Dear supporters,

673 supporters. 751 signatures. Thank you!!!

This week, I published Part III of 21st Century Guardrails. It begins with nine words that changed my life as an advocate:

"There is nothing in the law that protects you."

My story:

• 2022-2023: Remote accommodations (mother, dementia)
• April 2024: Mother-in-law joins household (Type 1 diabetes, heart/lung capacity)
• Late 2024: RTO policy-accommodations erased

HR's response: "Use FMLA and FAMLI." "Suck it up."

What I discovered:

• FMLA: Unchanged since 1993-before smartphones, remote work, aging boom
• ADA: Protects disabled workers, not family caregivers
• CADA: Mentions "caregiver"-no protected status

There is no law protecting long-term family caregiving.

Not in Colorado. Not federally. Anywhere.

Congress walked away. Executive filled the vacuum.

Caregivers now live inside:

• Agency guidance
• Administrative memos
• Budget directives
• Waiver approvals

None are laws. None were voted on. All can change with the next administration.

The pattern repeating:

Feb 28, 2026: U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran without congressional authorization.

Korea → Tonkin → Post-9/11 → Today

When crises hit, domestic programs deprioritized. HCBS becomes "discretionary." Caregivers absorb consequences.

Colorado CARE Act = modern guardrail:

✓ Caregiver status = protected class
✓ Reasonable accommodations required
✓ Continuity protected
✓ Creative dismissal prohibited
✓ Budget-neutral, TABOR-neutral

Creates rights that survive crises.

Law vs. Policy:

Congress wrote FMLA. Never built the framework.

CARE Act creates:

• Durable rights
• Predictable standards
• Enforceable protections
• 53 million caregivers deserve protection.

Read Part III: https://open.substack.com/pub/therevenueneutralcaregiver/p/21st-century-guardrails-a-caregiver-190?r=6a52ih&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Sign: https://chng.it/DLWncS9wtT (Help us reach 1,000)

Contact legislators: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Email your story: mark_fukae@casiadvocacy.org

Caregivers built this country. It's time the law recognized us.

Kindly and Gratefully,

Mark Fukae
Founder, CASI - Caregiver Advocacy Support Initiative

Director of Advocacy - Professionals Who Care

Registered Volunteer Colorado Lobbyist

P.S. - Check out the new CASIadvocacy.org website!  it has been updated and revamped!