108 STAT. 1790 PUBLIC LAW 103-319—AUG. 26, 1994 Public Law 103-319 103d Congress Joint Resolution Aug. 26, 1994 To designate the week beginning on November 20, 1994 and ending on November [S.J. Res. 153] 26, 1994, as 'National Family Caregivers Week", Whereas the number of Americans who are age 65 or older is growing dramatically, with an unprecedented increase in the number of frail elderly age 85 or older; Whereas approximately 5,200,000 older persons have disabilities that leave them in need of help with their daily tasks, including food preparation, dressing, and bathing; Whereas families provide help to older persons with such tasks, in addition to providing between 80 and 90 percent of the medical care, household maintenance, transportation, and shopping needed by older persons; Whereas 80 percent of disabled elderly persons receive care from their family members, most of whom are their wives, daughters, and daughters-in-law, who often must sacrifice employment opportunities to provide such care; Whereas family caregivers are often physically and emotionally exhausted from the amount of time and stress involved in caregiving activities, and therefore need information about available community resources for respite care and other support services; Whereas the contributions of family caregivers help maintain strong family ties and assure support among generations; and Whereas there is a need for greater public awareness of and support for the care that family caregivers are providing older persons: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning on November 20, 1994 and ending on November 26, 1994, is designated "National Family Caregivers Week", and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Approved August 26, 1994. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 153: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 140 (1994): June 24, considered and passed Senate. Aug. 5, considered and passed House, amended. Aug. 12, Senate concurred in House amendments.
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