North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, applauded the decision by Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin to suspend revocations and launch an internal review of the VA Caregiver program.

“Military caregivers are silent heroes in our communities and deserve the respect and benefits proportionate to their significant contributions,” Stefanik said.

“This announcement is good news for our Caregivers and I applaud Secretary Shulkin for making this program a priority. Last Congress, I was pleased to have my legislation – the Support Our Military Caregivers Act – pass the House of Representatives and I urge Secretary Shulkin to support this bill as we seek to have it passed and signed into law. Our district is home to more veterans than any district in New York, and it is important that we do what we can to take care of our wounded warriors.”

The Family Caregiver Program, mandated by Congress in 2010, was designed to help support family members caring for seriously-wounded veterans in the post-9/11 era. Major features of the program include medical support for caregivers, who often suffer from health problems as they focus on the veteran's well-being, and providing stipends to compensate caregivers' time.

Congresswoman Stefanik recently reintroduced her legislation, the Support Our Military Caregivers Act, to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Family Caregiver Program to help better support family members caring for seriously wounded veterans.