House to vote on benefits for veterans' caregivers

http://www.salon.com/news/us_military/index.html?story=/news/2010/04/21/us_veterans_caregivers

House to vote on benefits for veterans' caregivers
Bill to provide financial assistance for family members of severely wounded war veterans
By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press


Financially strapped family members of severely wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who provide care would get financial assistance under a bill likely to come up in the House Wednesday.

The $1.7 billion in caregiver benefits is part of comprehensive legislation that would open the door wider for the Veterans Affairs Department to offer assistance to family members of veterans.

It also requires the VA to create a childcare pilot program and offer post-delivery care to female veterans' newborns.

Caregivers of the estimated 2,000 severely wounded veterans from the recent conflicts would be eligible for training, a monthly stipend and health care. Caregivers of veterans from other eras would be eligible for more limited benefits.