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Congress and Caregiving

Senators and representatives share caregiving stories and how caring for a loved one shapes their work on Capitol Hill


There are 48 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S. — including many members of Congress — who are working hard to use their firsthand knowledge to improve our caregiving system. Here are their stories:

Rep. Kat Cammack

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As the wife of a first responder, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) sees the stresses and pressures that family caregivers face — both in her district and across the state.
 

Sen. Maggie Hassan

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Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and her husband are caregivers for their adult son, Ben, who was born with cerebral palsy and needs round-the-clock care for all his daily tasks.

    

Sen. Ed Markey

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Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) father was a family caregiver for his wife after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, caring for her in their home in Malden, Massachusetts.
 

Sen. Thom Tillis

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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) became a caregiver for his grandmother when she was no longer able to live independently, and knows firsthand how difficult caregiving can be.​

Rep. Katherine Clark

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When she started in Congress, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) was a sandwich caregiver — caring for her three kids and two aging parents who lived nearby.

    

Rep. Judy Chu

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Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) was a caregiver for her sister, who had Lewy Body Dementia. She knows about the stresses and financial challenges many family caregivers face.



Sen. Shelley Moore Capito

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Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was a family caregiver for both of her parents as they aged. She experienced how important it is for family caregivers to take care of themselves, too.



Rep. Mike Carey

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Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH) has been on the frontlines of caregiving, watching his mother care for a spouse with cancer and following a stroke.

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