Today, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union address:

Today, AARP applauds the introduction of the Connecting Caregivers to Medicare Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to promote the 1-800-MEDICARE helpline to make it easier for family caregivers to get the information they need to help their loved ones make the most of their Medicare coverage.

Today AARP applauds the reintroduction of the Credit for Caring Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide up to a $5,000 nonrefundable federal tax credit for working family caregivers who routinely cut back on their own health care or dip into their savings each year.

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the bipartisan Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).

Family and others who provide care for veterans spend on average $11,500 of their personal income on out-of-pocket costs related to caregiving each year—1.5 times higher than what other family caregivers spend ($7,242), according to AARP data. Across the country, more than 6.5 million veteran and military caregivers provide $14 billion in unpaid labor for America’s wounded warriors every year—putting their own financial well-being aside—and at risk.