and disability groups by establishing 
coordinated lifespan respite systems. 
(9) Thirty-five States and the District of Co-
lumbia have received grants under the Lifespan Res-
pite Care Act of 2006 to improve the availability and 
quality of respite services across the lifespan. 
(10) For the Nation’s wounded servicemembers 
and veterans with traumatic brain injuries and other 
conditions, respite systems could be an integral life-
line for families in their new roles as lifelong family 
caregivers. 
(11) The Department of Veterans Affairs and 
Congress have both acknowledged the unique chal-
lenges facing caregivers of returning servicemembers 
and veterans, as well as the need for increased care-
giver services. 
(12) The increased utilization of, and costs to, 
long-term care systems requires the continued devel-
opment of coordinated family support services like 
lifespan respite care. 
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SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF LIFESPAN RESPITE CARE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING.—Section 
2904 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290ii– 
3) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2904. DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING. 
‘‘Each eligible State agency awarded a grant or coop-
erative agreement under section 2902 shall collect, main-
tain, and report such data and records at such times, in 
such form, and in such manner as the Secretary may re-
quire to enable the Secretary— 
‘‘(1) to monitor State administration of pro-
grams and activities funded pursuant to such grant 
or cooperative agreement; and 
‘‘(2) to evaluate, and to compare effectiveness 
on a State-by-State basis, of programs and activities 
funded pursuant to section 2902.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Section 2905 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300ii–4) is amended by striking 
‘‘to carry out this title’’ and all that follows and inserting 
‘‘to carry out this title $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2018 through 2022.’’. 
Æ 
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