WASHINGTON––U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Patty Murray (D-WA), senior members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the Helping Heroes Act, legislation to support the families and children of disabled veterans who take on caregiving roles.

The Helping Heroes Act seeks to improve the assistance provided to children under the age of 18 that offer invaluable support to the veteran family members they live with. Because these dependents face unique challenges and take on responsibilities that their peers do not carry, this bill aims to bolster the accessibility and quality of mental health care and peer support services they can receive through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Investing in the families of our veterans is part of the commitment we have made to those who have served,” said Boozman. “By expanding the VA’s capabilities and resources to better support the needs of caregivers, including the children of disabled veterans, they will benefit in their own lives as well as enjoy more access to comprehensive tools and networks. Better grasping and responding to the impact of caring for their loved ones is an important step to raise their quality of life.”

“I’m proud to reintroduce my bipartisan legislation to help VA better support the families of disabled veterans—especially children who frequently take on caregiving roles in their families and could benefit from additional supportive services,” said Murray, daughter of a WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient who was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during her childhood. “Veterans and their families have sacrificed so much for our country, and we have a responsibility to make sure the federal government is there for them and that we’re constantly working to improve the services they get through VA.”

Specifically, the Helping Heroes Act would:

• Establish a permanent Family Support Program to provide supportive services to eligible family members of disabled veterans;
• Require a coordinator at each Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) to assess the needs of veteran families in their catchment area and refer them to available local, state and federal resources; and
• Require VA to collect data on the experiences of disabled veteran families to better identify and understand their needs.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The Helping Heroes Act is supported by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, American Veterans and the Association of the United States Army.

More information on supporting the healthy development of children from military and veteran caregiving homes can be found in this report commissioned by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. 

Click here for full text of the legislation.