______________________________ 1 Councilmember Anita Bonds 2 3 4 5 6 A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 7 __________ 8 9 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10 __________ 11 12 13 To designate November as National Family Caregivers Month in the District of Columbia. 14 15 WHEREAS, November is designated as National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor and 16 celebrate the selfless dedication of the millions of family caregivers who provide essential services and 17 support to loved ones in need; 18 19 WHEREAS, family caregivers are the unsung heroes of our nation, demonstrating unwavering 20 commitment and dedication as they make personal sacrifices to care for family members, friends, and 21 neighbors, often without recognition or compensation; 22 23 WHEREAS, more than 50 million Americans provide unpaid care to loved ones, and more than 24 half of them do not even identify themselves as caregivers, despite the vital role they play in supporting 25 the health, safety, and independence of others; 26 27 WHEREAS, National Family Caregivers Month raises awareness of caregiving challenges, 28 educates communities on the importance of supporting caregivers, and highlights resources that provide 29 counseling, training, and temporary relief for caregivers; 30 31 WHEREAS, this month provides an opportunity to support efforts to ease the burden on 32 caregivers by advocating for programs and policies that provide the support, respect, and relief caregivers 33 deserve, recognizing that no one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a loved one; 34 35 36 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 37 may be cited as the “National Family Caregivers Month Recognition Resolution of 2024.” 38 39 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby recognize s November as National Family 40 Caregivers Month and encourages all citizens to recognize, honor, and thank the caregivers in our 41 communities for their invaluable contributions and selfless dedication. 42 43 Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the 44 District of Columbia Register. 45