• Caregiver bill needs governor’s support • Wall will only further divide us Caregiver bill needs governor’s support This year, thanks to the efforts of key legislators, House Bill 607 — the Kupuna Caregivers Bill — unanimously passed both the
• Caregiver bill needs governor’s support • Wall will only further divide us
Caregiver bill needs governor’s support
This year, thanks to the efforts of key legislators, House Bill 607 — the Kupuna Caregivers Bill — unanimously passed both the House and Senate. This bill will help family caregivers by providing up to $70 per day to hire professional caregivers, home health care workers, or help provide meals or transportation. It will provide respite for family caregivers who face a difficult choice between remaining employed to provide for their family or leaving the workplace to provide care for an aging parent.
When signed by the governor, this legislation will be the first of its kind in the United States.
This bill is a win-win-win. Aging family members are able to stay at home, the preferred situation for the majority of our kupuna. Unpaid family caregivers are able to remain in their paid employment, protecting their retirement benefits. Employers of family caregivers continue to have an experienced employee at work. There will be new employment opportunities for professional caregivers who provide respite care.
The Kupuna Caregivers program will become a reality only with the approval of Gov. David Ige.
Governor, please sign HB607, as our kupuna and their caregivers await your signature.
Janice S. Bond, AARP Chapter 654 legislative advocate
Wall will only further divide us
I have an opinion that may differ from Rene Kontos regarding Mr. Trump’s wall and I have just as much right as you toexpress it. Even though James “Kimo” Rosen has strange ideas, he may be on to something.
We should confiscate “El Chapo”s” illegal drug money as well as other cartel assets, but instead of building a wall we shouldbe building and re-building bridges and highways.
Instead of building a wall, we should invest in education, where funds are being slashed by this administration.
Rather than a wall, let’s build safeguards for our environment now that the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) hashad its funding slashed. Instead of building a wall let’s get our troops out of Afghanistan, where most of the world’s opiumpoppies are grown and used to make heroin.
I suggest that instead of a wall, let’s build relationships with people around the world instead of threatening and killing them.
I submit that building these type of bridges will be a much better use of these funds. Encouraging the kind of paranoia thatMr. Rosen endorses will not keep anyone safe.
Allan B. White, Hanapepe
